Diverse Community Heritage Celebrated at Armstrong Junior/Senior High

 

by Jonathan Weaver

A former Ford City High School tradition made its way to Armstrong Junior/Senior High earlier this month.

More than 120 Armstrong LEO Club students in grades 7-12 helped organize the school’s first Heritage Dinner (known as the Ethnic Dinner in Ford City).

Co-Advisor Erin Burkett introduced the crowd of hundreds to the six club leaders and invited them to the event.

“We wanted the (students) to be able to share some of their favorite dishes that they have with their family or try out a new dish,” Burkett said. “A lot of times people think Armstrong County isn’t too diverse, but there are a lot of different heritages here.”

Students even identified 10 different heritages they inherited.

It was the last event for more than a dozen seniors – including Historian Catie Sellers and Co-President Taylor Relich.

Sellers, of both Czechoslovakian and Irish descent, said she and Relich pushed for the event to happen this year rather than 2017.

“We originally decided that we weren’t going to do (a heritage dinner) at (Armstrong Junior/Senior High) – we were going to wait until next year -, but (Sellers and Co-President Taylor Relich) really wanted to do it because we know how great it was at Ford City,” Sellers said. “We really pushed for it and really all pulled together at the last second.

“It took a lot of work to get it together, but we’re glad we did.”

Club Treasurer Emily Hopper said members worked for about a month on the event – including food, programs and raffle baskets. Hopper organized one of the nine baskets and her grandmother also made pizzelles – an Italian waffle cookie - to sell.

Relich, of Croatian descent, said despite her and the group’s devotion to other events, it was important to get the event started during the first school year. She helped serve Mexican and Scottish food during the dinner buffet.

“I feel like this was one of the major events LEO Club in Ford City has always done – a lot of the people from the community always looked forward to it. We actually had people asking where our dinner was going to be,” Relich said. “I know (LEO Club) was busy, but you can make time for it.”

Students sold more than 200 tickets for the dinner.

The dinner is annually one of the LEO Club’s major fundraisers to help with other community events, Co-Advisor Erin Burkett said.

“It’s great to see it all come to fruition tonight – it’s wonderful that we had such a great turnout from the community,” Burkett said. “We appreciate all the time the (students) and parents put into this.”

Burkett said more attended this year’s dinner than in Ford City.

Co-President Katie Pyle only joined last year at Ford City Junior/Senior High, but agreed that it was important to start up again.

“It’s just nice to bring it to the new school and continue the tradition,” Pyle said. “I’m glad we’re doing it.”

Pyle’s father – State Representative Jeff Pyle – spoke of the LEO Club’s history after being the former Ford City club advisor and extending students into the community.

Junior Kelsey Chromiak’s family from Manorville – including father, David, mother, Mindy, brother, Ethan, and grandmothers, Bonnie and Nancy – attended for the first time.

This was Kelsey’s first year in LEO Club.

“She’s doing real well – she enjoys LEO Club,” Mindy said.

Kelsey brought meatballs and eggrolls for the dinner to share with the community, but Bonnie was anxious to sample the cabbage rolls, pierogi and kielbasa

Sellers’ mother, Cassandra, grew up in Texas and made three large baking trays of green chili enchiladas for the dinner. Cassandra and sister, Caroline – a fellow Armstrong Junior/Senior High student – attended the dinner.

“We just continued to make it. Last year, out of the three trays, two were completely gone,” Sellers said. “We figured it was a hit.”

Eighth-grader Madison Taylor - a former Kittanning Junior High student of mixed heritage - joined LEO Club this year to help the community. Her family – including mother, Crystal, and sister, Jasmin – made a cake and macaroni salad for the event.

Senior Madison Kunst and Kittanning Senior High graduate Rachel Ebig sang for about an hour during the event.

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