The Bulldog Bookstore at Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School has two new leaders for the 2019-20 school year.
Seniors Megan Pedersen and Elizabeth Sill were named student managers in early September. 
The Bulldog Bookstore, part of the Senior College and Career Enrichment Program, is not associated with any class. Rather, students interested in acquiring a volunteer position at the store submit an application, resume and at least two references, and are then interviewed by Business teacher Mrs. Weissenberger, who oversees the store. Students work during free periods and lunch.
“Students are taught real-life skills,” Mrs. Weissenberger said. “The students who work at the bookstore also learn life-long employment skills such as good organization, human relations, teamwork and how to responsibly handle cash.”
Megan and Elizabeth are both in their third year working at the bookstore. Responsibilities include overseeing and scheduling fellow student employees, tracking inventory, making orders and reconciling transactions.
They both say they are already gaining valuable experience.
“It allows you to interact with a lot of people in a professional setting,” Elizabeth said. “In addition to being responsible and organized, you need to be able to ask the right questions and work quickly, yet accurately.”
“It helps being around money and this experience will bolster our resume,” Megan added. “It’s an honor to have been selected a student manager with Elizabeth because there’s so many other qualified student employees. It means we are responsible and can be trusted.”
Mrs. Weissenberger says although she’s pleased the bookstore has so many exceptional student employees, with each offering different qualities, Megan and Elizabeth can be counted on to lead.
“Megan and Elizabeth always have a positive attitude and exemplify initiative, communication skills, acceptance of supervision and the ability to follow instructions, make good choices and properly manage time,” she said.
The Bulldog Bookstore is open Monday-Friday during school hours and sometimes during special events. There’s plenty of “green and white” to choose from. Products for sale range from t-shirts to hoodies to snacks and school supplies. All profits are invested back into the student body in the form of scholarships to graduating seniors.
After graduating from Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School, Megan plans to attend Mohawk Valley Community College and then transfer to Utica College to major in biology. She aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon. Elizabeth plans to major in nursing and minor in child psychology and art therapy. She’s considering LeMoyne College.
Congratulations to both Megan Pedersen and Elizabeth Sill on being named student mangers of the Bulldog Bookstore!