The Quakertown Review

Dear Quakertown Community,

Today, Quakertown Community High School students will walk across the stage to accept their diplomas. However, these students represent much more than the high school, they are products of all the schools in the Quakertown Community School District. They represent the efforts of their parents, teachers, administrators and support staff who have mentored, encouraged, supported, loved and educated them on their journey to graduation. On behalf of the QCSD, I congratulate all our graduates, their parents, teachers, and district employees on a job well done.

Usually, the end of the school year is a time of reflection, but our focus is already on the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. We are engaged in finalizing several major initiatives that will be introduced at the beginning of the next school year which focus on serving our mission to prepare all students with the knowledge, habits, and skills they need to graduate ready for college or career and for engaged citizenship, all at the best value to our community.

Collectively, this year’s graduating class is a portrait of a QCSD graduate. Each student is a canvas with parents, teachers, administrators, support staff and the community serving as the artists. This fall, the district will introduce Portrait of a Graduate to give a vision to the portrait of what future graduating classes look like in this fast-paced, ever-changing world. Portrait of a Graduate will identify the skills and competencies students need for success and to be productive citizens.

In addition, this year the district launched a pilot initiative that will change how our students and teachers think and talk about careers. The RIASEC Initiative identifies students’ unique strengths and interests and matches them with career options through exercises that begin in kindergarten and continue through high school. The initiative, which will be rolled out districtwide this fall, has attracted attention from surrounding school districts and was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

These are just two of several initiatives intended to define what it means to be a Quakertown student and graduate. I look forward to introducing these and other initiatives to you in the coming months and getting your feedback.

Finally, the end of the school year marks the end of my first years as superintendent in Quakertown. I thank all of you for your warm welcome to the district and your unwavering support and dedication throughout this year. It has been an honor to serve as your superintendent, and I look forward to continuing our work together. Have a wonderful summer, and I am excited to see what we will achieve in the 2024-2025 school year.

Superintendent of Schools

Quakertown Community School District

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Dear Quakertown Community,

As we celebrate the end of the school year, a source of immense pride is our district’s ever-present commitment to community service and the civic spirit embodied by all our students. From the elementary level to the formative middle school and high school years, our students are shining examples of community involvement and stewardship.

An important part of our mission at Quakertown Community School District is fostering an interest in life-long learning and engaged citizenship, all at best value to our community. The countless service hours given to the community by our students demonstrate that this has been embraced wholeheartedly.

It is essential that we help to provide every tool available to ensure our students are advantaged academically and also positioned so that they are oriented to their own community. This is key to our students’ becoming well-rounded, understanding, and achieving individuals, as it is through challenges and new experiences that we all learn the most about each other and ourselves. This is how growth occurs, and we have seen it demonstrated time and time again throughout the year.

Some examples include and are certainly not limited to our student clubs and athletics. A special thank you to Dr. Michael Zackon, QCSD's director of secondary education, who compiled this information to highlight the efforts of our students.

• National Honors Society: Led by teachers Sandi Frisch and Becky Leiby, members volunteered for Quakertown Borough’s Parks and Recreation Department by running activities at the Fall Festival, Community Egg Hunt, spring clean-up day and many other initiatives. More than 4,300 hours were volunteered to the community this year by 106 students.

• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): Led by teacher Sandi Frisch, more than 500 hours were volunteered by 34 students resulting in a community service award. One activity includes a Sock Drive for Joy of Sox sending socks to homeless shelters.

• Key Club: Led by teacher Kristine Ziller, the Key Club has provided our community with 47 students completing 40 hours of service by volunteering at Quakertown Alive, cleaning up a Quakertown cemetery, serving at a local animal shelter called Logan's heroes and by tutoring their fellow peers.

• Pride of Quakertown Club: With assistance from teachers Rachelle Quinter and Laura Nielson, this club started in its first year and completed numerous service projects this year to raise funds including through an Easter Egg Hunt, Trivia night, and Game Link event.

• Social Justice Alliance Club: Led by teacher Bethany Fuller, the Social Justice Alliance Club completed and ran a full day of community service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Our Quakertown athletes and coaches have also been a great source of Quakertown Pride throughout the year through numerous civic engagement events.

