BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Pictured are student representatives from Bucktail High School’s Ecology class and Student Government, from left, Martin Lewis, Mattisyn Mason, Kendall Wagner, the Hynerpeton, Laura Ransom, Eva Sockman, McKenna Bissman, Lola English, Makenna Stone and Emiliana DeMarte.

BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS
Bucktail students are pictured with local, state officials following their presentation on the Hynerpeton at Bucktail High School.

RENOVO — Student representatives from Bucktail High School are aiming to make Pennsylvania history by raising awareness of a rare fossil found in Hyner.

Bucktail High School’s Ecology class and Student Government have teamed up to educate the masses on Pennsylvania’s rich geological and paleontological heritage by asking legislators to change the state fossil to the Hynerpeton.

Lola English, Mattisyn Mason, McKenna Bissman, Eva Sockman and Martin Lewis presented their project “out with the old, and in with the new” to dozens of audience members, including many county and state officials in attendance for the students’ presentation, including Senator Cris Dush, State Representative Stephanie Borowicz and Clinton County Commissioners Jeff Snyder, Jim Russo and Angela Harding. Renovo Mayor Gene Bruno was also in attendance.

According to the students and Science teacher Joshua Day, the idea of this project was brought forth by Elizabeth Whitty, Community Development and Housing Coordinator for Clinton County. Whitty had reached out to Bucktail regarding the Hynerpeton, and pitched to them the idea of campaigning to change the state fossil.

“The kids are brilliant, and they know this project inside and out. They’re amazing. What better group to sponsor it than these (students,)” said Whitty.

Martin Lewis, Bucktail’s Student Government President, said, “the Student Government is working on the legislative end of this and getting inside knowledge of how our state government works. It’s great for educating our group. The Ecology class is learning about fossils — we spent a whole unit learning about the history of the Earth to get background on this (topic.)”

The students began their presentation by explaining who they were and what they’ve accomplished so far — including presenting to the commissioners and numerous elementary school students.

Currently, the state fossil is a trilobite — a common bottom-feeding arthropod that can be found in numerous geologic layers in 46 states. The trilobite is also the state fossil of three other states.

The students are pushing for Hynerpeton to be recognized as the state fossil instead of the trilobite.

Hynerpeton or “creeping monster from Hyner” was first documented in Hyner, Pa., in 1993.

The students had the opportunity to speak with recently retired paleontology curator Edward “Ted” Daeschler, who was one of the paleontologists who first discovered the fossil. He recorded a video explaining the topic for the students to play during the presentation.

Daeschler and Neil Shubin found the first Hynerpeton fossil at the Red Hill fossil site during a survey of the Devonian rocks in search of the origin of limbed vertebrates.

“One of the most interesting questions (about the Devonian period) has to do with the origin of limbed animals. Some of the fish were developing structures in their fins that were precursors to the first limbed animals on Earth… The most interesting thing we found in the early research at Red Hill were bones from the shoulder region of a new kind of limbed animal. One of the earliest tetrapods on Earth,” said Daeschler.

The creature was thought to be anywhere from 2 to 5 feet long, and was very strong based on the bone structure. It lived in the rivers and wetlands of Pennsylvania in the late Devonian Period around 354 million years ago.

The animal is thought to be completely unique to Pennsylvania, and rare on the global scope of paleontological work.

“It really helps us understand how organisms made the transition from aquatic life (to) land,” said Daeschler.

The students had an extensive slideshow prepared that gave details on the environment the Hynerpeton lived in, what is known about it, how they’re educating the masses and what the next step would be.

The students held a question and answer session after the initial presentation, and were well prepared for every question thrown their way.

One audience member asked why changing the state fossil should be a priority with the government being what it is today.

“With everything going on in our government right now, we want to bring both sides together so we can work on one thing as one instead of being two different sides,” said Bissman.

Another audience member asked what the students’ favorite part of the process has been.

Many of the presenters have plans to go into some form of education after high school, and cited this experience as a great way to learn presentation skills as well as how to teach the younger community.

“It has been an amazing process teaching everyone about this,” said English.

