Jason Weaver, a junior at Abington Senior High School and a first-year student in Eastern Center for Arts and Technology’s Automotive Technology program, was recently highlighted by Eastern for Black History Month.
From their announcement:
To Jason, Black History Month shines a spotlight on the contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other remarkable black leaders who have played crucial roles in shaping history. Jason expressed, “It’s wonderful to see so many organizations embracing Black History Month in recent years. I’m aware that some people only became familiar with it in the last five years, but I’ve been learning about and celebrating it since I was in Pre-K.”
In Jason’s family, there has always been an emphasis on the significance of Black Excellence and actively contributing to the community. Encouraged by his parents, Jason joined the Boy Scouts in 2018 and has taken pleasure in dedicating hundreds of hours to community service. Jason is currently the Secretary of his Boy Scout Order of the Arrow Chapter, which covers Cheltenham and parts of Philadelphia and has over 100 members.
Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society which encourages cheerful service and fellowship.
Among Jason’s favorite Boy Scout service activities are participating in the spring cleanup of a local summer camp and leading a team of younger Boy Scouts in cleaning up the church property where their meetings are held. Initially met with some resistance, the church perimeter cleanup gained acceptance as its value became apparent. Jason successfully convinced the other Boy Scouts to join in, turning the cleanup into a rewarding and enjoyable bonding experience. The troop even celebrated with pizza afterward.
Jason shared, “My mom and dad serve as my inspiration to strive for the best in myself. My dad has imparted numerous valuable lessons, teaching me how to treat people and navigate various situations. My mom has been a constant support during my toughest moments, guiding me to see the brighter side of things. This is why I find so much fulfillment in doing service and aim to instill the value of it in others. Both of my parents have taught me the importance of finding joy wherever I am—a skill that proves invaluable in many life situations.”
Ever since Jason was a child, he loved cars and wanted to learn how they worked. “I wanted to learn every aspect of these amazing machines,” said Jason. When I found out that I could make a great living doing something that I love, I was excited to get started. EASTERN’s Automotive Technology program is a great fit for me.”
Following his graduation from Abington Senior High School and EASTERN, Jason is contemplating the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering or mechanical Engineering with an associate degree in automotive technology.
In related news, students from Abington (Nicole Nevitt, Greyson Stewart), Jenkintown (Carolyn Keim), Springfield (Iona Stum), and Upper Moreland (Claire Zabalou) were awarded gold medals for their performances at the SkillsUSA District competitions in January and February.
Each of these students is also enrolled at Eastern. Four students from Cheltenham High School (Morgan Robinson, Soila Portnoy, Alissa Mosley-Brittingham and Maymouna Ndoye) received gold medals as well.
Eight Abington students, four Cheltenham students, two Lower Moreland students, two Springfield students, and two Upper Moreland students took silver.
The full list of awards can be found here.
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Photo: Eastern