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Solanco Student Is Art Contest Winner BY GEORGE DEIBEL
L
ila Good won an art contest she didn’t know she had entered. Her watercolor painting was chosen as the artwork featured on the front of Solanco School District’s Christmas card. “I had no idea about (the Christmas card competition) until (teacher) Ms. (Shannon) VanGyzen told me in mid-November that mine was selected,” Lila said. “I was happy. I didn’t really understand what (the contest) was, but I do now.” Lila used a photograph she had taken as a guide for the painting she made in February as part of a class assignment. “We had to do watercolor landscapes, so I chose a picture that I took that I liked of my driveway,” she said. Humble by nature, Lila stated that she wasn’t sure how good the painting was. “I feel like when you make something, you can never truly look at it how someone else would, and you can’t tell how good it is or how bad it is or anything,” she said. While Lila was uncertain about the quality of her work, no one else seemed to
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Berks squad that finished the year with a record of 8-9-2. “Maya brought not just a lot of quality to our program, but she was the type of player that every coach should be proud of having her as part of their program,” Munteanu said. “She brought team cohesion. She cares about her teammates. She bought in to what we did here, and then she got the opportunity to See Soccer pg 4
See North Star pg 9
Lila Good displays the Christmas card that features one of her
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Maya Dolan (right) knocks the ball away from a Penn State Harrisburg player during a playoff game in November. Photo by George Deibel
Grant Reinforces North Star Initiative’s Mission Within the complex world of nonprofits there exists a separate, supportive world - the world of grants. Subsidized by philanthropic foundations, organizations and businesses, financial grants serve a very practical purpose. But also associated with grants are this connectivity piece and a very specific affirming element. “Anytime we receive a grant it’s a communication of trust,” said Melinda Clark, who’s been the CEO of North Star Initiative (NSI) for three years. “It means that people and organizations see the importance of our mission. It means we can do amazing work for (human trafficking survivors), and they’re flourishing. It’s a vote of confidence and support for our mission.” On Oct. 20, NSI, a Lititz-area nonprofit dedicated to assisting individuals who have been victims of human trafficking, received a $15,000 grant for daily operations from B.J.’s Wholesale Club, which is headquar tered in Marlborough, Mass., and operates a local location at 110 Centerville Road, Lancaster. The grant process, which was initiated by a local supporter and volunteer of NSI, took about four months to complete. After B.J.’s Wholesale Club invited NSI to apply for the grant, NSI composed a formal grant proposal and submitted it, after which the request was granted.
Dolan Makes Her Mark on Soccer Program
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See Christmas Card pg 2 paintings. Photo by George Deibel
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Maya Dolan recently played her final game as a member of the Penn State Berks women’s soccer team. Nittany Lions’ coach Adrian Munteanu won’t soon forget her contributions. Maya, a 2022 graduate of Solanco High School, enjoyed a stellar senior season as a starting defender on the Penn State
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