Jo Alspaugh of Russell performed as the Snow Queen in the Ballet Theatre of Ohio's production of the Nutcracker on Dec. 3-5 at the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, Ohio. She is a graduate of Mercyhurst College where she was a dual major in dance and world languages and cultures. While there, she danced in LaSyphide, La Bayadere, Brahms Interlude and Sleeping Beauty. Alspaugh has also performed with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth Texas, Allegheny Regional Dance Theatre, and the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Since joining Ballet Theatre of Ohio, she has performed in the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and the Wizard of Oz. Alspaugh is currently attending law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
- -
Drew Lang, a Warren Area High School junior, has been accepted to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in the early enrollment program. Lang, 16, has sought academic challenges throughout his middle and high school years and will leave high school a full year early to further his college career. He has been accepted into the Eberly College of Science and plans to enter medical school to become a neurosurgeon.
Article Photos
Drew Lang
Early admission is rare at the Behrend campus, which sees just one or two such students a year, said Mary-Ellen Madigan, Director of Enrollment. Such students automatically qualify for admission to the college's honor program.
"The admissions criteria for students coming into early enrollment are stringent. We're really looking at students we know can handle the academics," Dr. Madigan said. There are several factors which are considered before a student is accepted into the early enrollment program such as grades, class ranking, SAT scores, and their maturity level.
Lang was placed in the Warren County School District's gifted program in third grade. His rapid advancement began in eighth grade when he skipped eighth grade English for ninth grade English. Since that time, he has taken advanced and college classes to fulfill his graduation requirements. Lang is currently participating in the St. Bonaventure Dual Enrollment program and did so last year as a sophomore as well. Upon completion of his junior year, he will have 38 college credits completed. While attending Behrend, he will remain enrolled at the WAHS as he desires to graduate with his class in 2012.
Lang is a member of student council and plays the sousaphone in the marching band, cello in orchestra, and trombone in jazz band. He has been on the advisory board for the Learning Enrichment Center for the past three years. Lang is a participant in the Academic Bowl and has made merit honor roll every marking period since eighth grade.
Outside of school, Lang has been active in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Order of the Arrow, Life Scout, and is currently applying for Eagle Scout status. He is a talented pianist and has taken lessons for more than 10 years. Lang has interned for the Warren County Summer Music School, and enjoys skiing. He is the son of Larry and Kathy Lang of Warren.