FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andrew Staub
Communications Specialist
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 103 or astaub@yorkpa.org 

Louise Heine 
Destination Marketing Director
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 109 or louise@yorkpa.org 

YORK, PA - Hundreds of student leaders from across the Keystone State will visit York County next week for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils' 2017 State Conference hosted by the Red Lion Area Senior High School.

More than 1,000 total attendees are expected for the event, which the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates will drive more than $500,000 in economic benefits to the local community. Red Lion students successfully bid on the event and have spent two years planning for its arrival.

"It is amazing to see how far, not only I have come, but how far our student council has come in terms of networking and confidence. We are a new council who is driven to do amazing things not only for ourselves, but for everyone around us," said Gianna Dovell, the PASC President and a sophomore at Red Lion. "This conference has given us the opportunity to help leaders across the state. Knowing we had something to do with that is unbelievable."

With 14 separate committees formed to handle the event, Red Lion students spent two years planning everything from the food attendees will enjoy to the transportation that will ferry visitors across York County during their stay. Plus, they handled logistics with hotels, secured motivational speakers, developed a website and networked with local businesses and elected officials. They also learned technical skills while making note pads, stickers and banners with machinery from the technology education program.

"It's quite the undertaking, but these students have excelled," said Jane Dennish, the adviser for the Red Lion Student Council. "They have learned how to write professional emails and respond to businesses in a professional way through telephone conversations. They have grown into mature leaders who will one day help our community as they graduate and join the work force. This is by far the most real-life preparation they have had while in high school."

The three-day state conference begins Thursday, November 2, and includes a college fair and an evening of fun at Maize Quest. The second-day schedule features workshops, caucuses and general sessions, and concludes with a banquet and dance at the York Expo Center. After a general session the morning of November 4, students will depart.

This will mark the fifth time a York County school has hosted the PASC's annual state conference. This year's state conference was supported by a $10,000 grant from the York County Tourism Grant Program.

"This event is proof that tourism is a true community effort. The work of these incredible student leaders will result in significant business for our local tourism industry partners and an influx of youthful energy to York County this week," said Anne Druck, President of the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "This is our opportunity to show young leaders that York County is not only an excellent place to visit, but a destination for them when it comes to college, employment after graduation and as a great place to settle down with a family."

More details about the conference are available at www.pasc2017.org. The event is sponsored by Exelon, J.E. Quinones & Associates, the LEO Club, the Red Lion Area Educational Foundation and 30 other local businesses and organizations.

"We are so grateful for the support from our school district, our community and our sponsors," Dennish said. "They believed in a group of 50 teenagers and have given them the opportunity of a lifetime."

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB's Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.

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