When asked why the students chose to move forward with this project, Lewis explained, “We think this is something that will be really good for our area and make it unique. We’re on a map maybe once a year for Flaming Foliage, but other than that we’re in the middle of nowhere with a small school. This makes our area unique. It makes Pennsylvania more unique.”

Red Hill Fossil Museum Curator Norman Doug Rowe was in attendance, and was pleased by the students’ presentation.

“(This project) is excellent. We need to have that group come up to the lab and look at what we already have. We probably have half of a ton of material we’re looking at,” said Rowe.

The Red Hill Fossil Museum, housed upstairs at the historic Chapman Township Building in North Bend, has a comprehensive display of fossils.

Rowe encourages everyone to stop by and see the collection.

“Besides fish and tetrapods, we have plants. Including some of the first trees — which is very important,” said Rowe.

The officials in attendance voiced their support for the project, and many were impressed with how well-presented the information was.

Keystone Central School District Superintendent Dr. Francis “Frank” Redmon said, “I’m excited that the students have taken the initiative to push this forward. I’m hopeful that the state of Pennsylvania will adopt the Hynerpeton as our state fossil. I think the research the students have done and their engagement in both the science and politics of it in the community and state is a really good demonstration of their talent and interest in joining the adult world.”

“The effort the kids and the school have put into this needs to be commended. It’s very easy to talk about things, but for people to take that step forward and actually put the effort into it? That’s the way things get done. I think the student body and adults that are involved in this have done a great thing,” said Bruno.

The Clinton County Commissioners were impressed across the board.

“Bucktail is a great school. The kids up here are humble, and it’s a good community school. I hope they get to Harrisburg — which they will. I remember when (the fossil digging) started (here). The dedication that (Elizabeth Whitty) has put in with this, too, is second to none. People should know about the exhibit at Chapman Township, too,” said Russo.

Harding said, “I am enamored with the kids and all of the adults — (such as) Mr. Day, Elizabeth Whitty — who have given them the support that they need to move this to where it’s at today. I hope the state identifies that this fossil makes a lot more sense in being our state fossil than the one we currently have. I’m hoping today will make a huge impact for that progress.”

“We’re really proud of the kids and we’re going to support them 100 percent. They did an awesome job. Having Senator Dush and Representative Borowicz here to forward this (is great),” said Snyder.

Both Dush and Borowicz spoke to the students after the presentation, encouraging them to present at the Capitol.

“We just did the state amphibian and they didn’t have as much stuff to put together — the marketing, the idea of how to get this done — as this school did. There’s a lot to be proud of here,” said Dush.

They were both impressed with how well-spoken the students were, and how they presented their research.

“(These students) have done a phenomenal job. I’d say better than a lot in Harrisburg that present,” Borowicz joked. “I’m amazed, and I’m not just saying that. We’re glad to be here and help them all that they can. They answered all the questions — Just incredible.”

Though a large portion of the students will be graduating in May, and the project likely will not come to fruition during their time at Bucktail, they hope to make their mark regardless.

Mason said, “A lot of people think we’re just some school in the woods, and look down on us. I get it, we’re in the middle of nowhere, but at the same time we’re educated enough to stand up for ourselves. I think this is a good step for our school in making an impact on the state and the nation.”

Mason also thanked Day, Whitty and all of their supporters, “Without them this project wouldn’t have happened.”

Along the Renovo Road you will see a sign that reads, “Honk for Harry the Hynerpeton” outside of the Ditty’s home.

Katie Ditty typically has a sign out encouraging drivers to honk for the Bucktail Bucks. Her daughter, Carrie, got involved with the Hynerpeton project and was vocal about it.

“She was excited and talking about it, and I thought, you know what? This really is awesome. We put it out (on Monday) and it’s starting to pick up,” said Ditty.

Drumming up local support is only one piece of the puzzle.

“The students have put a lot of work into this and (we’re) very proud of their project. The larger the area that knows (about this) the better,” said Day.

The students urge everyone to follow Harry the Hynerpeton on social media — both Facebook and Instagram — and scan the QR code to contact your legislator regarding changing the state fossil. You can also access the appropriate links through their website’s homepage, bt.kcsd.us