Brett Hahaylak

Take a dash of skill, mix in one part creativity and another part talent and you will come up with an amazing concoction. Although you can't mix this formula in a test tube, its combination can be found in one remarkable student. Brett Hahaylak, a 7th grader at Plum Middle School, exemplifies these qualities and more.

Using these talents, Brett was able to gain a position on the school's yearbook staff for next year. The selection for this was first based on grades. Then the students had to compete for a position by putting together a two-sheet layout of a mock yearbook page. The teachers then selected those who did the best on the project.

His creativity is also put to good use by the school newspaper. This year, Brett has a part on the staff of "Mustang Moments." He is assigned various writing projects covering a wide range of school topics. This has proved an interesting and exciting challenge for Brett. Other interests in school include participating in chorus and the school's annual plays. This year he tried out for and received a part in the production "Into The Woods."

Brett spends a lot of his time practicing for and participating in swimming competitions through the Plum Aqua Club and PAYS (Plum Aqua Youth Swimming). He invests up to two hours every morning swimming laps. During the heavy training months of May through April of the following year, he runs an additional hour to help get into shape besides his regular swimming regimen. This is Brett's fourth year swimming. He is currently in the 13 to 14 year age division. He competes in the Freestyle, Breaststroke, and participates in the 25 or 50 Relay. He competes against all the local swim groups including those from Murrysville and Gateway. He won the championships through the Plum Aqua Club last year for the boy's 11 to 12 year olds in the 50 Freestyle. The Freestyle is his best stroke but it is the hardest to win because a lot of people specialize in that stroke.

Even with his busy schedule Brett manages to find time to volunteer in the community. During the summer he volunteers at "Summer Blast" which is a one-week summer camp through Unity Church in Plum. At camp, Brett works with children from babies to eleven-year-olds. He gets to play games with the kids and baby-sit the younger participants.

Although Brett does have talent and a great determination to succeed, these qualities aren't what make him so special. His caring nature and willingness to invest in the lives of others is what puts him over the top. Brett lives in Plum with his parents, Teri and Duane and his younger brother Andrew.