Foundation Logos by Jan Engle Chau Design
Enter our FIRst Media Contest!
Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation is happy to announce a media contest for all students in the district. Help the Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Susquenita Elementary School opening its doors! You can fill out an entry form here. Please visit our Facebook page for more information.
Sign up for our golf outing! See below.
SBF Thanks our eitc partners
spotlights
honoring our susquenita community members
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Top of the Class of 2021
Pictured Above Laurel Stuempfle (left)
Jesica Hoover (right)
Featured May 2022 Business Owner
Emily Fortenbaugh (Matia) graduated from Susquenita High School in 2014. While in school, she enjoyed participating in marching band, concert band, jazz band, the West Side Singers, spring musicals, track, and cross country. Outside of school she enjoyed playing the piano and taking photos of anything and everything, first with a tiny digital camera, and then with her mom’s Nikon DSLR. After high school, Emily attended Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and graduated with an associate’s degree in nursing in 2016 and earned her RN license. She quickly realized that she had made the wrong career choice, but worked as an RN at Holy Spirit Hospital for a year and a half. She quit after paying off her student loans and decided it was time for a fresh start. Emily chose to pursue what she was passionate about. By this point she had already photographed a few weddings and various other portrait sessions, but in April of 2018 she officially started Emily Laura Photography and invested in the equipment necessary to create quality photos. She has spent the past few years photographing weddings, couples, seniors, families, and events. Emily especially enjoys capturing candid and unposed moments. She likes to keep her business local, and has had the honor of photographing the weddings of multiple Susquenita alumni. Since leaving nursing, Emily has also worked as an elementary teacher’s aide and as a private caregiver. She began teaching piano lessons in 2018 and continues to teach today out of her home in Newport. In addition to photography and piano lessons, she can be found working at her family’s homemade ice cream and bake shop, Sweet to the Soul in Newport, which opened in February of 2021. Emily has taken a step back from photography this year as she and her husband, Colten, prepare to welcome their first child over the summer. She is not currently scheduling any more photo sessions for 2022, but is booking weddings and sessions for 2023. Learn more about Emily’s work at her website: https://www.emilylauraphotography.com/ You can also follow her social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/emilylauraphotos https://www.instagram.com/emilylaura_photography/ Featured May 2022 Healthcare, Emergency and Essential Workers Hero
Dr. Heather Doty (Kerlin) graduated from Susquenita High School in 1993, serving as Salutatorian and Student Council President. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Seminar, and Varsity Cheerleading team. Much of her success in high school is attributed to her parents, Bob and Alice Kerlin, as well as several teachers who encouraged and inspired her: Mrs. Harriet Magee, Mrs. Amy Landers, and Mr. Richard Riter, among many others. Heather considers the education she received at SHS to be of the highest caliber, and she recalls her years as a Blackhawk with fondness and gratitude. Heather completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Ursinus College in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a major in Biology. She spent a portion of the following year serving as a missionary in Ecuador before dedicating the following 7 years to furthering her education. Heather completed her Doctorate of Osteopathy (DO) training in 2002 at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, PA and subsequent residency training in Family Medicine at Memorial Hospital in York, PA from 2002-2005. Her training in family medicine has afforded many wonderful opportunities to serve. She has volunteered as a medical missionary in urban Philadelphia, Mexico City, and India. Her career as a family physician has included a role as the Medical Director for Novant Health Lakeside Family Physicians Urgent Care, overseeing the operations of five high volume urgent care clinics. Most recently, Heather was appointed as the Assistant Program Director and Director of Osteopathic Education at the Novant Health Family Medicine Residency Program where she has the privilege of training up the next generation of remarkable family physicians. Heather also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine and in the Department of Family Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine. Heather and her husband David live in Charlotte, NC and have six children, including two teenagers recently adopted from Ukraine. In their spare time, they enjoy traveling, podcasting, and investing time with their home church family. |
Featured May 2022 Susquenita Teacher
Dr. Alison Binger was born and raised in Perry County, Pa. She grew up in Blain and graduated from West Perry High School. Dr. Binger graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania focusing in art, culture, and education. She graduated with a BS in Art Education, became a fellow of Kutztown University, and completed her Master in Education with her focus in art and culture. Upon graduation, she entered the United States Peace Corps as an educational specialist. She worked in the West Indies on the island of Dominica. Her first year she spent living and working on the Kalinago reservation, teaching teachers’ US educational techniques, assisted developing quality curriculum that would assist their students to compete on the world stage, and teaching k-12 American English. She also spent time with the Kalinago Chief and council assisting with community development, cultural awareness, and women’s safety. Her second year she spent in the village of Trafalgar providing the local school as well as the Ministry of Education with expertise in curriculum development and teaching methodology. She wrote and received a grant to build the first library and media center for the Trafalgar School. She also developed the first Special Olympics program by identifying special needs children, teaching techniques on acceptance of difference, and teaching how to compete globally in the Special Olympics program which still thrives today. Once back in the USA, Dr. Binger returned to Perry County and was hired