• Football: Led by coach George Banas, examples of service provided the community include volunteering at the the Arts Alive Spring Festival, Trumbauersville Community Day, Lake Nockamixon Triathlon, Paddle Board raffle, Trumbauersville Lions Club Game dinner, Geundsow Lodsch Dinner, Best Buddies Ball, Trinity Lutheran Peach Festival, and assisting with graduation setup, in addition to snow removal for elderly.

• Girls Soccer: Led by coach Jon Gingrich, the team made baskets for families in need during Thanksgiving.

• Cheer Team: Led by coach Breanna Terman, the high school team volunteered for the Sounds of Summer Concert Series, setting up 800 reserved seating chairs, tents, tables, lights, and other necessities. The cheer team also volunteered at the Movie in the Park and Fall Festival. They helped with setting up and managing stations throughout the event. In total, the team completed more than 300 community service hours for the borough.

• Boys Basketball: led by coach Tony DaCosta, the boys basketball team partnered with Raymour & Flanigan in Quakertown on January 14 to collect items for the “Fostering Hope” drive.

• Swimming: Led by coach Meg Gansz, the swim team has volunteered for the third year for the Independence Triathlon at Lake Nockamixon and triathlon at Marsh Creek State Park. The team raised $150 for Last Chance Ranch, and also served at the Quakertown Halloween parade. Additionally, the team participated in "Wreaths across America" and provided a Thanksgiving meal to a local family in need for the past three years.

• Wrestling: Led by coach Kurt Handel, the wrestling team partnered with Pride of Quakertown which supports local athletes with scholarships. Each wrestler will be participating in the December Push Up Challenge to help raise more funds.

• Baseball: Led by coach Jon Pallone, all baseball players completed 20 hours of community service which is a requirement for tryouts. The team volunteers through the baseball summer camp, and provides set-up volunteers for school fundraisers, such as QMPO’s annual event. They also volunteer for the Best Buddies Club, QYBA Winter Workouts, Food Pantry, and shovel snow for the elderly and those in need.

• Softball: Led by coach Rich Scott, the team will volunteer for the Ava's Army Strike Out Cancer Tournament which runs June 28-30. The team also volunteers from the Cradles to Crayons charity and provides hours to the RASA Youth Clinics, Veterans Park Opening and Closing.

• Boys Track: Led by coach David Loew, approximately 12 athletes have committed an hour every Monday evening for the past seven weeks to teaching track and field skills to youth in a YMCA program.

This is only a snapshot of the incredible work of our students who are making a tangible difference in the world in which they live. Kudos to our parents, teachers and entire Quakertown community for truly embracing what it means to be a good citizen and setting an example for future generations to come.

Sincerely,
Todd Hippauf
School Board President

Quakertown Community High School 2024 Commencement will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Field. Click the image above to watch the live stream.

The Commencement Ceremony will culminate with a brief fireworks display which will last about 4 minutes at the end of the ceremony around 9:00 p.m. In collaboration with the Quakertown Borough, it has been decided that this will be the final year the district will hold the fireworks display at Alumni Field. QCSD is sensitive to the potential disruption that the fireworks display creates for borough residents and is seeking alternatives for future graduation ceremonies.

Students from Strayer and the Sixth Grade Campus read from a list of 25 books selected by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit's Reading Olympic Committee. In addition to fostering greater reading skills, the reading selection prepared students for the annual Bucks County Middle School Reading Olympics competition on April 16. The efforts of the middle school teams were rewarded with a fun night in which team members put their minds together to answer questions about the books they read. The teams (The Page Turners and The Seis Olimpicos) ultimately earned a second prize ribbon at the competition. We are so proud of their drive to participate in this literacy event and to pull off an excellent performance!

Students at Neidig Elementary had the opportunity to participate in a flag ceremony symbolizing a tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for our country. The tribute was led by Sergeant First Class Riccio-Plover, who is an instruction aid at Neidig Elementary and a proud member of the United States Army. Recently, Brett took an active role in replacing the American flag near the main entrance at Neidig. When Brett noticed the torn flag, she wanted to make sure it was handled and disposed of in the appropriate manner. Her active role in replacing the flag turned into a civic learning opportunity

and a truly powerful moment for fifth grade students.

