By Courtney L. Anderson
Herald Staff Writer
The Herald (Sharon, Pa) — September 13, 2005

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Christmas came to Farrell Area School District early again this year.

"We have a Santa Claus that comes every September", Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr. said at Monday night's board meeting. "I don't have to give him any introduction. Everyone in this room knows who he is."

While many schools scramble for funding and often have to cut programs, Farrell has been able to continue and establish many projects for the good of the school and community thanks to generous benefactor Ted Pedas.

Pedas, director emeritus of the district planetarium named after him, has contributed $454,643 to the district over the past 36 years "to further enhance school district programs, activities and facilities for both students and the community."

Monday, Pedas presented the district a check for $20,800 and shared several stories of students who received awards funded by his generosity. Rubano said they enjoyed the history lesson because "if you understand the past, you understand the future."

School board president Michael Wright thanked Pedas for all he's done for the district over the years. "You bless a lot of people...and it comes from the heart."

Board vice president Lester Robinson said it's nice to see someone who can do something to help better the city and the school.

"Thank you very much," said board member Sadie Benham. "You're one person who truly loves Farrell High School and you show it."

Board member Terry Harrison agreed, adding that Pedas "didn't just say it - you do it."

District solicitor James Nevant II said Pedas' commitment and loyalty are admirable.

"You don't have to do it," noted board member Ronald Weston, adding that Pedas himself will be blessed for his actions.

"Keep up the good work, Ted," said board member Larry Manilla.

On behalf of all the students Pedas has touched over the years, Rubano said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

A 1956 Farrell graduate, Pedas is an internationally known astronomer, planetarium lecturer emeritus at Youngstown State University, former astronomy columnist for The Vindicator and a world traveler who has organized many historical and astronomical cruises.

He has been steadfast in his mission to improve his community and the education and quality of life of people - especially young people - who live there.

Upon his retirement as director of the planetarium several years ago, Pedas continued to donate his pension to the school and also volunteers his time to teach younsters about the stars. In fact, he said he has received letters from former students serving in the first Iraq war asking for star maps. If you know where two stars are in the sky, you'll never be lost, Pedas said.

"These annual donations have been given as a small token of appreciation to the Farrell Area School District which has provided an education for my brothers and sister and me, enabling us, as children of immigrant parents, to make our way in the world," Pedas said. "Each of us in our own way owes a debt of gratitude to our school, community and those dedicated individuals who praved the road for us."

Part of Ted Pedas' annual donations to Farrell Area School District over the last few years was set aside in hopes that one day outstanding alumni could be recognized.

The 65-year old retired teacher and director of the district's planetarium said he wanted to create a Hall of Fame for those distinguished graduates.

And now, after years of hoping and collecting money for the project, it seems that Pedas' dream will finally come to fruition: The first class of honorees is to be inducted next year.

Pedas made the announcement - and his 35th annual donation - at Monday's school board meeting.

He began his presentation quoting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, author Mark Twain and Hidu poet Tagore. Pedas said he came “with a sense of love for the board, his school and the community.”

He has shown that love for more than three decades by donating about $35,000 a year to the district until his retirement a few years ago. At that time, he decided to donate his retirement earnings to the district to fund 12 areas of activities.

Monday, Pedas presented Superintendent Richard Rubano a check for $20,080 that will be used to fund those activities and programs.

Pedas said he had been donating money to fund a Hall of Fame, but it never materialized, so this year, he decided to tranfer the $3,500 for it to another program.

Then Rubano called him and told him a committee was forming for the Hall of Fame program, and Pedas said he couldn't have been happier.

“I'm elated; absolutely elated,” he said. “This is something that was very dear to my heart. I felt that this type of recognition is important because Farrell has had many people become successful...”

The first Hall of Famers will be announced in July in conjunction with the fifth annual Farrell Citizen of the Year award ceremony.

Monday's donation brings the total of Pedas' 35 years of donations to $434,552. He called the money “a small token of appreciation” meant to give back to the district that gave him and his siblings - children of immigrant parents - an education so they could make their mark on the world.

Pedas - a world traveler and internationally known astronomer - has been a science magazine and newspaper writer for three decades. He continues to lead archaelogical and astronomical cruises around the world and is also a retired planetarium lecturer at Youngstown State University.

