By Marie McCandless
Latrobe Bulletin News Editor
March 31, 2010

Economics students from Derry and Latrobe put their heads together Tuesday to link the two communities.

Along the way, they learned how to map assets; determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; create a vision statement, and plan trail connections.

It was all part of the annual Derry-Latrobe Economic Exchange Day, which focused on “Connecting Communities: Trails, Transportation, Land Use and Thoughts.”

About 60 students, along with teachers Jeff Kelly (Derry Area High School) and Kara Olecki-Leeper (Greater Latrobe Senior High School), spent the day with Alexander Graziani, executive director of Smart Growth Partnership; John Turack, educational outreach, Penn State Extension; Andy Stofan, president, Latrobe Area Chamber of Commerce; Randy Strayer of Latrobe Specialty Steel, a member of the Chamber’s Economic Education Committee, and local officials.

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