Brett spoke to students about her role in the army, and how much this country means to her on a personal level. She explained how the flag symbolizes freedom and sacrifice for our country, and what this means to her as a veteran. The cafeteria was filled with nearly 100 fifth grade students, who gave their undivided attention as Brett shared her experiences. Teacher Jen Schomber was there as well, who spoke to students about Brett's service and the significance of the flag. Jen and Brett asked one student, Brayden, to come up and help fold the soon to be retired flag. Brayden was selected because his brother is currently on active duty. Tracy Carnahan, who is a general aid, also helped with this learning experience for the students and supported the event.

Students watched intently as Brett, Brayden, and Tracy modeled the proper way to fold the flag in honor of our country.

On April 4, second grade students from Pfaff Elementary School conducted a performance entitled “Animals are Awesome” for an audience of more than 500 family members and friends. This performance was the culmination of months of preparations and allowed students to demonstrate their progress in QCSD’s elementary music program in the areas of rhythm, timbre, pitch, expression, and overall musicianship. The students learned and performed under the direction of Pfaff’s outstanding general music teacher, Mrs. Rebecca Kummery.

Quakertown Community High School (QCHS) is proud to announce a pioneering collaboration with Laura Bishop Communications (LBC), ushering an innovative approach to experiential learning and professional development for students.

Quakertown has joined forces with LBC, a premier communications firm, in a collaborative effort that has been integrated into the school's curriculum. The endeavor offers students a unique platform to interact as interns with industry experts while gaining practical insights into the real-life work worlds of public relations and journalism. Founded in 2011 by Laura Bishop, the firm specializes in strategic and internal communications with a focus in education through its extensive work with school districts in the Philadelphia suburbs and New Jersey.

With several stories already under their belts, the students, who named themselves Panther Productions, are covering the school community, highlighting school accomplishments and events districtwide. Several of the student interns plan to pursue journalism as a career including Margaretta “Maggie” Wilson, a high school sophomore who will also be embarking on a pre-college program with the New York Times this coming summer. LBC plans to replicate the internship program with its school district partners across the region.

“We are so impressed with these students, and the maturity and skills they have shown even in the early stages of this partnership,” LBC Managing Principal Laura Bishop said. “This career takes a lot of creativity, thinking outside the box and brainpower. The Quakertown interns have it all,” she said.

"While public relations and journalism are different, the two fields are inextricably connected and there is so much we can all learn by working together.”

School administrators and staff who have been integral to the launch of this program include: QCSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Friedman, QCHS Principal Mattias Van't Hoenderdaal, Video and TV Production Teacher Michael “Lincoln” Karr and Journalism and English Teacher Tyler Kitchenman. Through this collaborative effort, students meet with members of LBC and their teachers to receive guidance and direction.

“An important part of the education process is providing our students with opportunities beyond the classroom, to help sharpen skills, guide career focus, and prepare to enter the workforce,” Van’t Hoenderdaal said. “Through the internship program with LBC, our students can apply curriculum in a practical, realistic setting and gain new life skills such as time management, problem solving and teamwork.”

The partnership between QCHS and LBC is rooted in a shared commitment to foster excellence in education and provide students with positive and invaluable learning opportunities.

The Neidig Elementary School Chorus finished its year of performances by singing for the residents of Belle Terrace Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Quakertown on Thursday, May 16 and singing for students and family members as part of the free annual Spring Concert on Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Neidig Gymnasium.

This is the second year the Neidig Chorus has gone on the road to sing at an area nursing home, performing last year at Phoebe Richland Community in Richlandtown. This year the Neidig Chorus also sang at the Quakertown Music Promoters Organization Holiday Fest and Craft Fair in December, the first time that a music student group from Neidig has performed at that event. The Chorus contains 35 4th and 5th grade students and is directed by Mr. Geoff Whitcomb.

Richland’s Math 24 Team took first place at QCSD’s district competition for the second year in a row. Coached by Mr. Huber, these leaders practice this game around the clock. They worked together, persevered, and displayed excellent sportsmanship. Congratulations to Alessandra for taking first place. All staff and students cheered for these leaders as they marched in a victory lap throughout the school. We are so proud of these math leaders!

