SOLAR ENERGY GRANT - On February 22, thirteen approved Pennsylvania solar energy projects were announced by the Governor's Office. The Bald Eagle Area School District, the only approved site location in Centre County, will benefit from two of those thirteen projects, which includes $1.4 million in state grant funding to install solar energy systems at Wingate Elementary and the Bald Eagle-Middle High School.

SEC BESD Solar One LLC, a division of Smart Energy Capital, will own the systems and will sell power to the two schools under a long-term power purchase agreement at a fixed rate of 4.9 cents per kilowatt hour for 25 years. The solar panel systems will provide more than 50 percent of the schools' electricity demands.

Superintendent Dan Fisher said there will be no costs incurred by the Bald Eagle Area School District to have these systems installed or maintained, and said structural studies are being planned to assure the newly renovated roofs on the Wingate Elementary and Middle/High Schools will be able to sustain the additional weight caused by the photovoltaic panels.  Mr. Fisher said, "This is a wonderful opportunity to support the green initiative, reduce energy costs, and provide an educational experience for our students."

BEA STUDENTS EARN MONEY FOR HAITI - In February, SADD and the Chamber Choir worked together to raise money for the Ranch Mission Orphanage in Haiti. This orphanage was founded by State College native, Mark Dreibelbis, who is the founder and president of the Famine Relief Foundation that runs the orphanage, Mission Ranch, and a church and feeding program in Cite Soleil.

The Chamber Choir performed songs such as You are My Sunshine , Build Me Up Buttercup , and I Want To Hold Your Hand to the lucky recipients of a singing valentine. Woodring's Floral of State College gave BEA a huge discount on the cost of the flowers for the sale (THANKS!), and after paying for the flowers, the net proceeds from the Singing Valentines effort was $662.00.  The money is being sent to: Famine Relief Foundation, P.O. Box 3017, Gaithersburg, Md 20885.  Thanks to all who contributed to this worthy cause. 

Tasha Moore (President of SADD) and Hailey Broome (Secretary of SADD) did an excellent job of organizing this event. Chamber Choir members made the Singing Valentine's so special! As you can see from the above video, everyone had a wonderful time.