The "Did I Say He Was In 8th Grade?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about one of Manheim Township School District's students, Ayush Iyer.  Earlier this month he was named one of 18 winners of the annual "World of 7 Billion" student video contest which is sponsored by Population Connection.  For his efforts he was awarded a $500 cash prize.  I have known and photographed this young man the past four years while taking photos for the Landis Run Intermediate School and Manheim Township Middle School yearbooks.  

Ayush Iyer

What is noteworthy about his winning this national award is that he is still in 8th grade!  I can still remember four years ago taking photos of him for the yearbook when he was in 5th grade.  He was part of a variety of clubs and activities while in intermediate school and when I first met him I knew he was going to be something special in years to come.  I took his photo as part of "Odyssey of the Mind" and "Peer Mediators" while in 5th grade and the following year he added "Math 24" to that list.  His activities continued to grow last year while in 7th grade and this year he was one of the leads in his school's musical as well as being picked by his classmates as the male choice for "Most Likely To Succeed."  While taking photos of him, he was always very cooperative and helpful, something that doesn't always happen with children in grades 5 thru 8.  His recent award was special since more that 5,000 students in grades six through 12 participated in the competition.  Students were to create a video exploring population growth as it relates to one of three challenges: feeding 10 billion, preventing pollution, and advancing girls and women.  Ayush has become an expert in vegetarianism, climate change and the responsible use of natural resources; all of which play a role in world hunger.  The contest was judged by 61 people which consisted of college and high school educators, filmmakers and experts in their fields.  His animated video was picked as the 1st place winner in the feeding 10 billion category.  At first Ayush wasn't sure he wanted to participate in the contest, but his gifted class teacher suggested he participate.  Eventually he decided to make the video and then the news came at the end of April of his triumph.  Ayush eventually hopes to go into a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field.  His parents both work in computer science and I'm sure are extremely proud of his recent accomplishment.  I certainly am proud of his accomplishment for the notoriety it brings to the Manheim Township School District.  Oh yeah, did I say he is only in 8th grade!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "The Story Of A Fine Young Man!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just pulled out my copy of the 2013 Manheim Township Middle School Yearbook to see if I could find the class photograph of a young man who was the center of a story in the morning newspaper (LNP).  Nicholas Vicidomini was a graduating 8th grader when I placed his class photo in the yearbook that year.  As I searched the rest of the book I found him in a photo of the 8th grade basketball team.  Nothing very special about the boy in the yearbook, but the LNP changed all that when they told the story about Nick and his travails through early life with lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer.  

Nick's photo from his 2013 yearbook.

When Nick was a 7 year-old he underwent three surgeries as well as eight months of chemotherapy.  It was back in 2007 that Nick and his family first went to THON.  For those not familiar with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as THON, it is a 46-hour dance marathon that takes place every February at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania with the purpose of raising money and providing emotional support to children and families in order to combat pediatric cancer.  It was started in 1973 by Penn State University's Interfraternity Council.  That year they raised more than $2,000 with 39 couples dancing for 30 straight hours.  Today it is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world with millions raised every year.

The official logo of THON.

 The money is donated to The Four Diamonds Fund which is a charity devoted to defeating pediatric cancer through research and caring for patients and their families at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.  About three-quarters of the money raised is used by The Four Diamonds Experimental Therapeutics Endowment for research while much of the rest of the money is used for the young cancer patients family support.  

In 2005 Carol and I visited with our friends Jere and
Sue who live in State College.  We made a trip to Bryce
Jordan Center to see the dancers at THON.  An exciting
evening with dancing in our seats since the gym floor was
filled by thousands of students dancing the night away.

This year's event began yesterday with more than 16,000 people at the Bryce Jordan Center dancing their hearts away for the young children.  It was back in 2007 that Nick became involved in THON.  In the LNP story he is quoted as saying, "I like to think THON saved my life."  Nick has been cancer free since 2009.  But, he hasn't forgotten how he became that way.  This young man decided years ago that he wanted to continue with THON by entering Penn State University after graduating from Manheim Township HIgh School, which he did in 2017.  This guy was such a great basketball player that he was recruited by colleges who wanted his basketball services at their schools, but his loyalty to THON was so great that he turned them all down to enter Penn State so he could continue to be part of the school's THON program.  And, yesterday and today he will be one of the 16,000 people who will help raise money to continue  the program that at one time helped to save Nick's life.  I'm hoping that Nick's story might inspire you to give to The Four Diamonds Fund.  As I looked at his photo from the yearbook it never struck me that he would one day be one of the student's so inspired by what had happened in his life to feel compelled to lend his support for this worthy cause.  Our country is in good hands knowing that we have young men such as Nick Vicidomini leading the way.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Bow Tie Tuesday" Story

Mr. Hall on the left with Mr. Michaud wearing their bow ties.

It was an ordinary day.  Taking photos of a few of the 7th and 8th graders at the Manheim Township Middle School who are wearing bow ties on Bow Tie Tuesday.  Also grabbed a photo of the two teachers who began the practice and got the entire school interested in the trend of wearing bow ties to school.  

An 8th grader shows off his favorite tie.

It all began last summer when math teacher Mr. Hall wore a bow tie when he got married.  When the school year started he and social studies teacher, Mr. Michaud, who is in a room close to him, began to wear bow ties to school and decided to make one day a week a day to wear bow ties.  Before long they got the students, both boys and girls, in the 7th grade Thunder section interested and many of them began to wear bow ties on what was designated as "Bow Tie Tuesday."  Students began to wear ties of all colors and patterns as the trend grew.  One boy said that his tie was a gift from his mom for doing well on a test in school.  

Boys are not the only ones wearing the
bow ties.  Here a young girls wears one.

Then, Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Bryant, had her classes, both girls and boys, make bow ties in class as a project.  Mrs Bryant and nearby art teacher, Mrs. Michaud, began wearing ties on Tuesdays.  Now many of the students can't wait for Tuesday and a chance to show their school colors and school pride.  Makes school more fun and positive for many students who are trying to "find" themselves in their early teen years.  I am hired by the Middle School to product the school yearbook so I thought it appropriate to take candids of some of the students wearing their bow ties and place them in the yearbook so they will remember the year that "Bow Tie Tuesday" was the trend.  Kinda got caught up in the fun while taking the photos and thought I may have to dig out one of my old bow ties to wear the next time I have to visit the school on a Tuesday.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Mrs. Michaud and Mrs. Bryant wear their creations.