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Our HISTORY

PASC has a long tradition of student leadership and engagement over our 90 year history. We have connected students and adults to opportunities at the regional, state, and national level. Below is a brief history of our association over the last 90 years. 

  • 1921 - Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, PA, founds the National Honor Society (NHS), with the support of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

  • 1932 - PASC formed by high schools in Altoona, Ebensburg, State College, and York

  • 1934 - First State Conference held at Altoona High School

  • 1942-1944 - World War II causes no state conference to be held due to lack of gasoline for travel

  • 1947 - PASC reorganized.  Paul Landis, Greensburg-Salem HS advisor, becomes first Executive Secretary

  • 1952 - First state officers elected by schools: President, First VP, Second VP, Secretary, Treasurer; Summer Leadership Workshop program begins at Penn State (Program later expands and moves to Grove City College and West Chester State College)

  • 1955 -  NASC national conference held in PA at Lower Merion HS

  • 1957 - NASC national conferences held at Schenley HS

  • 1967 - NASC national conference held at Abington HS

  • 1972 - PASC begins separate workshop for junior high students at Shippensburg University

  • 1973 - State officer positions changed to President and seven regional representatives.  Paul Landis retires as Executive Secretary.  Ken Marks, Upper St. Clair advisor named new Executive Director.

  • 1974 - PASC incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania

  • 1977 - Jim Finnemeyer, North Penn HS advisor, becomes third Executive Director.

  • 1982 - PASC celebrates 50th anniversary at Somerset HS

  • 1984 - Advanced High School workshop begins at Scotland School in south central Pennsylvania

  • 1985 - Bethel Park HS hosts NASC national conference

  • 1986 - Altoona HS hosts 50th PASC state conference.  Anniversary gavel presented with school color ribbons of all past host schools.  Conferences grow to 800-1400 delegates

  • 1989,1997 - PASC hosts NAWD a national conference for adults working with leadership workshops and leadership classes Philadelphia (1989) and Pittsburgh (1997)

  • 1990-1993 - Creation of Executive Board standing committees with adult District Directors and student Regional Reps as co-chairs.  Assistant Executive Director position formalized.  Creation of Middle Level Coordinator, Publications Coordinator, NASC Trip Coordinator. Summer workshop program expands to four gold high school programs, two blue middle level programs, as well as the Advanced Gold program.

  • 1997 - State charity program formalized.  Projects developed by state conference hosts.  Over the next decade projects have raised nearly $500,000 and involved  student in thousands of service hours.

  • 1998 - PASC adds two Middle Level representatives

  • 2002 - pasc.net goes online

  • 2004 - PASC champions “Freedom's Answer” voter registration and voter turnout election drive

  • 2006 - North Penn HS hosts fifth NASC national conference held in Pennsylvania

  • 2007 - Executive Board creates new Administrative Coordinator positions within the board to promote membership, resource development, and to create a liaison to a new PASC Alumni Association.

  • 2008 - PASC selects first student to serve on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. PASC now annually selects the student representatives on the State Board of Education. 

  • 2011 - Altoona High School hosts 75th state conference

  • 2014 - Rose Ann Fulena, Union HS/MS advisor, becomes fourth Executive Director

  • 2016 - PASC adopts new vision statement, mission statement, statement of values and tagline. New committee structure implemented and administrative coordinators introduced.

  • 2017 - PASC ratifies new constitution and bylaws that eliminate districts and restructure regional map. More student representative positions are added. Student representatives on State Board of Education become voting members of the PASC Executive Board. State President position is opened to any high school student in PASC.

  • 2018 - PASC selects Four Diamonds as the official PASC State Charity Partner. Since 2018 PASC member schools have raised over $5 million dollars for Four Diamonds. PASC also launches partnership with the Pennsylvania Principals Association.

  • 2019 - South Fayette High School hosts the sixth NASC national student council conference held in Pennsylvania. PASC members approve a constitutional amendment opening membership in PASC to schools that sponsor a leadership organization including class council, honor society chapter, interclub council, or similar organization.

  • 2023 - The PASC Executive Board votes to partner with NASSP as the state affiliate for National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society in Pennsylvania. 

