Alex Fey Selected to Serve as Student Rep on PA Board of Ed

Fey Selected to Serve on PA Board of Ed
Posted on 05/03/2017
Alex FeyPHOENIXVILLE STUDENT SELECTED TO SERVE ON PENNSYLAVNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Picture: Alex in his recent role as Monsignor O’Brien in the PAHS Theatre Guild production of Sister Act

Phoenixville Area High School Sophomore, Donald “Alex” Fey, has been selected as the 2017 student representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.  Alex will serve in this capacity through the end of his senior year in 2019.  A strong student academically (with Math and Chemistry his favorites), Alex is also very involved in extracurricular activities, including choir, theatre, Model UN, and track.

Those who know Alex are not surprised in the least by this honor.  PAHS Principal, Dr. Craig Parkinson, enthusiastically shared his high regard for Alex.  “Alex possesses all of the characteristics that you would desire to see in a student who has been selected to serve in such an important and prestigious position.”  He continued, “Alex is a natural leader who has the ability to get people to see things from various perspectives, recognizing the importance of collaboration to make the best decision in the interest of all.”

All 500+ school districts in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to nominate students for this position.  From those hundreds of names, six finalists were selected, and that’s when it got interesting.  Alex submitted two essays – one discussing his own leadership skills and the second exploring the pluses and minuses of the public education system.  The interview process was also multi-pronged, and included a formal presentation, interview, and “fishbowl” discussion with all six finalists participating.  While many adults would be intimidated by the intensity, Alex relished the interactions.  “All of the finalists were great.  The fishbowl was more of a conversation, with all of the students extremely passionate about topics such as the need for additional funding for low income students to attend college,” he stated. Alex credited his work with both Model UN and theatre with giving him confidence and bolstering his public speaking skills.

In his new role, Alex will attend bi-monthly PA State Board of Education meetings in Harrisburg.  In addition to making presentations at these board meetings, he will be interfacing with students across the state, maximizing his relationships with the other finalists to share important information.  Christine Skonieczny is Alex’s school counselor, and had encouraged him to apply.  “Alex demonstrates leadership skills, excellent presentation skills, intellectual curiosity in regard to academic state-level matters, and a genuine concern for his local community.  In addition, Alex is driven and hard-working, and I am confident he will successfully meet challenges in this role and his future endeavors,” she shared.

Alex is eagerly anticipating this new experience, and fully intends to embrace the opportunities it presents. “I am excited to be making connections across the state, and to actually be in a position to impact the state of education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he said.  We in Phoenixville couldn’t be prouder, and can’t wait to see what this young man accomplishes in the next two years.
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