Towanda Area Jr/Sr High News

2016 - The starting of a new school year at Towanda Area High School has brought us new students and teachers. Though we will forever remember the ones that have left us, it’s time to start anew with fresh young minds. I’m writing this article – and a series of future articles – to introduce one of the handful of new employees that have joined us in this community!

Towanda – August 12th – Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that Towanda’s yearbook program has been named a 2016 Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.

The Towanda Area Jr./Sr. High School’s award winning yearbook program is led by Editor Courtney Locke, Zelia Beauchemin, Jayde Parsons, Jarod Boardman, Josh Morgan, Chelsea Blanchard, Alex Gannon, Areyl Brown, Nate Secules, Annie Young, Julia Lambert, Jorden Isbell, Jensen Nielson, Tyler Basse, Jordan O’Connor, Hannah Wheeler, Ally Tama, Beth Allen, and Alivia Young under the direction of Jason Strickland, TOHIMEKI yearbook adviser.

On May 10th, thirty eleventh grade students from Towanda High School participated in a kayak trip down the Susquehanna River as part of an experience, Floating through History, supported by the Towanda Education Foundation and the Endless Mountains River Outfitters. The group was fortunate to have perfect weather and along the river they saw fox kits, nesting geese, kingfishers, and an eagle’s nest. One stop was at the Standing Stone landmark. This trip was in connection with the students’ study of the French and Haitian Revolutions and the founding of French Azilum in 1793. Historian Bob Veleker discussed the development of the settlement at French Azilum and gave a tour of the grounds to the students. He explained that 18th-century​ networking played an important part in why French Azilum was built here. In addition, the founder of Towanda, William Means, worked as a boatman and brought the French settlers by Durham boat up the river.

Jayde Parsons, Mitchel Peters, Dayton Wickwire, Brandon McLinko, Bella Bartholemew, First Runners-up Kaleb Benjamin with Bella Sedor and Victoria Gowin. Far right is the King Nick Innocenzo, and his Queen Taylor Hallabuk.