“My motivation is that I want every single student to receive an award while they're in school,” he said. “And now I'm even more motivated.”

From students who improve themselves to nontraditional students who are at least 25 years old looking to have a try at college learning, to custodians, secretaries and other non-instructional staff, Pedas said everyone in the district is important and valued, and the awards reflect that:

And while he said he is overjoyed when students and others thank him for his generosity, giving to others is just something that makes him happy.

“I feel that I've been very fortunate and when you've been fortunate, you should give something back,” he said. “I can think of nothing better than giving to the kids.”

School directors Monday showered Pedas with praise. Board member Edward Zappa called him “a Farrell guy all the way.”

“I think we would be a better world if more people gave a little more of themselves, be it money or effort. Giving is most important,” Pedas said.

Pedas continues annual donations

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer The Herald (Sharon, Pa) —Tuesday, September 9, 2002

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When Ted Pedas announced he was retiring as planetarium director at Farrell Area School District, he overheard some unflattering chit-chat.

"We won't see him again," Pedas said people commented about him.

But even though he no longer is being paid by the district, he still is making his annual donation for a host of programs.

"He's not done yet," said Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr.

Monday, Pedas, presented the school board a check for $30,980.

It was Pedas' 33rd annual donation, lifting his total to $396,992.

"I plan to be here again next year," said Pedas, who acknowledged only being "kind of retired."

But Pedas, 63, of Farrell, also will be donating more than money to the district: He has agreed to contribute some of his time.

Pedas will return to the district as a planetarium volunteer.

The 1956 Farrell High graduate proposed working about 30 days a year, and he would choose different grades to work with each year. For this year, he wants to focus on grades nine through 12.

Pedas noted that the number of school planetariums has fallen statewide from 300 when he started in 1969 -- the year Farrell's was built -- to fewer than 30. He blamed the decline on budget cuts and districts losing interest in planetariums when key staff people leave.

Of the 14 programs Pedas is funding, the largest is for supplies, equipment and maintenance of the planetarium, which bears his name.

"I don't expect the district to provide any monies for the upkeep of the planetarium," he said.

Pedas, who organizes science- and history-themed sea cruises, said he also would be available to conduct astronomy, space and science workshops for teachers and staff.

"I do this because I love the school and the community, and I will do this as long as I can," he said of his philanthropy. "I make this oath to you."

School board members took turns praising Pedas' generosity.

"Thanks to people like you, Farrell is still a good place to raise your kids," said board membe Lester Robinson Jr.

Before Ted Pedas delivered his annual check to Farrell Area School District Monday, he offered some observations of things he has seen recently:

A Farrell post office employee helping an elderly man fill out a money order.

Students asking him what happened and how he is in response to seeing a bandage on his head. He had whacked it into the school planetarium dome.

A school board member fixing Pedas' bike when he noticed Pedas kept stopping while riding.

Those little acts of kindness, Pedas seemed to be saying, are as important as his annual big act of kindness.

"These are the things that happen in a small community," Pedas said.

Pedas, director of the school planetarium that is named after him, presented a check for $31,980 in his 32nd year of giving back to Farrell schools.

In total, Pedas has donated $364,192 to the district.

Some of the programs he funds recur from year to year -- such as the Student of the Month. Awards and Students Motivational and Improvement Awards -- but he always adds one or two new ones.

This year, Pedas took the advice of teacher Marge McCaslin-Gillern in starting an elementary literacy project.

Ms. McCaslin-Gillern said she loves reading and wanted to pass that on to her students.

Pedas said her comment was mindful of what Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington and his predecessor, Dr. Daniel Boorstin, have told him about the state of reading in the United States.

The scholars, who have attended the historical and scientific ship cruises Pedas sets up for Royal Olympic Cruises of, New York, said people are not reading as much as they used to and publishers are releasing fewer books.

"They are concerned we're going to have a generation that's not reading," Pedas said.

Pedas is donating $1,250 to encourage students to read 25 books during the school year, meeting the state standard.

Pedas' second new program is actually one he announced at the Farrell Centennial Celebration: a school district Hall of Fame honoring outstanding alumni.

