By Brennen McWright, news editor

Saegertown was crowned victor in Armstrong’s Breaking Bread initiative, which invited each PENNCREST School District high school to participate in the fourth annual “Avenge Hunger Month” as a competition between the Cambridge Springs, Maplewood and Saegertown attendance areas.

“I think we did excellently,” Principal Tom Baker said. “We definitely showed why we all want to be Saegertown Panthers.”

Saegertown was responsible for raising approximately 81% ( 1,800 pounds) out of PENNCREST’s haul of roughly 2,200 pounds of cans.

“Anytime we are involved in anything, I expect us to win,” Baker said. For its efforts, Saegertown was awarded a trophy that is currently displayed in the office.

The canned food drive was also incorporated into the school’s PAWS (Positive Attitudes Winning Saegertown) initiative. The PAWS team turned the event into a grade-level competition; juniors had the most cans, resulting in extra points for the 11th grade’s year-long tally for the Panther Cup. 

Social studies teacher Brian Lipps, who leads the PAWS team, was impressed with the outcome: “I would say that making it a grade-level competition did help improve the total number (of cans).” 

The juniors had a covert strategy; they hid their cans until the end of the week, then unveiled the large amount of food that they’d hoarded.

“The junior strategy wasn’t revealed to me until Friday when they brought everything out of the classrooms and down to count,” Lipps said. 

Baker and Lipps both agreed that participating in Avenge Hunger Month was a success.

“I think it was overall a very positive experience for SHS that will be a huge blessing to those less fortunate,” Lipps said.

Lipps is “incredibly proud” of the student body and is excited to participate next year.

“We will absolutely do it again,” Lipps said, “We have a total to top from this year.”