PASC STATE CONFERENCE HOSTS

1934 - Altoona High School, Altoona
1935 - Edensburgh High School, Ebensburgh
1936 - William Penn Senior HS. York
1937 - State College HS, State College
1938 - DuBois High School, DuBoius
1939 - McCaskey High School, Lancaster
1940 - Kane High School, Kane
1941 - John Harris High School, Harrisburg
1942-44 - No Conference War Years
1945 - Greensburg High School, Greensburg
1946 - MS Hershey Jr.-Sr. HS, Hershey
1947 - Bradford High School, Bradford
1948 - Altoona High School, Altoona
1949 - Scott Senior High School, Coatesville
1950 - West Reading HS, West Reading
1951 - Kittaning High School, Kittaning
1952 - Forty Fort High School, Forty Fort
1953 - West View High School, West View
1954 - Abington High School, Abington
1955 - Beaver Falls High School, Beaver Falls
1956 - Clarks Summit HS, Clarks Summit
1957 - Kennett High School, Kennett Square
1958 - New Kensington HS, New Kensington
1959 - Governor Mifflin HS, Shillington
1960 - Hempfield High School, Greensburg
1961 - Pennsbury High School, Yardley
1962 - Gateway High School, Monroeville
1963 - West York Area HS, West York
1964 - Butler High School, Butler
1965 - Shippensburg Area HS, Shippensburg
1966 - Bethel Park High School, Bethel Park
1967 - Cedar Crest High School, Lebanon
1968 - Pennsbury High School, Yardley
1969 - Gettysburg High School, Gettysburg
1970 - Greensburg-Salem HS, Greensburg
1971 - Shippensburg Area HS, Shippensburg
1972 - Greater Latrobe Area HS, Latrobe
1973 - North Penn High School, Lansdale
1974 - Upper St. Clair HS, Pittsburgh
1975 - Pocono Mountain HS, Swiftwater

1976 - Venago Christian HS, Oil City

1977 - Sun Valley High School, Aston

1978 - Bishop Guilfoyle HS, Altoona

1979 - Bishop Hannan HS, Scranton

1980 - Bethel Park HS, Bethel Park
1981 - Dallastown HS, Dallastown
1982 - Somerset High School, Somerset
1983 - Mifflin County Schools, Lewistown
1984 - Congestoga High School, Berwyn
1985 - North Allegheny HS, Pittsburgh
1986 - Altoona High School, Altoona
1987 - William Allen HS, Allentown
1988 - McDowell High School, Erie
1989 - Muhlenberg High School, Reading
1990 - Ambridge Area HS, Ambridge
1991 - Dallastown Area MS-HS, Dallastown
1992 - Altoona High School, Altoona
1993 - Red Lion Area Jr.-Sr. HS, Red Lion
1994 - Mt. Lebanon Jr.-Sr. HS, Pittsburgh
1995 - Northern Lebanon HS, Lebanon
1996 - Tioga County High Schools, Mansfield
1997 - Somerset High School, Somerset
1998 - Governor Mifflin High School, Shillington
1999 - William Allen HS, Allentown
2000 - Hatboro-Horsham High School
2001 - Dallastown Area MS-HS, Dallastown
2002 - North Penn HS, Lansdale
2003 - General McLane HS, Edinboro
2004 - North Allegheny HS, Pittsburgh
2005 - Fleetwood HS, Fleetwood
2006 - Bethel Park HS, Pittsburgh
2007 - Easton High School, Easton
2008 - South Western HS, Hanover
2009 - Pennridge HS, Perkasie
2010 - District 9, Scranton
2011 - Altoona MS/HS, Altoona
2012 - Union and Laurel MS/HS, New Castle
2013 - Boyertown HS, Boyertown
2014 - Altoona HS, Altoona
2015 - Halifax HS, Harrisburg
2016 - Deer Lakes HS, Cheswick
​2017 - Red Lion Area HS, Red Lion

​2018 - Cedar Crest HS, Lebanon

​2019 - Westmont Hilltop HS, Johnstown

​2020 - Mountain View JSHS, Kingsley

​2021 - Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh

2022 - Boyertown HS, Boyertown

2023 - Altoona JHS, Altoona

2024 - Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School / PA Cyber

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