PA Students Raise $54K for Make-A-Wish, Top Vocab Bowl

When Carter Pearce became the top vocabulary student in America, he didn't just win for himself. He helped his entire school district claim second place nationally in the Vocabulary.com Vocab Bowl, putting DuBois Area High School on the map for academic achievement.

But the real story goes deeper than test scores. Students across the DuBois Area School District in Pennsylvania are learning that success means lifting others up along the way.

The district's youngest learners are getting a head start on financial literacy through Junior Achievement programs now offered in all elementary grades. Kindergartners learn about saving and giving through storybook characters, while fourth graders run a mock hot dog stand to understand revenue and expenses. These aren't just classroom exercises. School counselors and PTA volunteers are connecting real world skills to academic learning in ways that stick.

That focus on community shows up in student actions too. During Homeless Awareness Week, kids collected spare change and raised over $400 for the local food pantry. Another clothing drive brought in more than $3,000 worth of donations for families in need.

Then there's the Make-A-Wish fundraiser. Every single school in the district participated, and together students raised $53,871.22 for children facing critical illnesses. That's not a typo. Over fifty thousand dollars from one school district.

The wins keep coming. The high school robotics team took first place at the East Allegheny tournament. The competitive spirit cheerleaders captured the district championship. Students earned spots in the regional chorus and took home art honors.

The Ripple Effect

Superintendent Wendy Benton sees these achievements as more than isolated wins. When students master vocabulary, they gain tools to express themselves. When they learn financial literacy young, they build foundations for lifelong success. When they give to others, they develop empathy that ripples through entire communities.

The district is now exploring a virtual exchange program with middle school students in Kyoto, Japan, thanks to an alumna studying abroad who wants to give current students the gift of global perspective.

From national academic competitions to local food pantries, DuBois students are learning that excellence and service aren't separate paths but two sides of the same coin.