Saegertown Pride Alliance (SPA) sports new officers and new look

By LaWrynn Edwards

Saegertown Pride Alliance (SPA) members are coming together with new shirts and new officers to spread their positive message of acceptance.

The new shirts include two designs, a small rainbow-colored panther paw on the front that reads "Saegertown Pride Alliance" and a large design of hands intertwined on the center back that reads "We Support." These logos were brainstormed by the members of SPA. Freshman LaWrynn Edwards created the initial designs, and the images were finalized by Lisa Currier of K & M Graphics in Linesville.

During the March 4 business meeting, the group re-elected officers because previous officers had either left the district or failed to attend meetings. Junior Jazlen Miller remained president. Junior Royal Miller was elected vice president; Amanda Crowl, secretary; Zaine Eback, treasurer; and LaWrynn Edwards, social media editor. SPA meets on Thursdays during lunch plus and all are welcomed to attend.

Along with the election of new officers, SPA is working to build connections with each other and gain new members. Recent meetings have included paint chip poetry, asking questions about one another, trivia, ice breakers, and sharing life experiences. Future meetings will include outdoor activities as the weather improves.

The group is also working to have ally window clings made available to staff members who wish to show their support for LGBTQ+ students. This would allow students to know they are welcome and can turn to those teachers for guidance.

"Whenever I go into a classroom where I might feel uncomfortable," SPA member Trinity Eback says, "At least I know the adult in the room is an ally of what I am. I still feel comfortable being in that room."

SPA has also gathered a number of new members and is still growing.

"I enjoy it a lot [SPA] because it is a place where everyone should feel safe and have a good time," a seventh-grade member said. SPA isn't just a place for students of the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe; it is a place for everyone to come and have a place to feel accepted.

(LaWrynn Edwards writes for the Panther Press, Saegertown High School's award-winning newsmedia program.)