Written by sophomore Margaretta "Maggie" Wilson, Panther Productions

The annual Quakertown Community High School (QCHS) college fair was a well-attended event, where students interacted with representatives from different colleges and universities, gathering information and asking questions to make informed decisions about their future. This year, the college fair hosted 64 representatives from various colleges, trade schools, military, and apprenticeships. All the representatives were in the high school's lower gym throughout the afternoon, and the sophomore, junior, and senior classes visited the tables at 30-minute intervals. The fair provided students with a venue to explore different career options and ask questions.

Students were excited to see the various opportunities available to them at the fair, especially those who were not looking at colleges yet. This allowed them to start their search at their own pace.

"I think it's a really good opportunity. For those who are just starting to look at colleges, it is really helpful," commented Sarah Kummery, a junior at QCHS.

College representatives expressed their eagerness to work with Quakertown Community School District (QCSD), many of which have already worked with high school schools through career readiness partnerships. The college fair is an annual event that was started ten years ago by former Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner to provide students with possibilities they may not have known existed.

QCSD has an extensive list of contacts, securing a wide range of representatives at the college fair. The fair enables individuals to make more informed decisions in the future, which is the main benefit. Eric Gozzard, high school guidance counselor, was proud to take on the role of coordinator for this event, stating that it improves his relationship with students and allows him to help them achieve their goals.

"I have a database of college, trade school, apprenticeship, and military representatives that I keep updated all year,” said Gozzard. “I simply email them when the time is right. The representatives generally enjoy coming to our school and meeting with our students, so getting them to come is not a problem,” he said.

The fair also benefited the colleges, allowing them to spread information about their institution and promote their schools. College representatives at the fair noted the positive experience with QCSD, and that they enjoy working with the students and staff.

"We typically see students from Quakertown that apply to Arcadia over the years, so we always like to come and connect with the students,” said Devin Miller, a representative for Arcadia University. “I've had a positive experience with Quakertown. In my position, I've visited Quakertown twice. One was for a high school visit, and the second was for this college fair, but the staff and the students have always been super welcoming, and it seems like a great community," Miller said.

"It's been a very positive experience. The guidance counselors are supportive, and the students are great," said Thomas W. Speakman, the Executive Director of Admissions at Delaware Valley University, a frequent partner of the Upper Bucks County Technical School.

Overall, the college fair was a huge success, providing students with the opportunity to explore various options for their future education and careers. Quakertown was proud to host their tenth annual college fair and is looking forward to hosting representatives next year.

Students from Quakertown Elementary had the chance to meet author Kent H. Frazier on March 26 to learn about his book, Love Fiercely: The Way of the Wood Dragon. Frazier, who currently resides in Denver, Colorado, attended Quakertown Elementary and graduated from Quakertown Community High School.

The book is an enchanting tale of a dragon, with a universal message of courage, empowering children to explore and embrace their own strengths and vulnerabilities. The open-ended narrative style is intended to stimulate critical thinking and personal reflection. With Quakertown Elementary’s mascot as a dragon, and 2024 being the year of the dragon according to the Chinese zodiac, Frazier noted that he was influenced by all of these themes when writing his book in addition to being inspired by the spirit of young children. “I have a number of different inspirations for why I wrote the book, one of which is my kiddos, as they are fiery and spirited like a dragon,” said Frazier.

“This was an opportunity for our students to see that it is possible to have an idea that can become a book which you can in turn share with everyone,” said Kelly Hays, Quakertown Elementary librarian. “As Mr. Frazier is from Quakertown, his own personal story is inspiring for our school and students.”

A signed copy of the book has been donated to the Quakertown Elementary School library.

As part of the Sketch2Screen Project, students from Quakertown Community High School collaborated with elementary students to offer mentorship and help foster and inspire the young students' creativity. The project is led by Amy Migliore, Digital Design teacher and an award-winning art educator along with senior and educational intern, John Peahota. As the high school leader for the project, John came up with the name, "Sketch2Screen." He has been accepted to Kutztown University where he will be studying communication design.

The project was an idea that came to life during Migliore's doctoral studies in Art Education at Penn State, where she explored the power of visual art and design thinking to foster the creative confidence of young learners. “Illustration is often seen as the final touch in a learning experience, but significant benefits arise when visual inquiry is integrated into the learning process from the beginning,” said Migliore. “There is extensive research demonstrating the benefits of creating and collaborating with children.”

