The Penn Hills Rotary Club and school district funded a Peace Pole costing about $10,000 through a Rotary International grant and community fundraising, according to TribLIVE. Rotary members installed the stainless steel monument, which bears messages of peace in several languages. The district and club dedicated it at Penn Hills High School on Thursday, WPXI reported.
The club considered putting the pole outside the township municipal building before settling on the school entrance, where members believed it could reach more people, TribLIVE reported. Club president Tyler Tomasino said the location was intended to put a reminder of peace in students’ view at the beginning of the day. He described peace as including how people treat one another in everyday interactions, not just the absence of conflict.
Senior Elias Spearman told TribLIVE he hoped students would take inspiration from the installation, particularly because the school is diverse and the pole’s languages reflect that diversity. He called it “a ray of light.”
Superintendent John Mozzocio said he hopes the pole encourages communication and gives students, teachers and administrators a place to gather and talk, according to TribLIVE. School board President Erin Vecchio said she hopes it prompts students to do something positive for the community as they enter school. Mozzocio also described the district’s partnership with Rotary as a way to strengthen community relationships.
