Franklin & Marshall College boosts youth support with a $17,000 donation to the Squash Aces program at the fifth annual Hamilton Open.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Franklin & Marshall College is holding its fifth annual Hamilton Open, and, once again, it held a “Squash Aces Day” as part of its festivities.
The Squash Aces is a youth program pulling from Reynolds and McCaskey seeking to teach kids about squash.
Kids are “paired with an academic mentor to help them with their academics in school, with the goal of having them graduate high school and go onto post-secondary,” explained Hamilton Open Co-Chairman King Knox. “This is a program that is academic, but the squash courts are their classroom.”
While youth programs like Squash Aces help grow the sport, they also focus on building well-rounded members of society.
Franklin & Marshall Women’s Squash Sophomore Ashanti Amastal reflected on her entrance into the sport.
“I started playing squash in 2014 with a program similar to Squash Aces,” she said. “They are experiencing a lot of the same things that I did growing up — playing squash, doing academics and then having college support. It was really nice to see.”
The best part for those in the Squash Aces program, like McCaskey senior Madison Portello, is “just being around the kids, getting experience with the kids and building those bonds with people younger than me.”
Portello then added that the program has played a huge part in her life, saying she “gained so much advice and experience from having a mentor in squash, and I’ve also had really fun times bonding with people who are older than me. I always felt really cool telling people I have a college friend mentor.”
At Squash Aces Day, Franklin & Marshall presented the program with a $17,000 dollar check to help support their efforts, some of which are directly helping their own programs.
“I started Squash Aces ten years ago, and now, I’m a senior at F&M, and I’m on the women’s squash team,” explained Franklin & Marshall senior Destiny Ponce. “It all started with Squash Aces.”
Knox added that Ponce “still stays in touch with her mentors, and she considers the people that she met in Squash Aces close friends. It’s what the program is all about. The more [stories like Destiny’s,] the more success we have.”
Their success is clear for anyone looking at their graduation rates.
“In the last eight or nine years, everyone in the program graduated high school, and over 70% have gone on to a post-secondary program,” explained Knox.
The goal of Squash Aces isn’t just academic, though. They also seek to instill a lifelong love for the sport.
“Squash is a game that is not just for young people,” said Knox. “You can play the game almost your entire life, and, hopefully, some of [the Squash Aces players] will stick with it.”
Portello added that she’ll be able to “use the experiences and memories that I have working with these amazing kids in my future, and I just get to have the best time of my life [being a part of Squash Aces].”
While the Hamilton Open will conclude play on Friday Oct. 25th, the Squash Aces program is ongoing, with more information available on their website.
The Whitefish Winter Carnival has crowned its first round of royalty, the Prime Minister and the Duchess of Lark.
Zak Anderson was named Prime Minister and Katie Akey was crowned Duchess of Lark during the Merry Maker on Saturday.
Zak Anderson is a longtime Whitefish community member with a career rooted in volunteer leadership and civic service. With over two decades of experience in hospitality, marketing, youth sports, and event production, Anderson consistently applies his skills to strengthen local organizations and community initiatives.
Anderson serves as board president of the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center, supporting public safety, education, and forecasting for backcountry users across northwest Montana. He is also a board member of Housing Whitefish, a nonprofit focused on workforce housing solutions, and previously served on the Whitefish Planning Board. In his role as executive director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, Zak serves on the city of Whitefish’s Sustainable Tourism Management Plan Committee, contributing to efforts that balance tourism, livability, and environmental stewardship.
Across civic planning, tourism, and public safety, Anderson brings a collaborative, hands-on approach. He leverages his experience in operations, fundraising, and communications to strengthen organizations that serve the greater Flathead Valley.
A lifelong local with deep roots in our realm, Katie Akey is a Whitefish native who embodies the town’s spirit of service and community.
Though she left for a brief period, her return was marked by a seamless transition back into the local fabric, picking up exactly where she left off: championing the traditions and people that make Whitefish home and serving those who are lucky enough to visit.
As a manager of the Great Northern Bar & Grill, Akey oversees one of the last remaining original local establishments. Under her and her family’s dedication to the realm “The Northern” has remained a vital community hub, raising over $65,000 for the Whitefish Winter Carnival through its legendary Disco Party. She has never been one to be part of anything in name only. This is reflected in her extensive volunteer work as a Winter Carnival board member for over 10 years and treasure for the past four. Setting up logistics for travel, participating in parades and stepping in as a character when needed.
Akey’s dedication lies not only in Carnival but also in the town’s heritage, growth and future. Through the FIT program benefiting children for the past 10 years, she’s helped sort prizes weeks in advance all the way through coming home covered in pink and blue dye from the Color Run fundraisers. Also, a member of the Big Mountain Commercial Association board, Akey has a passion for keeping the SNOW buses running and free to all the public by donating space at The Northern and helping serve at the fundraising events. Whether she is behind the scenes at the Great Northern, Winter Carnival, or advocating for students and local mountain transit, Akey remains a driving force in preserving the unique character and future of the community of Whitefish.
The Whitefish Winter Carnival continues through Feb. 8. Up next is the coronation of King Ullr LX VII and Queen of the Snows at the O’Shaughnessy Center at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17, followed by the Disco Party the same evening. For a full list of events, visit whitefishwintercarnival.com.