Working with Kelly Hays, librarian at Quakertown Elementary and Trumbauersville Elementary, high school art students met with younger students and encouraged them to draw in a sketchbook and elaborate on their story ideas. Elementary students also had the opportunity to visit the high school Design Lab, utilizing the Adobe Creative Suite and Ai visual generators to visualize the setting, characters, and styles that would complement their stories. The young students were even able to select a font for the title of their poster to match the tone of their story.

“I believe it was essential for the elementary students to have a voice and feel included in the design process. This experience also provided my upperclassmen with real-life experience working with a client through the design cycle. Our hope is to continue to run the Sketch2Screen Project in the future with even more elementary students,” said Migliore.

Richland Elementary is proud to announce that they have achieved Lighthouse Certification after seven years as a Leader in Me School. Richland is only the third school in Pennsylvania to achieve this distinction. Lighthouse Certification is a highly regarded standard that comes as a result of implementing Leader in Me with fidelity. Leader in Me is developed from Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and students and staff live by Richland's mission, crafted from the 7 Habits - Lead Myself, Lead Together, Lead with Balance.

Schools use this Lighthouse Rubric to measure outcomes in three areas: teaching leadership principles, creating a leadership culture, and aligning academic systems. Richland is being recognized for having mature and sustaining systems in all of these areas. Becoming a Lighthouse School is all about celebrating the results!

Aleah Sell, a senior at The Academy, is the most recent winner of the QRock Poster Contest for Student's Choice. The competition focuses on the QROCK value of community within the high school. Each Pride class was encouraged to reflect on and visually represent what community means to their respective classes. Through creative expression, students explored the values, diversity, and interconnectedness that define their class community. Aleah's winning poster received the most votes from staff due to the incorporation of diversity as well as the creativity in addition to the effort she put into the project.

We are proud of our Academy students, and students across the district who created posters, voted, and most importantly, contribute daily to a positive school community.

On Monday, March 25, the Strayer Symphony Orchestra had the honor of performing in the East Wing of the Capitol as part of a Music in our Schools Month celebration. Made up of 36 students, the Strayer Orchestra was one of 33 ensembles in the state of Pennsylvania selected to perform.

The event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), is part of a month-long celebration of music in schools across the country. The goal of this initiative is to emphasize the importance of music education in schools.

"Music has impacted my school career a lot because it taught me a lot about responsibility and helped me improve my time management,” said Logan Hudson, seventh grade bass player. “I am very excited that we are getting this opportunity because it gives me a chance to play for people who are not families of people who play and people who live in the town.”

Led by Music Director Megan Kedinger, students prepared an hour-long program for attendees, including several selections from previous performances throughout the school year.

“These students have a true love of music and performance” said Kedinger. “We feel lucky to be able to showcase our program at this magnitude and encourage students across the nation to pursue their passions.”

Pennsylvania State Representative Craig Staats was present with his cameraman at the performance and participated in a photo-op with the students after the event.

“I love music and playing my instrument and I love sharing music with people,” said Emma Todorow, seventh grade orchestra violinist. “Music always makes me happy,” added Aesha Desai, another seventh grade violinist.

The Strayer Symphony Orchestra went on to perform their repertoire at the Music in the Parks event on May 10.

Over 550 community members attended the 38th annual Spaghetti Dinner hosted by Quakertown Music Promoters Association (QMPO) on March 16. The event raised over $9,100, as student musicians performed for guests while dinner was served at Quakertown Community High School.

Students from the middle and high school music programs, high school jazz band, indoor percussion corps, and the indoor color guard squad performed throughout the night. Students were elated to showcase their skills and encourage their audience to invest in their programs.

Community volunteers helped serve food, cleanup, and other helpful tasks throughout the event, as well. “This event, from the food to raffles and donations, all ran smoothly due to the hard work and dedication of our committee members and volunteers,” said Susan Sheridan who is the Spaghetti Dinner coordinator and Assistant Vice President-Choir on the QMPO Executive Board. “It was a team effort to coordinate an event of this magnitude. I had a great team who made this possible and successful.”

