They have been honored by Superintendent Dr. Martin Hudacs and the Solanco School Board for their passion for education, their dedication to students, and for the vast experience, knowledge and support they have provided to their schools and the district.  “I truly appreciate how every one of these retirees has been committed to serving our students. Together they have touched thousands of lives over their careers,” Dr. Hudacs said.

Ten of the retirees have been on the job for 30 years or more, including 37.5 years for Swift Middle School secretary Eilene Cochran. Another eight retirees have been with Solanco for at least 20 years. Many of the retirees have taught the parents of some of their current students.

Two administrators are retiring:  James O’Brien, who joined Solanco in 2004 as principal at Quarryville Elementary School, and Bob Ross, Solanco’s Director of Building and Grounds since 1990.

Following are a list and photos of Solanco’s retirees by school (Bart-Colerain Elementary is the only school without a retiree this year):

Jane Eddy, guidance counselor, with the district since 1993.
Bob Ross, Solanco School District Director of Buildings and Grounds, with the district since 1990.
Leslie Arnold, English teacher, joined the district in 1978.

George A. Smith and Swift middle schools: Front row: Chris Haines, family and consumer science teacher at Smith (joined the district 1985), Mary Blevins, guidance counselor at Smith (joined the district in 1993), Bev Druck, health room aide at Smith, (with the district since 1993.) Back row: Eilene Cochran, school secretary at Swift (with the district since 1976), Charles Rogan, 8th grade science teacher at Swift (with the district since 1984), Daniel Heichel, 6th grade teacher at Smith (with the district since 1978).  (not pictured: John Kaiser, technology education teacher at Smith, with the district since 1983.)

Clermont Elementary School: Sandra Walbert, aide, with the district since 1989.
Sharon Godfrey,  3rd grade, joined the district in 1981.
Betty Bollinger, 4th grade, with the district since 1978.
Alice Dydo, aide, with the district since 2004.

Providence Elementary School: Joanne Diedrich, aide, with the district since 1996. Dustin Drenner, 4th grade, with the district since 1978. (not pictured: RuthAnn Stumpf, cafeteria manager, with the district since 1980.)

Quarryville Elementary School: Barbara Blevins, school secretary, joined the district in 1988. James O’Brien, principal since 2004. Kim Nardella, 5th grade, joined the district in 1992. Carol Gibson, reading specialist, with the district since 1978. (not pictured: Charlene Woods, Title 1 aide, joined the district in 2002.)

The experience, skills and leadership of all of these employees will be missed. The Solanco School District wishes each of them a happy, healthy retirement!

Solanco senior Katelynn McCoy was  awarded the Thomas E. Wolfe Scholarship.

In addition, Jillian and Tyler, along with three other Solanco seniors, have been chosen to receive the Salvation Army’s Olga Ruth Stratton Scholarship. The scholarship recipients are Katelynn McCoy, Alexandra Rongione, Alexandra Buck,  Jillian Eberly, and Tyler McCardell,

Jessica will perform in Broadway Now and Forever. She will sing and dance in four different parts of the show during 86 performances to be held from July 14 to October 12.

Jessica is a senior dance team member at Andrea’s Academy of Dance.

Students in Pat Konon’s fashion & fabric class at the high school are using their sewing skills to provide comfort to children in need. The students have created blankets that are being donated to Project Linus, which is a charitable organization that provides blankets to ill, traumatized and other children in need from birth to 18 years of age. In the photo, 10th grader Cheyenne Lawson sews a blanket that will be donated to Project Linus.

In this photo are students and Diane Wagner from Project Linus (holding blanket) with blankets that will provide warmth and security for children.

Project Linus is a nationwide organization named after the blanket-loving character in the PEANUTS comics by Charles Schulz. Diane Wagner said only handmade blankets are accepted by Project Linus. For more information, visit projectlinus.org or email
Pat Konon.

Solanco School Spirit Night will be an entertaining and enjoyable evening for all Solanco residents. Solanco musicians and singers will perform the National Anthem prior to the first pitch, and also Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch. Before, during and after the game, both live on the field and on the scoreboard, Solanco students will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments in academics, music art and athletics.

On May 31 the Barnstormers will play the Bridgeport Bluefish and game time will be 7 p.m. Please join us for this great evening of student recognition and school spirit! Plan to arrive about 6 p.m. to fully enjoy all of the pre-game recognition and student activities. For more information, email Solanco Community Relations Director Keith Kaufman or call him at 786-5617.

Distinguished Teachers is a prestigious award that honors teachers’ instructional excellence, extraordinary success working with students, and professional leadership.

In this photo is Brenda Lloyd, who has been a math teacher at Solanco High School since 1992. Jennifer Pearson has served as guidance counselor at Swift Middle School since 1992. They will officially receive their Distinguished Teacher awards at the Solanco School Board meeting on Monday, August 19.

Eligibility requirements for the Distinguished Teacher award include a Master’s Degree, level II or permanent certification, and ten years in education, with at least three years in the Solanco School District. Teachers are nominated for the award by their colleagues or the principal of their school. Of the nominated teachers, no more than six, three elementary and three secondary teachers, may be selected at a time. Teachers who are nominated for the award must complete an application to be considered for selection as a Distinguished Teacher. The district’s supervision committee chooses a selection committee, consisting of teachers and administrators, to review the applications and guidelines in selecting teachers to be honored as Distinguished Teachers.

Teachers identified as Distinguished Teachers will serve in various types of mentorship roles for young instructors.

The Solanco Scholars program rewards students who perform at a high level of academic excellence. The program is designed to recognize students who have exhibited the characteristics of a true “scholar.”

