From coming up with the idea for ASL classes to being a pioneer in a regional drone pilot program, senior Molly Fircak has made a huge impact in her time in the district.
Fircak’s interest in American Sign Language started with a friend in a dance class outside of school who is hard of hearing. Fircak had the idea of starting ASL classes at Baldwin to help her learn how to better communicate with her friend.
“She and her younger sister are both hard of hearing and heavily rely on ASL to communicate, which is why I wanted to start the class”, she said “I wanted to help communicate, especially in a dance environment, because it is loud a lot of the time.”
So she wrote an essay about adding ASL classes at Baldwin.
“In eighth grade, I wrote an argumentative essay that was read at the Honors Ceremony, which is what got all of this rolling,” Fircak said.
District administrators heard about Fircak’s proposal, and the idea eventually reached the school board and won approval.
ASL teacher Lindsey Graney, who previously worked individually and in small groups of students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, began teaching the new ASL class.
“For a student to write a letter and for it to make its way out shows some dedication, so I was really excited to hear it,” Graney said. “I’m hoping that ASL class would’ve occurred without Molly, but the level of her advocating got the ball rolling, and I am grateful she spoke up.”
The ASL program at Baldwin has really taken off, with multiple sections of the class being taught, an ASL Club, and after-school ASL classes for the public.
“In our first year, we had one class with about 30 kids. Now we have four classes running with about 110 kids,” Graney said.
Fircak also has been a standout in a regional program teaching female students how to fly drones. She got her start at the end of sophomore year, when history teacher Chris Reilsono encouraged her to join the Fly Like a Girl, also called the FLAG program.
“I originally wasn’t going to do it, but Mr. R. forced me to apply and I ended up going through with it. I really enjoy it now,” Fircak said.
Relisono said he knew she would be great for this program.
“Having Molly in class, I recognized that she has a world of ability and talents and I thought it would be a perfect match getting her involved in the drone program,” Reilsono said.
Dr. Janeen Peretin, assistant to the superintendent, brought the Fly Like a Girl program to Baldwin.
“The Fly Like a Girl Drone Academy is an empowering program designed to inspire high school girls from across our region to explore careers in aviation and technology,” Peretin said.
The program teaches girls to fly drones and offers them the chance to take a Federal Aviation Administration drone exam. Fircak excelled in the program and passed the test.
“Passing the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General is not an easy task. Molly was the second student in the FLAG program to pass the exam and the first Baldwin student,” Peretin said.
Since passing the drone aviation test, Fircak has been using her skills to record video clips and to photograph many school and community events.
“She has been involved in things like the Homecoming Bonfire and the Coach Helbig Celebration of Life event. So she is doing a lot, and I think it helps spotlight our district” Reilsono said.
As part of the Fly Like a Girl program, Fircak has also had the opportunity to see many professionally run drone events.
“I got to go to PNC Park this past summer and Kennywood to see drone shows, and it’s just a lot of exposure to get yourself familiar with it,” Fircak said.
Fircak’s success with drones has not gone unseen.
“She consistently asked insightful questions and took the initiative to practice flying drones during training sessions, showing both dedication and enthusiasm,” Peretin said.
Reilsono agrees that she has excelled.
“I think we can see now that it is a perfect match and she is doing a phenomenal job,” he said.
Fircak plans to use the skills she has picked up in both ASL and her drone work as she moves on in life beyond Baldwin.
“My major that I am looking into is film and visual media, so I want to use (drones) as a part of filming,” she said.
As for ASL, “I hope in college to continue learning it more,” she said. “I just want to have the knowledge.”
