Pottstown Recognizes Award-Winning Seniors

Photo by Evan Brandt

Pottstown High School seniors Nate Fuerman, inside left, and Trent Kancianic are congratulated by School Board President Judyth Zanhora, left, and Superintendent Jeff Sparagana.

Two Pottstown High School seniors were recognized at the most recent school board meeting with two awards.

Nathan Fuerman was presented with the Union League of Philadelphia's Good Citizen Award at a ceremony in Philadelphia on Oct. 3.

And Trent Kancianic received a letter of commendation from the National Merit Corporation as one of roughly 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT test.

According to the Union League, winners of the Good citizenship Award, given out since 1946, participate in workshops and presentations that focus on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Over the past six decades, the awards has been presented to more than 13,500 young people, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in their profession and/or their community.

Nathan is the president of student government, involved in the National Honor Society, participates in JROTC, the Rocket Club, Drill Team and is a peer mediator. He also participates in track, cross country, marching band, concert band and is a student ambassador as well as an Eagle scout and a volunteer with the Sanatoga Volunteer Fire Company and the Sons of the American Legion.

Trent is the captain of the cross country team, a cadet in JROTC, and participates in volunteer work around the community, including the Carousel of Flavor and Pottstown Day.

He currently takes calculus and intro to western civilization courses at the Pottstown campus of Montgomery County Community College and is enrolled in Advance Placement computer and environmental science at the high school.

He has also taken AP calculus, US government, politics, chemistry and biology at the high school. Trent plans to major in engineering.

He became a "commended student" in recognition of his "outstanding academic promise."

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.

Students enter by taking the Preliminary SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or PSAT, which examines critical reading, mathematics reasoning and writing skills.

Masons Lend a Hand to Eagle Scout's Flagpole Project

From left, Stephen M. Loshnowsky  Mark E. Loshnowsky  Dennis F. Shaffer  Nathan Fuerman and James R. Loshnowsky

Eagle Scout candidate Nathan Fuerman is getting closer and closer to his goal of erecting a set of flag poles in Riverfront Park.

Most recently he received help in the form of a $500 check from the local Masons organization, Stichter Lodge 254 F&M on North Franklin Street.

A Life Scout with Troop 129, out of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, young Mr. Fuerman has solicited funding from a variety of organizations, including, last month, Pottstown Borough Council.

Although council declined to devote any tax money toward his request, Council President Stephen Toroney did opine that most council members would likely provide some donations from their personal finances.

The project calls for erecting three flagpoles and a "complimentary stone garden" in Riverfront Park, a borough park which currently lacks an American flag.

Some of you may recall reading about Nathan's efforts in a March 22, article in The Mercury and at the time, he estimated the cost of materials and installation at $12,000 -- not counting the volunteer labor his fellow scouts will provide.

Here is the video we shot at the time:

Fuerman has designed the project to have a 12-foot diameter and to include a “complementary stone bed” around the three poles that is about 18 inches high. 

He has also planned out the project to the point where he has listed materials and supplies needed, outlined the permits that must be obtained and planned eight phases for the project.

Donations can be made in his name to the Pottstown Parks and Recreation Foundation, P.O. Box 1404, Pottstown, PA 19464.