Delegation to participate in Appalachian Teaching Project

Pitt-Bradford students will present community-based research about the city of Kane to federal officials during the 15th annual Appalachian Teaching Project Symposium in Washington, D.C., Dec. 4 and 5.

Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission and organized by the Center of Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University, the project coordinates student teams from participating colleges and universities in Appalachia to develop applied research projects building a sustainable future for the region. As part of the project, the teams formally present their research to the ARC leadership in Washington.

The Pitt-Bradford team includes eight students who will present a project on “GPS Community Resources and Heritage Mapping in the Kinzua Region: Trail Central, Heritage Communities and the City of Kane.” The team is led by Dr. Stephen Robar, who has been named an Appalachian Teaching Fellow for the 2015-16 academic year. Robar is the associate dean of academic affairs and director of the environmental studies program at Pitt-Bradford.

Pitt-Bradford students presenting are Christine Tyler, a general studies student from Bradford; Anthony Pascarella, a history-political science major from Bradford; Erin Adkins, a history-political science major from Mechanicsburg; Bethany Kier, a biology and environmental studies major from Export; Alyssa Gregg, an economics and business management major from Kane; Matthew Nolder, a history-political science major from Emporium; Iman Hamadi, a German exchange student from Heilbronn University; Jonathan Josephs-Spaulding, a biology and environmental studies major from Henryville; and Alyssa Holsinger, an environmental studies and biology major from Lewis Run.

“The Appalachian Teaching Project is a flagship event for ARC and one I look forward to every year,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl. “ATP is an opportunity to hear directly from the region's next generation and learn about their innovative ideas for community development. I am always deeply impressed by the leadership, creativity and poise each student brings to this program and to Appalachia's future.”

This year's symposium will be held at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va., and will feature 150 students representing 15 schools in 10 Appalachian states.