The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

September 11, 2012

Benefactor Pedas gives $30K to school

By Tom Davidson Herald Staff Writer

FARRELL, WHEATLAND — Ted Pedas has spent much of his life gazing at the stars and explaining them to people.

As a teacher, astronomer and scientific cruise leader, Pedas, 73, has traveled far to witness eclipses, followed comets and pondered the dark side of the moon. He’s never forgotten his Farrell roots, however.

“You remind us of the importance of staying connected,” Farrell Area School Board President Terry Harrison said Monday, after Pedas made his 43rd cash donation to the district.

“I want to personally thank you,” Harrison said.

Education, community and family are pillars in Pedas’ life and he reminds the district of that commitment each year, Harrison said.

“I hope that my legacy is that I helped the citizens of Farrell and Wheatland,” Pedas said.

“We appreciate it,” Superintendent Lora Adams-King said.

Pedas’ $30,000 check brings the total of his contributions to $655,132.34

The money will fund cash awards for students of the month and year, and employees of the month and year for non-instructional  staff.

It will underwrite the model rocketry in education program and pay for the alumni hall of fame.

The bulk of the cash will go toward supporting the Ted Pedas Planetarium and provide 100 days of instruction there.

“We don’t take it for granted,” Adams-King said.

She was happy to assist Pedas in handing out the student of the year awards – which include a $100 check.

Terry Stefanick, a jack-of-all-trades in the district who works in its copy center and as a computer technician and is also senior class adviser and theater arts coordinator, was honored with a $1,000 check as the non-instructional employee of the year and the Men of God Plus, a group that mentors the district’s youth, was chosen as citizen(s) of the year and presented with a $1,000 check.

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