Pedas, who was named the Farrell Centurion at the Centennial Celebration, awarded $1,250 and hopes to see that 20 inaugural alumni will be named at the Farrell Homecoming in July.

The alumni awards would be named at the same time as the newly created Farrell Citizen of the Year and Junior Citizen of the Year awards.

Pedas publicly announced that he will retire at the end of the school year.

In one last act of kindness for the night, Pedas, seeking to stop potential heart attacks of school board members, said he will continue his annual check presentation and funding of existing and new programs.

Pedas, who was hired in 1969, said he decided to retire to ease the district's financial straits.

He noted the board's decision to raise taxes while the budget fund balance, its rainy day savings account, drops to an "unacceptably low amount."

He will work at the school about 45 days a year to guide students through the planetarium and will donate whatever he earns during that time -- plus his pension -- to the school district.

"I'm not giving up on you," he said.

The school board members took their turns thanking Pedas for his commitment to the district.

"Thanks again, Mr. Pedas," said school Director Larry Manilla. "I'll fix your bike anytime."

Ted Pedas got a letter recently from a "financial guru" who said he could have been a millionaire by now if he had invested the money he donates to his old school.

“I care more about people,” Pedas told the Farrell Area School Board Monday. “I care about human resources. That's why I'm doing this.”

What Pedas did Monday is what he's done every year for 31 years — give money to the school district to support existing programs and implement innovative ones.

Pedas, an astronomer who directs the school planetarium named after him and organizes scientific and historical sea cruises, turned over a check for $32,230, the largest amount of money he has ever given at one time. It brought his 31-year total to $327,212.

Aside from an outlay for maintenance and upkeep of the planetarium and continuation of existing programs, such as the Student Motivational and Improvement Awards for graduating seniors, Student of the Month Awards at the high school and elementary school and Volunteer of the Year Awards, Pedas created four new allocations.

Two of the new programs relate to the City of Farrell's 100th birthday next year. He has given $1,250 for the school district and city to get together and create a program that benefits students in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration.

“I don't want it to be hot dogs or wings,” he said. “I want to it be significant.”

Pedas suggested a contest or gift that reflects Farrell's history, which Pedas said was built on steel, foreign and domestic immigration and varied ethnic backgrounds.

“I think I was much richer for having had this diversity,” he said.

The second idea is an old one: instituting a school Hall of Fame honoring outstanding alumni. Pedas said he has talked about the idea for 20 years and three different superintendents have told him “next year.”

“I'm not going to ask,” he said. “I'm just going to give you the money.”

The amount: $1,250.

The former Youngstown State University professor envisions the first set of honorees being named during the Centennial Celebration, and an in-school display for academic achievement that rivals the athletic trophy cases.

Pedas said one of his fondest memories of growing up was watching the festivities of the Farrell Golden Jubilee in 1951 from his father's store at Broadway Avenue and Federal Street.

His other new programs are creating year-end $100 cash awards for the top Wheatland students in grades 1 through 12, and $2,000 for the Farrell Day Care Center, an idea he said came from district business office employee Debbie Bordell.

“You've been a model for kids to emulate,” said Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr. after the board gave Pedas a standing ovation. “You've been a model for superintendents to emulate. No one prods you. You do it because you want to.”

Ted Pedas challenged the Farrell Area School Board to better recognize the contributions of Wheatland. He put his money where his mouth is Monday by giving the district $1,200 for Wheatland Student of the Year Achievement and Recognition Awards.

Pedas said he read about the Wheatland residents who want to leave the Farrell school district and join West Middlesex or Hermitage. He said he was moved by their comments and wanted to start the award program, which will tender $100 to the top Wheatland student in grades 1-12 at the end of the school year.

“I went to school with Wheatland kids,” he said. “I was happy to hear some of them say they were glad they went to Farrell.”

Pedas challenged the board to make sure Wheatland residents know “they do fit in” at Farrell schools.

“See what you can do to recognize our Wheatland citizens,” he said.

“Ted Pedas is a hell of a guy to begin with,” said Jim Weiser, one of the Wheatland parents who formed WHEAT, Wheatland's Educational Alternatives Taskforce. “For Ted Pedas to say that is awesome. That means a lot coming from that guy.”

Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr. responded that Wheatland is a part of the school system.

Director Lester Robinson Jr. reiterated that the board makes decisions based on what's best for all students. "We try to be as fair as we possibly can."

Robinson said the Wheatland complaints were a "great eye-opener for us."

George Pedas turned over a check Monday for $23,030 to Farrell Area School Board on behalf of his brother, Ted, who has donated money to the district for various programs for 30 years.

Pedas' three-decade total is $291,982.

“Giving away Ted's money is one of the easier jobs my brother has given me.” George Pedas quipped Monday. George Pedas is the school's technical education director and his brother the director of the school's Ted Pedas Planetarium.

Ted Pedas is in Hamburg, Germany, participating in the development of a new cruise ship for Royal Olympic Cruises. The ship is being designed to be the fastest cruise ship in the world, he said in a letter. Pedas arranges cruises to see astronomical phenomena, such as eclipses, and historical sites.

Ted Pedas is following up his $10,000 gift in January to create the Farrell Area School District Foundation with another $5,000, which he hopes will spur others to give. The foundation was created to develop, promote and finance educational programs for the district.

He also is giving $1,200 to create Employee of the Month Awards for non-instructional staff, a companion program to his Secondary and Elementary Educator of the Year Awards, which give $1,500 to a teacher from each school.

The remaining programs Ted Pedas is funding:

• 12th annual Student Motivational and Improvement Award for seniors graduating in 2000. The award goes to students who display the greatest positive change, improvement and motivational drive in their senior years. One student receives $1,000 and a second gets $500.

• Secondary and Elementary School Achievement and Recognition Student Awards with $250 going to high school students and an equal amount to elementary students.

• Eight High School Student of the Month Awards, covering 54 cash awards of $25 each to students in grades 7 through 12. Students also receive a certificate.

• Five Elementary School Student of the Month Awards, covering 54 cash awards of $20 each to students in grade 1 to 6. Students also receive a certificate.

• Volunteer of the Year Awards for parents, guardians, students and community members, $1,000 total.

• Ted Pedas Planetarium equipment, supplies and maintenance, $5,000.

• Great Idea! Grants Programs $2,000 for small grants to develop innovative educational opportunities.

• Fourth John G. Sava/Ted Pedas/Pennsylvania State University-Shenango Campus Legacy Award, $1,000. The award goes to a non-traditional undergraduate student from Farrell or Wheatland. It is matched by $1,000 from Sava, the former Farrell schools superintendent, and $1,000 to $2,000 from Penn State.

• Farrell Elementary School PEG/PTA and the Farrell Area High School Parents and Educators Network for Students, $200 for each group.

“People are my most precious and valuable resource,” he said.

The same thing happens in school, he said. Pedas has led tours of the school for class reunions and the conversations frequently cover the accomplishments of classmates and what it was like attending Farrell schools.

“When you think of all the students who have come through these halls — thousands and thousands,” he said.

Pedas said he has looked for a way to reach the people who have come through Farrell and match them up with today's school district. He thinks he's found the proper venue in the Farrell Area School District Foundation.

The school board approved the creation of the foundation in November. Monday Pedas turned over a $10,000 check, “seed money,” he called it, to get the foundation started.

Pedas is one of the foundation's board members. The others are: Helmut Bertram, president of Bertram Tool and Machine Co. in Farrell; Olive Brown, coordinator of Sharon Regional Health System's Minority Health Advocacy Committee and a member of numerous boards; Farrell Councilman Rudolph Hammond; Wheatland Steel president Timothy Jablon; Yolanda Mazyck, program director for neighborhood-based Family Intervention Center and a member of other boards; Oscar Mehler, vice president of First National Bank of Pennsylvania; and Farrell City Manager LaVon Saternow.

The foundation states its purpose as developing, promoting and financing educational programs for the school district, which includes Wheatland and Farrell.

The foundation is affiliated with the Shenango Valley Foundation, which will manage the money and help the foundation board develop growth strategies. Shenango Valley Foundation helped the fledgling foundation formulate its mission statement.

Pedas sees the foundation not just as a money-gathering and awarding organization, but also as a way to honor the accomplishments of current and former students. He would like to see the foundation pave the way for former students to return to Farrell.