The Spaghetti Dinner is an important and historical QMPO tradition, showcasing who QMPO is and what they do. QMPO advocates for music and the arts in Quakertown schools. Funds raised at the dinner are used to offset additional costs of the music department.

“As parents and music lovers, we could not be more proud to share our children's learnings with neighbors who recognize the value of a strong music program in our schools,” said Sue Hansen, secretary of the QMPO organization. “QMPO leadership is humbled to see our community of parent volunteers, neighbors, and friends come together in support of our mission to ensure that the high school music program remains well-resourced for current and future students in the Quakertown Community School District.”

QMPO was founded to supplement the Quakertown schools' efforts to ensure students can experience music education. The organization, made up of Quakertown families, works to instill a strong basis of music and art education in students. QMPO helps music educators bring their vision to life and inspire students to be involved with music during and after their school experience.

Bailey Goodwin, sixth grade student at Quakertown’s Sixth Grade Center, is taking her project to another level and demonstrating environmental stewardship by using her social media account to spread the word about the almost extinct vaquita, which is a type of porpoise.

The project started at the end of the class’s animal unit in which students consider the relationships between humans and animals through two poems. Throughout the unit, students examine the connections humans form with animals and the similarities between them. This project challenges students to consider the impact human actions may have on animals and to act on one specific issue.

When asked why this was important to Bailey, she replied, “These creatures are very important to the Gulf of California. There are only about ten vaquita left in the world, and extinction can cause overpopulation of small fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are extremely endangered.”

“My main goal as a teacher is to help prepare students to be active citizens,” said Carolyn Althauser, teacher at the Sixth Grade Center. “I am always looking for ways to help them connect their learning to the real world and think critically about questions and issues. This project takes that effort an important step further and challenges them to think of one way they can not only think about an issue but take a small action to work toward change.”

Now, Bailey is actively raising awareness on her TikTok account @vaquita_lives.mat. Follow Bailey and show her your support!

Recognized as a young leader at Quakertown Community High School (QCHS), junior Jaelyn Taylor of Richland Township received the 2024 Widener University High School Leadership Award. Taylor was honored on March 20 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia’s historic district with her family and school administrators in attendance.

In its thirteenth year, Widener University High School Leadership Awards, in partnership with NBC10 and Telemundo62, recognizes high school juniors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware who have displayed exemplary leadership in their communities.

Taylor was nominated by QCHS Principal Mattias van 't Hoenderdaal for her impressive resume and her ability to stand up for what she believes in, speak out on behalf of others and the impact she has made in the Quakertown community.

“Jaelyn is a standout student who is recognized by her peers and teachers across the high school as a true leader who selflessly works towards improving the life of her peers,” van 't Hoenderdaal said. “Her school involvements are extensive and impressive. But even more so is her passion and commitment to being a strong voice for her peers through advocacy.”

In addition to being a leader, Taylor has maintained a GPA of 4.09 while challenging herself with the most rigorous courses offered at the high school. She is involved in many extracurricular activities including her position as a Band Section Leader and a member of the high school Dance Team, Color Guard and Jazz Band.

As an advocate for her fellow students, she is a student ambassador and holds an elected position on the executive committee of the Student Council. She also serves as student representative to the school board and is a member of the Students of Color Club where she works to ensure every voice is heard and given consideration.

Taylor noted that she wants to help students rediscover their passion for learning and ensure students across all races, religions and sexualities are heard and involved with making the school a safer place. To Taylor the award is significant because it recognizes what she strives to work towards daily.

“This award recognizes the morals I try to hold myself to every day. No matter what, I try to be the smiling face someone can turn to and feel safe. Making the people I care about feel safe brings me joy, and in turn makes me even happier,” said Taylor. “I’m very appreciative of this nomination and award, and I’m honored to have been chosen. I would like to thank Mr. van 't Hoenderdaal and my teachers Mr. Frank Parker and Mrs. Rachael Urquhart, along with my parents and my sophomore member of marching band, Ethan Guerrero. There have been so many people in my life that have influenced the way that I hold myself every day, but they have shown me strength, perseverance, and reliability. I want to again thank you so much for this opportunity, and I am so grateful for everyone who believed in me.”

Taylor is the daughter of Arlene and Eddie Taylor.