PHS student creates 9/11 memorial poster
Living in Virginia Beach at the time, Gene Frevele was in the second grade during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C.
"I remember having to ask about it after school," Frevele said. "I didn't really know what was going on."
Ten years older and now a senior at Pittsburg High School, Frevele has attained an immense appreciation for the horror of that tragic day, but also for the courage and perseverance of those who were and remain affected by the attacks.
This year, to help mark the 10th anniversary of what has become known as simply "9/11," Frevele designed a poster that was used during a ceremony at the Baxter Springs VFW and which hangs in the VFW headquarters.
"My aunt is a member of the Baxter VFW, and she asked me to design something they could use this year," Frevele said. "She knew I'm good at graphic design, and I was glad to help."
He named his digital creation, "Patriot Day."
Graphic design has been one of Frevele's passion since his freshman year.
"It was something that just hit me in the face, basically," he said. "I got on a computer and started messing around. I found that I really liked it and was pretty decent at it."
Another of Frevele's 9/11-themed posters hangs in the classroom of the PHS A+ Academy, a credit-recovery, computer-based program he has utilized and in which he has thrived.
"I really like the program because the classes move at your own pace, which is good," he said.
A+ Academy teacher Janice Malan said Frevele has proven to be one of the program's "many success stories."
"This is why I love my job so much," Malan said. "Students can catch up on credits, they can work on college prep classes, and we can tap into their creative side -- what really makes them tick and get excited about learning.
"It is up to the students to hone their skills and, no matter who they are, everyone has a skill or idea to share," she said. "I see school as a training ground for student potential and we, as educators, provide them with just some of the many tools available for them to create and be lifelong learners."
Frevele, who also records music, said he plans to study recording arts after high school.
