Leigh Ann Wenckowski

What do the words brush, flap, shuffle, ball change, and cramp roll all have in common? Most of us couldn't even guess that they are terms used to describe steps in tap dancing. Older folks, myself included, remember the fancy footwork of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly as they expanded on the art of tap with ballet and modern dance. These artists helped bring the percussive footwork to a level of popularity that remains today. Leigh Ann Wenckowski, an eighth-grader at Apollo-Ridge, has followed in the footsteps of these greats.

Leigh Ann has been dancing for eight years, and because of this experience, she was asked to teach ballet and tap. She teaches pre-dance to three- and four-year-olds at the Vandergrift YMCA every Tuesday. This is her second year teaching, and her favorite part of the job is watching the little kids perform on stage. "It is always fun to watch them perform." And she feels rewarded to see all of her hard work in action.

An excellent student, Leigh Ann attributes her academic success to her parents, Susan and David, who are both teachers. She diligently studies for each class, and her parents are always available to help with questions. Leigh Ann has an impressive report card, having made honor roll every year since kindergarten with a record of straight As. Her favorite class at Apollo Ridge is History because her teacher, Mr. Toland, makes learning fun.

For the past two years, Leigh Ann has been a member of student council. As part of this, she participates in fundraisers, collects attendance, and helps orchestrate special days such as "hat day" at the school. In March, she attended a convention at United High School where many students from other school districts gathered to share their different ideas for fundraising and other school activities.

Leigh Ann is also interested in sports, especially volleyball. She hopes to play on the school’s team again this year, making it her second. The team started out a little slow last year, but Leigh Ann said they looked pretty good by the end of the season.

I was impressed as Leigh Ann began discussing her involvement in her church, the United Methodist Church in Apollo. As in everything she does, Leigh Ann worked hard to obtain a very special reward – membership to the church. She went through all the membership studies to become the only youth with membership. Leigh Ann also has been taking piano lessons for four years, and in her spare time she likes to read and do crafts.

With determination and carefulness Leigh Ann presses forward in each area of her life. She takes each endeavor seriously, working hard to do her best and succeeding.