Courtney Koelbel

Senior Successfully Completes Teen Leadership Experience

In an award ceremony held in August, Courtney Koelbel, a senior from Highland High School, was recognized by the entire Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for successfully completing the Maricopa County Teen Leadership Experience (MCLE) program this summer. Participating students received an award certificate and a gift card for their hard work and dedication in the program.

According to Koelbel, “I heard about the program from the Maricopa Library website and found no trouble whatsoever in being accepted. The program went on almost all summer; however, I only had to participate in six activities and 10 hours of community service throughout this period, so it did not consume too much of my summer.”

“I believe there were about 30 people or so that began the ‘experience,’ but only seven actually finished,” stated Koelbel.

According to Koelbel, she enjoyed the Air Quality activity the most because she is interested in becoming an environmental engineer, and this gave her an opportunity to understand what a career as an environmental engineer might look like.

For Koelbel’s ten hours of community service she helped out with the Summer Reading Program at the Southeast Regional Library. “During this time, though, I also restarted my volunteer work at the Animal Care and Control Center,” Koelbel stated.

MCLE is a county-sponsored summer program for teens ages 13 to 18 years of age who live in Maricopa County. The course work offers opportunities for students to explore county agencies and the services they provide to the community. In addition, teens must complete a minimum of ten hours of volunteer service within County government as part of the program. MCLE is tied to state social studies standards, supports ECAP requirements and can help students prepare for future careers. For more information on the program, please visit www.mcldaz.org/mcle.

 

Chip Pettit

South Valley Junior High Dean Appointed to Greenfield Junior High

At the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board meeting held July 27, 2010, the Governing Board appointed Mr. Charles “Chip” Pettit as Assistant Principal of Greenfield Junior High School, replacing James Louzek, who is now Principal at Houston Elementary.

Pettit is a product of Gilbert Public Schools. He started in first grade at Neely Elementary and also attended Patterson and Greenfield Elementary Schools. He attended Mesquite Junior High and graduated from Gilbert High School.

He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University. Pettit taught sixth grade for six years at Burk Elementary and Highland Park Elementary. He was Dean of Students at Mesquite High School, and served as Dean of Students last year at South Valley Junior High.

Pettit lives in Gilbert with his wife and son.