We partnered with students and faculty from the Communication Arts Studio at the Hazleton Area Arts & Humanities Academy to build a portfolio of creative work to be featured on DiscoverNEPA.
Participating students worked with the DiscoverNEPA team to capture compelling videos and photos and to write articles featuring their school and community.
Hands-On, Real-World Experience for Special Education and Future Business Leaders of America Students
The Hazleton Area has grown into a large region, and with that, the Hazleton Area School District has expanded as well. Now encompassing the surrounding towns of McAdoo, Drums and the Valley, Freeland, the Heights, and of course both Hazleton and West Hazleton, the district has become a supremely large school system. With that growth comes the challenge of being able to equally represent all the schools in the district.
A Central Hub for School Spirit
That problem was finally solved, however, as the Hazleton Area School District (HASD) opened the HASD Spirit Store at The Hazleton Area Cyber Academy in the Laurel Mall that showcases all the schools in the Hazleton Area, while also giving students a place to learn and grow.
“Having a central place where families, students, alumni, and community members can buy school-branded gear builds a stronger sense of identity and pride,” said Dr. Brian Uplinger, Superintendent of the Hazleton Area School District.
Dr. Uplinger expressed immense pride in the spirit store and even went on to say, “A store in our local mall places HASD front and center—not just in schools, but throughout the larger community. It’s a way to celebrate student success, district achievements, and the overall energy of the school community.”
A Learning Experience for Students
Not only is the Spirit Store good for the schools, but it’s also good for the students and the community, as it gives people a chance to rep their school and support their community. It is run by life skills students from the special education department, giving those students a chance to gain hands-on work experience and an opportunity to be out in the community.
“Students in our special needs classes, in addition to students in our business, marketing, graphic design, or entrepreneurship programs, could help design merchandise, manage inventory, or even work in the store as interns, giving them valuable real-world experience,” said Uplinger.
So not only does the Spirit Store make for a great place to buy merchandise, it’s also a place where students in the district can feel included and gain important work and life skills. The Hazleton Area has been on a steady rise, and the addition of the Spirit Store—with the help of the Hazleton Area School District—is just another stride toward making the community even better.
Visit the Spirit Store
Stop by the Hazleton Area Spirit Store Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., or on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Find your school’s apparel and rock it everywhere you go—whether it’s a shirt or a jacket, there’s something for every student or alum at the HASD Spirit Store!