by Susquenita School District to teach art k-4. In her time here at Susquenita, she has developed art curriculum based on the fine visual arts, famous artists, women artist, artist of color, and cultural art from around the globe. She has assisted in developing Susquenita School District’s social media presence through the creation of the Susquenita Art Department Facebook page, Susquenita Elementary Instagram page, and Dr. Alison Binger’s YouTube channel. Dr. Binger has brought in local cultural and diverse cultural artist receiving multiple grants to support artists in residency programs. She has assisted in Perry County’s art council through student participation yearly in Youth Art Day that brings young artists from around the county together in a collaborative art festival. Dr. Binger has also supported the growth of Perry County’s art council to develop their weekend arts programs. Dr. Binger recently brought an after school fine arts program to third and fourth graders to dive deeper into their creativity and develop their expressive communication. After establishing her art program at Susquenita, she began her PhD in Global and Comparative studies graduating in 2019. Her research consists of exploring and increasing cultural awareness in education. Her research focuses on these four arenas: cultural competencies in national and global educational systems, multilingualism to increase cultural awareness, deep cultural immersive experiences, and developing cultural understanding through the visual and performing arts. She has presented at many universities including Western Georgia University, Clarion University, St. Francis de Sales College in Nagpur India, as well as multiple international conferences preparing teachers for global understanding in education. She is an active member of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education presenting and collaborating to assist in increasing cultural competencies globally. Most recently, Dr. Binger began researching the shortest amount of time needed to increase deep cultural awareness though traveling abroad asking Susquenita Elementary educators about their international traveling experiences. She recently sat on a panel of judges for Temple University’s Fox Business School for second year doctoral students as their cultural expert. Dr. Binger is also a professor in the Master of Education department at University of the People. She teaches educational courses in educational theory, living and learning globally, positive classroom experiences, and the final capstone courses guiding Master degree students through their research thesis. She teaches students from the USA and around the world creating community while instilling cultural competencies in her education classes. Featured May 2022 Those that Serve(d) Our Country
Brandon Posmoga graduated with honors from Susquenita High School in 1993. While attending SHS, he participated in soccer and track. Upon graduation, Brandon attended Harrisburg Area Community College majoring in graphic design. He completed an A.A. Degree in Graphic Design in May 1996. In March 1997, Brandon completed Army boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and went on to Fort Belvoir, Virginia to complete Advanced Individual Training in Terrain Analysis. Brandon was then stationed at Fort Hood, Texas for active duty with the 555th Engineer Company, 3rd Corps. From November 1997-July 1999 he served as a map cartographer and lead map editor for the mapping platoon. He also served as a terrain analyst working on several projects relating to map overlays of Korea. In July 1999, Brandon was awarded a Green to Gold Scholarship allowing him to end his enlisted contract early and return to college to complete a 4-year degree and become a commissioned officer. Brandon attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX with additional courses in the Army ROTC program and graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A. in Art - Advertising in Graphic Design in May 2001. Upon graduation, Brandon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General’s Corps and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. While serving in 3rd ID, he was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 and to Baghdad, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Brandon returned to Pennsylvania in 2006 to serve in the Army Reserves in Lancaster. Brandon earned the rank of Captain and ultimately separated from the Army in 2009. During his service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, and the Combat Action Badge. After completing his active-duty military service, Brandon was hired as a senior consultant by Grant Thornton LLP, a tax advisory and business consulting firm, where he was assigned to the Defense Logistics Agency in New Cumberland, PA as a training team analyst for the Depot Transition Team within the Headquarters Operations department from 2006-2011. Brandon traveled to several Distribution Depots across the country in support of each location’s transitions, including San Diego, CA, San Juaquin, CA, Barstow, CA, Cherry Point, NC, and Richmond, VA. In July 2011, Brandon decided to pursue his artistic dreams and opened his own body art business known as Viking Armor Tattoo located in Marysville, PA. Brandon has completed over 6,000 tattoos since he opened and continues to serve central PA to this day. Brandon lives in Marysville with his beautiful wife, Jera. He also has two amazing children. Noah, also a Susquenita graduate and Caden, who graduated from CASA. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar in local bands, riding bikes, and local adventures with his wife. |
our foundation
Supporting Susquenita school district students and educators
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About the Foundation
The purpose of the foundation is to support the educational and extracurricular activities in the Susquenita Schools through financial and in-kind resources.
For more information click About Us. |
Donate
You can help the Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation provide learning opportunities for our students and help support our educators.
All donations are tax deductible. You can donate by clicking here: SBF Donation |
Programs
The Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation provides direct support to students and educators and enhances the educational opportunity through citizen and corporate support.
For more information click Programs. |
Be sure to watch Susquenita the Movie to learn more about the history of Susquenita School District.
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