Latest news with #ArielMetzger
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Luncheon honors Berks' Best and recipients of more than 120 scholarships
The annual Berks County Community Foundation Scholarship Luncheon was held Wednesday at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading. Kim Sheffer, lifelong learning program officer for the foundation, said the awards given out to recipients represented a $700,000 investment in the future of the community. More than 120 scholarships were awarded, some to multiple students, this year. The Berks' Best award winners also were recognized. Each Berks County high school is given the opportunity to nominate up to two seniors in each of the 11 categories. This year's winners: business: Ariyan Patel, Wyomissing; career and technical education: Devra Longacre, Brandywine Heights; communications: Sydney Guida, Fleetwood; computer science: Truman Peters, Wyomissing; mathematics: Jasper Platt, Wyomissing; performing arts: Ariel Metzger Conrad Weiser; science/environment: Samson Evans, Muhlenberg; social studies, Pearl Caldwell, Wyomissing; the Taylor Seitzinger community service and leadership award: Garrett Hyneman, Gov. Mifflin; visual arts: Mackenzie Stoudt, Kutztown; and world languages, Gianna Johnson, Exeter. Some of the 2025 Berks' Best award winners who attended the Berks County Community Foundation Scholarship Luncheon Wednesday, May 21, 2025. From left, are Mackenzie Stoudt, a Kutztown High senior, Garrett Hyneman, a Gov. Mifflin senior, Samson Evans, a Muhlenberg senior, Ariel Metzger, a Conrad Weiser senior and Gianna Johnson, an Exeter senior. (Susan Miers Smith - Reading Eagle) The Wyomissing students were unable to attend due to senior day obligations. Dr. Radha Pyati, chancellor of Penn State Berks since 2023, was the keynote speaker. She has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to taking the Penn State job, she served as dean of the college of science and mathematics at West Chester University. Pyati called Wednesday 'a day filled with pride, promise and possibility.' She said she tapped ChatGPT to write her speech, saying she wanted to stay current with what she called the latest newfangled things. 'Today's ChatGPT was yesterday's smartphone and that was the computer of 30 or 40 years ago,' Pyati said. She said the artificial intelligence results were good in some places and shared a part she kept for her address. 'I realized it lacked some things, so I wrote those things myself,' she said. 'First of all, the speech did not speak at all to Berks County and believe me, I asked it to. 'Berks County is special. Berks has some amazing students who come from a wide range of backgrounds and high schools — urban, suburban and rural. Berks schools, teachers and families offer our kids some amazing experiences that rival those in any county anywhere.' The AI speech did not even touch that, she said. Secondly, the AI speech made up a story of a student named Maya. 'I don't know that story and I wanted to share some real stories from people I've actually known and admired,' she said. Pyati emphasized that it was important for the students to find their voices and that their original thinking, their original ideas will make the most difference in the future. 'Only you, your unique voice, your special strengths, what you bring will make your original contributions to this world groundbreaking and one of a kind,' Pyati said. 'So use the best tools you have and go out there and write the next chapter of your story.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Berks' Best 2025 performing arts winner: Ariel Metzger aims to make waves with music
Ariel Metzger wants his music to resonate. The Conrad Weiser senior and 2025 Berks' Best winner for performing arts said he sees music not just as an outlet for self-expression, but a way to make an impact. 'In the music activities I participate in, I often find myself in a leadership role,' Metzger said. 'I strive to take this role seriously.' Whether it's by lending advice or simply leading by example, Metzger said he enjoys spreading the passion for music that has driven him to take up multiple instruments. 'The positive feelings and connections I've made with others through (music) have been a big factor (in my success),' Metzger said. Metzger has excelled in his area of focus — percussion — and is also a gifted pianist and singer, said Brent Behrenshausen, Metzger's private music teacher. A combination of natural talent and initiative have enabled Metzger, 17, to accumulate a resume of accolades that underscore his commitment to his craft. In addition to being accepted for the past two years into the West Chester University High School Honors Percussion Ensemble, Metzger has served as primary percussionist for the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra, substitute percussionist for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and was recently accepted into the All-Eastern Orchestra, where he will perform in Hartford, Conn., this year. Metzger also won the Reading Music Foundation's high school music competition and was awarded the Willis M. Rapp Percussion Fund Scholarship. His skill as a pianist has also earned Metzger success — for the past few years he's auditioned and been selected as piano accompanist for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association's county, district and regional choir. Beyond the band rooms and orchestra halls, Metzger says his role as a leader in the local music community has enabled him to become what he calls 'a cross-clique ambassador.' By making friends across the spectrum of high school ingroups, Metzger said he hopes to shatter any lingering negative stereotypes about 'band kids.' 'In high school there are many different sects of people,' Metzger said. 'I have found myself a member of many of these sects through the friendships I have. I am fortunate to be in this position and try to use it to show others what a person from a different group is like. Hopefully this makes people more willing to spend time around people different from them.' In the long term, Metzger said he wants to continue imparting his passion for all types of music by becoming a college instructor and performing in orchestras and ensembles. 'I would love to be able to perform in a wide variety of settings and genres, rather than being confined to an ultraspecific field of music,' Metzger said. He said he's been accepted into multiple collegiate music programs, including those at Temple University, Indiana University Bloomington, New England Conservatory of Music, and Manhattan School of Music, but hasn't yet made a final decision.
