Ms. Patricia Black, Riverview High School Librarian, Oakmont

In a high school of only about 450 students, one would not expect to find a boisterous Key Club with 150 members! Yet, the Riverview High School students, under the direction of Ms. Patricia Black have created an award winning service club, astounding the community with amazing commitment. Ms. Black, Riverview’s enthusiastic librarian, leads by example, and by living out community service with the students.

Ms. Black first sets a standard of dedication as an educator. She has been a librarian for 43 years and greatly enjoys working with students. “You get to know the students and where they need the help. Since they come here as seventh graders and stay six years, you get to know them inside and out. I think that’s very special,” she explains.

Ms. Black also shows commitment to the community by volunteering for the Verona-Rosedale Kiwanis. She has been an active member for the past twenty years and has served as the president for the past four years. In addition to Kiwanis, Ms. Black holds the statewide position of Assistant Administrator of the Pennsylvania Key Club. Finally, squeezing one more group into her agenda, she is the Vice President of Friends of Oakmont Library, affectionately known as FOOLs.

Most of her time and ardent devotion, however, is poured into Riverview’s Key Club. They have won over 15 trophies and numerous awards for service in the community. The students plan and execute regular weekly and monthly projects, such as playing Bingo with patients at the Veterans’ Hospital, serving meals at the East Liberty Shelter, and helping build houses through the New Kensington Habitat for Humanity. For another organization, Together for Youth, students go for a week of day camp to work with mentally handicapped individuals. Ms. Black and her students are constantly on the go. Last year, the students gave 8,000 hours of community service!

This past spring, the Key Club entered their best project of the year, “A Lock-In for Kids” in an international competition under the category, “Single Service.” For the Lock-In, the high school students had provided an evening of activities, such as carnival games, face painting, sports in the gym, and movies for 250 elementary age children. The students prepared a 120-page portfolio containing all their planning information, a description of the event, and pictures. The project won first place at the state level, so six students raised money to travel to Boston for the International Key Club Competition. Ms. Black recalls, “When the awards were being called out for Honorable Mention and Runner Up positions, I thought it was all over; we hadn’t placed. Then they called Riverview for first place! It was pandemonium!! The kids were thrilled.” Upon returning home, area businesses greeted them with celebratory banners. One store proudly displayed, “Key Club – First Place in the World!!”

Giving all the credit to the students Ms. Black notes, “I purposely step back to allow the students the opportunity to do everything. Sometimes it’s hard not to intervene when you see something being overlooked, but I let the students learn from their mistakes.” She also feels passionate about the value of the experience they gain by all their volunteering. She notes, “When they go to the Veteran’s Hospital, it exposes them to the plight of our seniors. …I want them to be aware of what’s out there.”

Believing that the time in service instills in students the motivation and desire to impact their world, Ms Black continues to go out faithfully with the students. Sometimes she doesn’t get home until after 10:00pm, but she loves what she’s doing. “The most rewarding aspect for me is watching students develop from young children into young adults that are prepared to face a challenging world.” Clearly her example of service bolsters a desire in their hearts to make a difference. For the full story and to watch the video interview check out alle-kiskitoday.com