Solanco Scholars: Alexdria Bowers, Seana Armstrong, Samantha Barker, Damon Barker, Kelsey Bastein, Nicole Beiler, Samantha Brown, Annan Cook, Ryan Emery, Robert Fryberger, Theresa Gartland, Kayla Gonzalez, Marah Grinestaff, Emelyn Hatch, Jani Hileman, Liam Hodgson, James Howell, Kane Sage, Joan Kilhefner, Brooke McCardell, Kayla Moss, Joseph Murray, Valerie Osborne, Wyatt Peinhardt, Nolan Quinn, Blade Sedner, Connor Sheehan, Casey Stratton, Oliver Wentworth, Madeline Weyman, and Dakota White.

The following students were honored for perfect attendance during the school year: Samuel Broomell, Donovan Brown, Ethan Cairns, Brandon Chaney, Taylor Costa, William Garcia, Erin Gerhart, Matthew Haldeman, Justin Hartman, Douglas Hassel, Emelyn Hatch, Claire Hershey, Liam Hodgson, Cody Kauffman, Luke Kreider, Jarett McGuire, Cole Mellinger, Kayla Moss, Garrison Motter, Joseph Murray, Christy Nafziger, Joseph Strehle, Justina Zaborskiy, Carly Allport, Seana Armstrong, Kristin Chaney, Reese Fryberger, Robert Fryberger, Amanda Herr, Taggart Hess, Nicole McCullough, Kyle Robert Munro, Selena Neff, Devon Page, Anthony Rambo, Gabrielle Redcay, Blade Sedner, Anna Shillenn, Moriah Stanton, Scott Tice, Joshua Wolf, Austin Yaletchko, Kaleb Beal, Andrea Book, Joel Esposito, Jordyn Ewaka,  Cordell Heidinger, Daniel Lugo, Trey Maule, Jesse Moore, Carl Payne, Luke Redcay, William Sizemore, and Ethan Sturgill.

The following students were honored for achieving the 4.0 honor roll: Samantha Brown, Krystal Landis, Koby Redcay, Luke Redcay, Kathleen White, Robert Fryberger, Amanda Herr, Brooke McCardell, Gabrielle Redcay, Brett Sauder, Anna Shillenn, Nicolas Smith, Joshua Wolf, Kelsey Bastein, Nicole Beiler, Alexis Davis, Emelyn Hatch, Liam Hodgson, Luke Kreider, Noah McCardell, Cole Mellinger, and Anna Shoemaker.

Congratulations to 11th, 10th and 9th grade students who were honored during the recent Solanco Scholars ceremony. The Solanco Scholars program rewards students who perform at a high level of academic excellence. The program is designed to recognize students who have exhibited the characteristics of a true “scholar,” having earned the highest academic honor.
Solanco Scholars: Alexdria Bowers, Seana Armstrong, Samantha Barker, Damon Barker, Kelsey Bastein, Nicole Beiler, Samantha Brown, Annan Cook, Ryan Emery, Robert Fryberger, Theresa Gartland, Kayla Gonzalez, Marah Grinestaff, Emelyn Hatch, Jani Hileman, Liam Hodgson, James Howell, Kane Sage, Joan Kilhefner, Brooke McCardell, Kayla Moss, Joseph Murray, Valerie Osborne, Wyatt Peinhardt, Nolan Quinn, Blade Sedner, Connor Sheehan, Casey Stratton, Oliver Wentworth, Madeline Weyman, and Dakota White.

The following students were honored for perfect attendance during the school year: Samuel Broomell, Donovan Brown, Ethan Cairns, Brandon Chaney, Taylor Costa, William Garcia, Erin Gerhart, Matthew Haldeman, Justin Hartman, Douglas Hassel, Emelyn Hatch, Claire Hershey, Liam Hodgson, Cody Kauffman, Luke Kreider, Jarrett McGuire, Cole Mellinger, Kayla Moss, Garrison Motter, Joseph Murray, Christy Nafziger, Joseph Strehle, Justina Zaborskiy, Carly Allport, Seana Armstrong, Kristin Chaney, Reese Fryberger, Robert Fryberger, Amanda Herr, Taggart Hess, Nicole McCullough, Kyle Robert Munro, Selena Neff, Devon Page, Anthony Rambo, Gabrielle Redcay, Blade Sender, Anna Shillenn, Moriah Stanton, Scott Tice, Joshua Wolf, Austin Yaletchko, Kaleb Beal, Andrea Book, Joel Esposito, Jordyn Ewaka, George Fuller, Cordell Heidinger, Daniel Lugo, Trey Maule, Jesse Moore, Carl Payne, Luke Redcay, William Sizemore, and Ethan Sturgill.

The following students were honored for achieving the 4.0 honor roll: Samantha Brown, Krystal Landis, Koby Redcay, Luke Redcay, Kathleen White, Robert Fryberger, Amanda Herr, Brooke McCardell, Gabrielle Redcay, Brett Sauder, Anna Shillenn, Nicolas Smith, Joshua Wolf, Kelsey Bastein, Nicole Beiler, Alexis Davis, Emelyn Hatch, Liam Hodgson, Luke Kreider, Noah McCardell, Cole Mellinger, and Anna Shoemaker.

Miller’s career coaching record is an astonishing 401 wins (and counting) against only 137 loses. Miller has been a high school science teacher at Solanco for 26 years. Twenty-five years ago, Solanco Athletic Director Milton Hershey asked Miller to coach softball for one year. Miller accepted, and before the season was over Hershey asked Miller to continue coaching softball, and the rest is a remarkable history of victories, section championships, league titles and district victories!

Miller credited his success to “great players with abilities and a willingness to be coached,” a good system of youth softball that provides quality players, and the support he has received from assistant coaches and players’ parents.