Christa Hampshire

Most young girls enjoy talking; usually on the telephone. This wonderful skill seems to develop quite naturally at quite an early age. One ten-year old from Plum has taken that natural ability and honed it into a skill that has won her awards. Christa Hampshire, 4th grader at Pittsburgh East,

During her participation in the 'Speech Meet', Christa has walked away with an Excellence, Superior, and an Excellence in the poetry category. Each participating student must pick a piece of poetry by subject, memorize it and then recite it. First this is done at the school level and if you win you get to go to another school and compete against other students for ribbons.

Christa also participates in Association Christian Schools International (ACSI) activities, which most Christian schools are a member. The association hosts recitals once a year at each grade level where students can compete. Those interested get a list of topic suggestions and memorize the piece to perform. The best one or two students at each school are selected to compete in a big competition.

A straight A student, so far during her attendance at Pittsburgh East Christian School, Christa has been awarded four character awards of Obedience, Servitude, Perseverance, and Servitude again in grade K through 3rd grade. In Pre-K through 3rd, she has earned a Bible trophy each year for memorizing the specified number of required verses for the award. Each of these accomplishments has meant a lot to Christa and she is hiding these words in her heart.

Outside of school activities Christa participates in the Pittsburgh East 'Just for kids" night that is held every Wednesday evening. They do fun activities like camping and learn great skills such as knitting and crocheting. Christa is just starting to learn how to crochet flowers. Another time they stayed overnight at the church in tents and cooked food and had a scavenger hunt. Christa also has some natural acting abilities which helped gain her a position on the cast of her church's Christmas play, Three Wise Men and a Baby. She played the part of the innkeeper's wife. Although she was nervous, this being her first production, Christa said that she had a lot of fun.

Besides exercising her brain, Christa keeps in shape physically with activities such as swimming. The results of this are in achieving two Presidents Physical Fitness Awards. She is also on the school badminton team, which is in first place. Christa, along with her parents Larry and Donna, and her two older brothers Mathew 12, and Michael 14, enjoy family camping and boating trips to the Yough Dam Federal Campground.