Whitefish Winter Carnival Prime Zak Anderson. (Photo courtesy of Picture Montana)
Apparently, this is becoming the standard at Hershey Bears games.
Published•Updated
We may have just seen the hockey fight of the year — and it didn’t even happen at an NHL game.
During an AHL match between the Hershey Bears and Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, youth players hit the ice at intermission for a quick mites game. But the crowd at the Giant Center got more than they bargained for.
At one point during the game, a fight broke out between two of the kiddos. The boys threw multiple haymakers as if they were auditioning for a role in a Slap Shot remake. After the player in blue wrestled the player in red to the ground, teammates got involved — attempting to push the blue player off their fallen comrade. That is until another blue player came in and body slammed the pile.
That’s when all hell broke loose. Suddenly, it was an all-out brawl of miniature hockey players punching and tackling each other onto the ice. At one point, a blue player got lost in the moment and started swinging on his own teammate.
Even a goalie got involved!
WATCH:
Not a referee in sight.
Here’s another angle, in case you can’t get enough:
I see promising hockey careers and a lot of missing teeth in their future.
Apparently, though, these sorts of brawls have become commonplace at Hershey Bears mites games. Check out this fight from Dec. 20.
In case you cared about the actual AHL game Saturday, the Bears got the win, 3-2, breaking a tie in the third period while short-handed.
But that’s not what any of the fans were buzzing about when they left the arena.
Youth artists who live in households or receive housing-related services managed by the Cullman Housing Authority are invited to take part in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) “What Home Means to Me” poster contest. (Cullman Housing Authority)
CULLMAN, Ala. – Youth artists who live in households or receive housing-related services managed by the Cullman Housing Authority are invited to take part in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) “What Home Means to Me” poster contest.
The contest is open to youth ages 5–18 and is part of a national program sponsored by NAHRO.
Since 2008, the competition has highlighted the artwork of children living in affordable housing, encouraging young artists to express what home means to them through original poster designs.
The contest is conducted in multiple rounds, beginning at the regional level. A total of 24 regional winners advance to the national competition, where 12 national winners are selected.
National winners have their artwork featured in NAHRO’s “What Home Means to Me” calendar the following year. Select winners also receive cash prizes and a trip to Washington, D.C.
Cullman Housing Authority officials encourage eligible youth and families interested in participating to visit the Cullman Housing Authority office at 408 Cleveland Ave. SW, Cullman, or call 256-734-6171 for complete contest guidelines and submission deadlines.
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Student artists across Southern Maryland will soon have the chance to see their creativity displayed on gallery walls as the St. Mary’s County Arts Council prepares for Youth Art Month 2026, a celebration of young talent and arts education.
Youth Art Month, held each March, highlights the importance of visual arts in schools and gives children and teens an opportunity to showcase their work in a professional gallery setting. The annual exhibition is open to artists 18 and under who live in St. Mary’s, Calvert or Charles counties.
Organizers say Youth Art Month is designed to do more than display artwork; it aims to boost confidence, encourage self-expression and highlight the role of arts education in student development. The exhibit allows young artists to share their unique perspectives while engaging with the local arts community.
Submitted artwork must meet exhibition guidelines, including size limitations and family-friendly content. Students will be notified when artwork is ready for pickup following the close of the exhibition in early April.
The St. Mary’s County Arts Council, which hosts the event annually, works with educators, volunteers and community partners to support arts programming throughout the region and to ensure young artists have opportunities to learn, grow and be seen.
More information about submission requirements and scheduling appointments is available on the St. Mary’s County Arts Council Calls for Art website.
Related
Sophia Blackwell is a Lexington Park–based journalist who has called Southern Maryland home since 2011. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, she discovered her passion for journalism…
More by Sophia Blackwell
One of the wildest fights of the hockey season may have occurred during the intermission of an American Hockey League game between the Hershey Bears and the Cleveland Monsters.
The Bears’ “Mites on Ice” segment features youth hockey players competing against each other during intermission. However, competitive play turned into an all-out brawl involving players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
A closeup of an American Hockey League logo during the game between the Hershey Bears and the Rockford IceHogs at the Giant Center on Jan. 4, 2026 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The club said Sunday it was investigating the events that occurred leading up to the brawl.
“We have been made aware of an incident that occurred last night during the ‘Mites on Ice’ event between periods of the Hershey Bears game,” the organization said. “The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants—especially our young players—are of the utmost importance.
NHL’S SEATTLE KRAKEN RECEIVE MIXED REACTIONS TO PRIDE-THEMED LOGO AND JERSEYS
The Hershey Bears celebrate a goal by Louie Belpedio #7 which triggered the tossing of stuffed animals at the Giant Center on Jan. 4, 2026 in Hershey, Pennsylvania(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
“We are currently conducting an internal review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. This review will include gathering information from all relevant parties and assessing the situation thoroughly and responsibly.”
The club said it didn’t want to draw conclusions until the investigation was complete.
“At this time, we believe it is important to allow this process to take place before drawing conclusions. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families, partners, and community as we work through this matter.”
It’s not the first time this season the Bears have had a “Mites on Ice” fight.
The Hersey Bears hoist the Calder Cup on June 24, 2024.(Travis Boyd/Special to the Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Another brawl took place on Dec. 20 between youth hockey players. It didn’t appear anyone was injured.
Follow Fox News Digital’ssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
