Breaking Pointe

When it comes to dancing, Chartiers Valley is no stranger. The school has earned itself an impressive dance reputation from its Dance Troupe, Charvalletes and productions like Showcase. However, one former CV dancer has excelled far beyond the Chartiers Valley stage.

Allison DeBona―a 2002 graduate from Chartiers Valley―has been a professional dancer for six years. Daughter to school board member, Debra Rice, and sister to three CV alumni and a junior at Chartiers Valley High School, this prima ballerina has been making Chartiers Valley proud since she first earned her spot on a professional dance troupe. 

After graduating college at Indiana University, Allison moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to begin her dance career at Ballet West. She performed in numerous productions as a demi soloist, however she received the opportunity of a lifetime after the BBC proposed to make a new reality TV series with Ballet West last year.

“We interviewed with them and the rest is history,” Allison recalls. “It's crazy for something like a TV show to fall in your lap when you really think about it.”

But it’s no surprise this CV alumni has landed herself a spot on TV. Allison has not put down her ballet slippers since she was a toddler.  After taking her first dance lesson at the age of three, Allison began dancing with the Parou Ballet Company before joining the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet.

She did not even let high school get in the way of her dream to become a professional dancer, and pioneered as the first CV student to take half day courses to accommodate for her dance schedule.

“CV allowed me to be the first student to participate [in] the 'High School Program' at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet,” says Allison. “My junior and senior year I took all my academics in the [morning] and left to dance at PYB from 11:00 am until 5:30 pm.”

“I don't think I would be professional now if the school didn't understand how serious I was about making ballet my career.”

Today, Allison is dancing for millions of people every week on the TV show, Breaking Pointe.

“The craziest part is being in magazines on the shelves when you’re in line to pay for groceries. Nothing prepares you for that.”

The show follows dancers from the Ballet West Dance Company. The audience is taken behind the scenes of a professional dance company revealing the drama and competition involved in the fast paced life of a professional ballet dancer. Allison is featured as one of the nine main cast members on the show.

However, Breaking Pointe did not come without its fair share of challenges.

According to Allison, “accepting the bad along with the good [has been the most challenging].  It's hard allowing people to be that intimate with your life because everyone has something to say.  I just try to focus on my reality and ignore [the rest].”

Despite the challenges, the reality show has also opened doors and created unique opportunities for Allison.

“I did get to live one of my life long dreams,” Allison recalls. “I am going to be on the cover of Dance Magazine's July issue with Rex Tilton from the show.” 

But the most fulfilling part of this entire experience is not the magazine covers or even performing.

“The most rewarding [part] has been all the teaching I'm doing.  It's amazing to be a part of so many young dancers lives!” explains Allison.

Even though high school is long gone for Allison, she still has fond memories of her time at Chartiers Valley.

“Showcase was obviously a highlight, and I did do drill team for one year.  Honestly, I had a blast in high school!” recalls Allison. “[I even remember] getting in trouble for talking too much in Mr. Copetas' class!”

As for current students at Chartiers Valley, Allison would advise them to stay balanced.

“Work hard, but also try to have fun with your friends. It keeps you healthy.”

To find out more about Allison and Breaking Pointe, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @allidebona or watch her on Breaking Pointe which returns to the CW on Monday, July 22 at 9:00 pm.

Making Their Mark

The Chartiers Valley Class of 2013 has set out to make their mark on the world. Take a look at where they're headed:


View Chartiers Valley Class of 2013 in a larger map.


Congratulations to the Class of 2013! Don't forget to keep in touch.

Email your news and accomplishments to publicrelations@cvsd.net.
Follow your alma mater on Twitter: @CVSDcolts
And don't forget to keep up with your peers on Colt Connections!

P.S. Not on the map? Email the following information to publicrelations@cvsd.net to be added:

1. Full name
2. Plan for after high school (name of college, employer, military, etc) & address (if known)
3. Major/Minor or Job Title (if known / applicable)
4. Favorite CV Memory in 2 sentences or less (optional)

Congrats Grads!

Class of 2013's Student Speakers

Another year has come to a close as the Class of 2013 toss up their caps in celebration of their graduation. This year marks the 53^rd Annual Commencement ceremony, however – due to less than ideal weather conditions – the ceremony took place in the high school gymnasium.

The graduation opened with an address from co-principals Mr. Samosky and Dr. Wodnicki, and superintendent Dr. White, along with a rendition of the song “Home” by Scotty McReery featuring the Chartiers Valley senior chorus members.

Student speakers, Shane Murphy, Heidi Schmidt and Colleen Bodnar, spoke on behalf of their class. With creative allusions to Disney movies and popular songs in their speeches, 2013’s top students expressed graduation as the start of a new beginning for their classmates.

As the last graduate accepted his diploma, the Class of 2013, tossed their hats and officially joined the ranks of their fellow Chartiers Valley alumni.

Congratulations to the 2013! Good luck with all of your future endeavors!  

View more photos of graduation on Flickr: From the Floor | From the Bleachers

Career & Community

Jason Young (CV Class of 1995) with Missie Cekus

Jason Young graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 1995 unsure of the plans for his future career. Today -- despite his uncertainty upon graduating high school – this Chartiers Valley grad rose to the top of the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel’s Communications Department as Director of Communications.

As director, Jason is responsible for the technologies that support guests, groups and conferences that take place at the hotels.

“We are a third party and don’t actually work for one specific hotel,” explains Jason. “I oversee all the technologies and communications that come through the hotel.”

“We [recently] hosted the Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI) and we serviced all the groups’ communications and technical support for the week. We [even] deal with actors, musicians, and professional sports teams.”

After earning a degree in Advertising/PR and Journalism from Robert Morris University, Jason landed a job as a technician at the Pittsburgh Airport Wyndham. He had worked his way up to a coordinator shortly before being asked to work downtown at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Hotel as the Managing Assist Director. 

Since then, he was promoted to Director of Communications for the hotel. Jason has been with the company for 11 years and has been running the Renaissance team for nine years. 

And when it comes to his goals and aspirations, the sky is the limit. Jason says he wants to climb the management reigns even further, with hopes of supporting and managing multiple properties one day.

In addition to his career goals, Jason also has admirable personal goals – one of which is to expand upon his charity work. After being named one of “Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest” for his fundraising work with Cystic Fibrosis, he plans to continue fundraising for non-profit organizations.

“[Last year] I was able to raise just under $9,000 for the charity through private donations and by throwing a Heaven Revisited event at my hotel,” says Jason. “As a goal I’d like to continue to work with different charity groups and help in any way I can.”

Jason credits his Chartiers Valley High School experience with preparing him to become a more outgoing and social person through clubs and extracurricular activities.

“I was sort of shy coming out of Our Lady of Grace grade school and CV was the place where I broke out of my shell,” explains Jason.” This eventually led me to want to get into a creative and interactive profession. That is why I went to RMU for Advertising/PR.”

Jason advises current Chartiers Valley students to “just take your time and figure out who you want to be rather that what you want to be!”

“I believe there’s so much pressure put on young students to try and figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives and what the next step is while in high school,” says Jason. “I think it’s more important to figure out who or what type of person you want to be. Once you figure that out the rest should fall into place.”

Jason Young (4th from the right) at Pittsburgh's 50 Finest.