Soldier Surprise

Adam Schwiederowski and his daughter, Autumn

When Chartiers Valley alumnus, Adam Schwiederowski, SSgt, USAF, stepped out of the “Mystery Reader” box in the Chartiers Valley Primary School gym, first grader Autumn Schwiederowski was stunned. Of all people, she wasn’t expecting to see her dad.

Sgt. Schwiederowski, Autumn’s father, returned home from Afghanistan this weekend and has been waiting to surprise his daughter at school. Today was the day. This morning he arrived at the Primary School and hid in a Mystery Reader box in the school gym. Autumn’s first grade class, along with two others, gathered in the gym for story time.

When the mystery reader finished the story, Mrs. Kaupinis, Autumn’s teacher, asked the students to guess who they thought it might be. After a few creative guesses – including “Another teacher!” and “The Middle School cheerleaders!” – Sgt. Schwiderowski stepped out to surprise his daughter.

What Sgt. Schwiderowski didn’t know was the Chartiers Valley High School Showband was behind the curtain in the gym. As he embraced his daughter, the curtain opened and the band began playing. Sgt. Schwiderowski is a Chartiers Valley alum and was in the band when he was in school.

At the end of the celebration, Autumn got an early dismissal and a night without homework so she could spend some quality time with her father.

View photos of the reunion on Chartiers Valley's Flickr page>>

Watch video of the reunion on Chartiers Valley's YouTube page>>

Watch WTAE's coverage of the surprise reunion>> 

Read coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette>>

Read coverage from Trib Total Media>>

Save the Date: CV Class of 1984 Reunion

The Chartiers Valley Class of 1984 will have a reunion on July 26, 2014 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Southepoint Hilton Garden Inn, Canonsburg, PA. 

More information and updates are being posted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/533800703375993/. You can also contact Leslie Hall Peters at godemocrat@yahoo.com. 

From the Charvalettes to the Rockettes

The Charvalette’s have always been a highlight of Friday night football games at Chartiers Valley with their Rockette-inspired kick lines.

Today, one CV alumna has high kicked her way all the way to New York City. Katie Vercek, a 2011 graduate, is pursuing a career in dance and was recently given the opportunity to train with the Radio City Rockettes. 

“[In high school] I was a member of the Drill Team, Dance Troupe, Orchestra, Musicals, Fall Play and more! As you can see, I loved the Performing Arts!” said Katie.

Driven by her love of the arts, Katie decided to pursue her passion at Seton Hill University through a Music Education major with a minor in Dance. However, at the start of Katie’s freshman year of college she found, unlike CV, Seaton Hill did not have a dance team.

“When I started school at Seton Hill I was upset to find that they did not have a Dance Team. So instead of complaining about it, I got involved and started the first Seton Hill Dance Team. I am the Captain and Choreographer for the team and have learned a lot through this adventure.”

Katie founded the team in January 2013. By April, the team had already begun to establish themselves in the community as well in competition.

“We attended our first competition at Washington & Jefferson’s Spring Fling Dance Competition. We placed second overall.” Katie recalled. “I was extremely proud of the girls for their performance and how far we have come as team. We now perform at various Seton Hill sports events, dance competitions and community events.”

With the success of organizing a university dance team, Katie stumbled upon the Rockette Summer Intensive, which is an annual program that gives aspiring Rockettes the opportunity to train under the direction of one of the most famous dance troupes in the country.

“I have always loved the Rockettes, so I thought I’d give it a try. I had never auditioned for a professional intensive before, but a lot of what the Rockettes do is very similar to the Charvalettes, in terms of style. So I thought I’d have a good chance,” explained Katie.

Katie sent a video audition and was accepted! Thousands of girls audition and only 500 make it. There were 81 students the week Katie attended.

During one week of intensive study with the Rockettes and a Rockettes Director and Choreographer, dancers trained for six hours of class, working towards a Final Showcase performance at the end of the week. The girls also got to have a Q&A session with the Rockettes.

“My favorite part of the intensive was the performance. To have Rockettes on the sides of the stage, watching you was very intimidating, but thrilling. Wearing the red lipstick and smiling under the bright lights felt amazing.”

According to Katie, there were many similarities between Mrs. Jenkins’ Drill Team training and the Rockette.

“At the Rockette Summer Intensive we did basically the same arm and plank workouts I did in high school. Also remember, that the Charvalettes dance all summer in the blazing sun and in the freezing cold during the fall, while juggling algebra, biology and senior projects! I think the Rockettes have it easy compared to our Charvalettes!”

Katie describes her high school dance experience as one of the key components of her dance success.

“The Charvalettes perform at a professional level. They are truly a unique team and continue to impress audiences whether in Showcase or at a football game. I would not have been prepared for the Rockette Summer Intensive without having had my Charvalette experience.”

“I owe everything I have done regarding the Rockettes to Mrs. Cathy Jenkins the Dance Instructor for the Charvalettes and Dance Troupe. She is an amazing teacher with so much charisma and creativity; it is because of her teaching that I am where I am today.”

As for Chartiers Valley preparing Katie for life beyond high school, she keeps CV in high regards.

“Chartiers Valley has prepared me in many ways. Aside from what I have gained from the dance program at CV, Chartiers Valley has also prepared me academically. The AP classes and College in High School (CHIS) classes offered at CV are a huge help and saved me some money, as well. I definitely recommend taking AP English and getting in as many CIHS classes in as you can, you will definitely be glad that you don’t have to sit through statistics in college and pay for it.”

Katie’s advice for current CV students is to take advantage of all the extracurricular activities. “Generally I would say to take advantage of all of the opportunities CV has to offer. Get involved with anything that interests you. CV has so much to offer in this aspect.”

Watch Katie’s audition video on YouTube>>

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.