the almanac M A R C H 23, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Making an impact
COURTESY OF THE BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Bethel Park senior Lyla Walsh recently appeared on the ABC news program, “Good Morning America.”
On the national stage COURTESY OF SOUTH FAYETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT
South Fayette senior Nandana Menon shows off the trophy she won for placing first in the SXSW EDU Expo’s Student Impact Challenge.
By Paul Paterra
SF senior takes first in international competition By Paul Paterra Staff writer
ppaterra@observer-reporter.com
An app geared toward high-functioning autistic children created by a South Fayette High School senior has captured national attention. Nandana Menon, 18, won first place in the South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU Expo’s Student Impact Challenge. The Student Impact Challenge provides high school students who are making an impact in their community with an opportunity to share their talents, validate and refine their ideas, and gain experience. This year’s competition was presented by the Allstate Foundation. Menon was one of five finalists selected to make presentations before a panel of industry experts at the expo, held in early March in Austin, Texas. The expo offers an opportunity for students to showcase their skills with innovative events by displaying projects based on different subjects that they learn. Menon was one of two presenters from the United States, with the other being from Washington, D.C.
BP Girl Scout appears on Good Morning America Staff writer
ppaterra@observer-reporter.com
“I was lucky enough to be a finalist,” Menon said. “It was awesome. It was a five-minute pitch, and the (judges) asked some questions on the spot. I was so nervous. I was so stressed. “It was rough, but it was a good outcome,” she said. “I really love entrepreneurship and making pitches like this. It’s so natural to me. I think this really affirms my mission, and this really has the potential to help a lot of people.” For taking first place, Menon received $5,000 in funding for the progress of her project along with a trophy. The idea for the app came about when Menon noticed a lack of interaction in some children as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since so many are avid users of electronic devices, Menon created a platform with comprehensive resources and engaging activities tailored for autistic children to help them use their online time more constructively. The app can be used to supplement existing therapies for those with autism.
Nandana Menon placed first with her presentation at the SXSW SEE IMPACT PAGE A2 EDU Expo’s Student Impact Challenge.
A Bethel Park Girl Scout was given the opportunity to share her passion for engineering on the national stage. As part of National Girl Scout Day on March 12, Lyla Walsh appeared on the ABC news show, “Good Morning America.” She was one of a few select recipients of Girl Scout Gold and Silver Awards asked to discuss their projects on the program. “A producer from ‘Good Morning America’ saw the article on the Bethel Park website,” said Walsh, a Girl Scout for 13 years. “She was looking for stories about Girl Scout Gold and Silver awards to have on ‘Good Morning America’ for National Girl Scout Day.” Last summer, Walsh hosted “A Girl’s Guide to Engineering Camp,” a four-day camp designed to introduce young girls to the field of engineering. The camp brought together female engineers to inspire and educate participants. “This was really an amazing experience,” Walsh told GMA viewers. “I was really able to put all the skills and values that I have learned from engineering, whether it was community service, leadership, resilience, I put them all to the test with this project.” SEE SCOUT PAGE A2
Frank Sarris Library offers memory care kits By Karen Mansfield Staff writer
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
When Frank Sarris Public Library held a lunch celebration last week to announce the unveiling of memory care bags that are available for patrons whose loved ones are battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the occasion was personal for Director Peggy Tseng. Tseng’s mother battled dementia for years, and Tseng recalled the connection she and her mother shared when reading picture books together.
“One day, I brought in a couple of picture books from home that I wanted to share with her. She had lost her ability to communicate, so I started reading to her, simple picture books that had a few words or a sentence on each page. After a little while, she read it back to me. I was ecstatic,” said Tseng. “For her to recognize even simple words was a big step. I often think the dementia population is not really on the forefront of library service, so when a grant opportunity came up, we wanted to pursue this.”
CANONSBURG Woman honored as Big Sister of the Year PAGE A2 What’s happening, B3
The library received a Libraries Transforming Communities grant from the American Library Association that was used to create 20 memory care kits for caregivers assisting those with mild to moderate dementia to check out from the library. Each kit contains games, books, activities, and other resources to encourage participation and conversation. Twelve kits are holiday- or KAREN MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER season-themed. Those kits Representatives from local organizations that focus on support and resources for include seasonal or holiday those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones attended a luncheon books, games, and a launch at Frank Sarris Public Library, where they were introduced to the memory care kits now SEE MEMORY PAGE A2 available for checkout.
SPORTS Mt. Lebanon’s Roy caps career with record gold PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A3
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Backyard Beer Benefit tickets on sale soon PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6