“This foundation offers us a wonderful opportunity to bridge the past, the present and the future,” he said.

“'I believe there are many graduates who still care about this little school district in western Pennsylvania,” said school Director Keith Smith.

School Director Rose Marie Branca, referring to Pedas' continual financial contributions to Farrell schools said: “We have to be the luckiest board to have such a person as you with us.”

The award is named for its benefactors and local residents, John G. Sava and Ted Pedas, and will be presented annually to a full-time, nontraditional student from the Farrell or Wheatland area who is enrolled at the campus in Sharon.

The first Pedas, Sava, Penn State Shenango Legacy Award was presented this fall to Nicole Rauber, a Wheatland area resident, majoring in human development and family studies.

Contacted in New York City on Tuesday, Pedas said he created the award to honor Sava "but he turned it around on me and decided he also wanted to add $1,000 and Penn State added the third $1,000."

"I believe very firmly we need to do more for nontraditional students," Pedas said, "If we're going to make a meaningful society we need to reach out to these people. It's like a second chance and I'll continue to support it."

In 1983, John G. Sava took the helm of the financially bankrupt Farrell Area School District and turned it into a system that by 1995 had been declared a School of the 21st Century, according to a news release from Penn State. Sava pioneered a network of early childhood initiatives and school-based family centers that serve children and their families in conjunction with health centers and a myriad of county and state human and health service agencies. Sava emphasized and supported a strong, disciplined academic environment and the participation of staff, students, families, and community members in decision making.

In 1997, Sava was appointed by the Legislature to serve on the Legislative Commission on Restructuring Pennsylvania's Urban Schools.

Sava, a 1960 graduate of Penn State, is vice president of Early Care and Education of The United Way of Allegheny County.

Pedas has been associated with the planetariums at Youngstown State University and the Farrell Area School District for 29 years.

Recognized as an innovator in planetarium operations and education, Pedas holds a degree in planetarium science from Michigan State University and an undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University. The Farrell Area School District hired Pedas in 1969 and opened the planetarium for enrichment of both students and community. Over the years the planetarium has gained local, national and international fame.

Pedas' accomplishments have earned him widespread recognition. His many honors include the U.S. Department of State's Agency for International Development Award for "exemplary service in education," and the Pennsylvania Educator of the Year award.

Pedas, a world traveler and internationally known astronomer, is a planetarium lecturer emeritus at YSU and astronomy columnist for The Vindicator of Youngstown,

"Both individuals have a great sense of community," said Dr. William C. Puffer, executive officer of the local Pennsylvania State University campus.

"Their desire to support our campus and the nontraditional student, which is the majority of our current student body, is indeed a way of matching a need with a desire."

Pedas, director of Farrell High School's Ted Pedas Planetarium, has given the district nearly $300,000 over 30 years. He is a member of the foundation board.

With organizational assistance from the Shenango Valley Foundation, the district foundation was formed to develop, promote and finance educational programs, activities and projects for the school district.

Idea for foundation: Pedas said he got the idea for a foundation when, as a teacher, he led tours of the district's facilities for alumni who came back for class reunions.

Often, they would try to give him a donation for the planetarium

He turned them down, he said, but the offers made him think that, of the more than 10,000 Farrell alumni, perhaps a lot more would want to contribute in some way. The foundation can fulfill that niche, he said.

Farrell's graduates are “our most vlauable resource,” he told the school board. “They're waiting to hear from us.”

Hopes for hall of fame: Pedas said he envisions the foundation creating a hall of fame to honor Farrell athletes and those who have made contributions in the arts, science, medicine and other fields.

The school board thanked Pedas for his continuing generosity.

“We are going to work very hard to see that this is a success for our comminity,” said Superintendent Richard Rubano.

Other members of the foundation board are Helmut Bertram, founder of Bertram Tool and Machine Co.; Olive Brown, coordinator of the Minority Health Advisory Committee of Sharon Regional Health System; Rudolph Hammond, city councilman; Tim Jablon, president of Wheatland Steel; Yolanda Mazyck, program director of Family Intervention Center; Oscar Mehler, vice president of First National Bank of Pennsylvania and LaVon Saternow, Farrell city manager.