LifeSmarts at Cumberland Valley High School includes students from ninth through twelfth grade, with approximately 150 students participating in the initial qualifying rounds each year. The top performers advance to further training, preparing for state and national competitions. Their training includes monthly quizzes, team practices, and specialized study in key subject areas.

LifeSmarts at Cumberland Valley High School includes students from ninth through twelfth grade, with approximately 150 students participating in the initial qualifying rounds each year. The top performers advance to further training, preparing for state and national competitions. Their training includes monthly quizzes, team practices, and specialized study in key subject areas.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Cumberland Valley High School's LifeSmarts team headed to nationals in Chicago

Our Journalist Roundtable for April 25 included Ivy DeJesus from PennLive and David Payne, The Spark producer and former Radio Pennsylvania Reporter. In this episode, DeJesus reported the life and legacy of Pope Francis including his reaction to the clergy sex abuse scandal in PA. Payne discussed his report at the 2015 World Meeting of Families and offers firsthand perspective on Francis’s impact in Philadelphia and beyond.

Our Journalist Roundtable for April 25 included Ivy DeJesus from PennLive and David Payne, The Spark producer and former Radio Pennsylvania Reporter. In this episode, <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/04/for-survivors-of-clergy-sex-abuse-in-pa-and-beyond-pope-francis-changed-little.html">DeJesus</a> reported the life and legacy of Pope Francis including his reaction to the clergy sex abuse scandal in PA. Payne discussed his report at the 2015 World Meeting of Families and offers firsthand perspective on Francis&rsquo;s impact in Philadelphia and beyond.

Journalist Roundtable:  Life & Legacy of Pope Francis, Pa

Last week, The Most Reverend Timothy Senior, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, found himself originally traveling to Rome as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, Bishop Senior joined forty faithful from his diocese to “walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare” before making arrangements to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday. As Bishop Senior explains, the Jubilee theme is “hope”—a reminder that “we are pilgrims of hope…trying to share that hope and encourage others…in the midst of so many challenging and difficult times, we all need hope.”

Last week, The Most Reverend Timothy Senior, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, found himself originally traveling to Rome as part of the Catholic Church&rsquo;s Jubilee Year 2025, Bishop Senior joined forty faithful from his diocese to &ldquo;walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare&rdquo; before making arrangements to attend Pope Francis&rsquo;s funeral on Saturday. As Bishop Senior explains, the Jubilee theme is &ldquo;hope&rdquo;&mdash;a reminder that &ldquo;we are pilgrims of hope&hellip;trying to share that hope and encourage others&hellip;in the midst of so many challenging and difficult times, we all need hope.&rdquo;

Bishop Senior Reflects on Pope Francis’s Life, Legacy, and Passing

Over the past two weeks, Central Pennsylvania has traded April showers for an almost unbelievable stretch of spring sunshine. As ABC27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso put it, “It’s kind of phenomenal that this time of year…we’ve had lots of sunshine, very little active weather,” making it “the perfect recipe” for spring sports and outdoor plans. After a damp start to April and a few chilly weekends, the region has seen more days in the 70s—and even flirted with the 80s in the extended forecast—than the cooler 50s and 60s typical of early spring.

Over the past two weeks, Central Pennsylvania has traded April showers for an almost unbelievable stretch of spring sunshine. As ABC27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso put it, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of phenomenal that this time of year&hellip;we&rsquo;ve had lots of sunshine, very little active weather,&rdquo; making it &ldquo;the perfect recipe&rdquo; for spring sports and outdoor plans. After a damp start to April and a few chilly weekends, the region has seen more days in the 70s&mdash;and even flirted with the 80s in the extended forecast&mdash;than the cooler 50s and 60s typical of early spring.

Cumberland Valley High School's LifeSmarts team headed to nationals in Chicago

In 1 playlist(s)

The Spark

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips