We’re excited to introduce the powerhouse team that makes up the Social Studies Department at Marion L. Steele High School! With a mix of experience, energy, and expertise, this group brings history, government, culture, and economics to life for our students.
Emily Marty – AP Human Geography; CCP World Civilization & American History
Michelle Webb – Psychology/Sociology; Government & Economics; World Geography; World Religions
Brian Kelley – Financial Literacy
Kosta Hatzgeogiou – World History; AP U.S. History
Nate Wolshuck – World History; American History; AP Government
Tom Thome – World History
Allan McConihe – Government & Economics; Sports History
Voter Registration
Please note, as a courtesy members of the Social Studies encourage and help students register to vote for upcoming elections. October 6th is the voter registration deadline for older seniors. If a senior student is 18 on or before T, 11-4-25, they can stop by any other social studies teacher to get a hard-copy voter registration form. It takes only a couple minutes. They'll need to know their last four digits of their social security number or have a valid driver's license number. Students can also register on-line by going to: https://olvr.ohiosos.gov/.
Patriot Day - 2025
Students in Mr. McConihe's Government & Economics class were taught a lesson on how the September 11th attacks led to the sweeping reorganization of federal agencies with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and resulted in lasting changes to national security and foreign policy. Students also learned that the attacks immediately halted retail sales, travel, and financial markets, causing a short-lived drop in consumer confidence and a significant decline in U.S. GDP growth and employment in late 2001 only to realize the U.S. economy quickly recovered after the Federal Reserve took swift action, providing significant liquidity and cutting interest rates to prevent deeper economic fallout and stabilize financial markets.
VFW's Voice of Democracy Essay Contest - Win Scholarship Money!
Upperclass students can pursue local and national scholarships.
The social studies teachers and the Amherst VFW 1662 are promoting the VFW Voice of Democracy essay contest and encouraging students to earn a chance at scholarships, some raised with local funds. The VFW Voice of Democracy 2025-26 theme is: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” The deadline for application is October 31st.
https://vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
Wreaths Across America
Coming up in the near future, students can earn graduation seals by volunteering for Wreaths Across America (https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/). Students can volunteer by placing bows & poems on wreaths for veteran tombstones at local cemeteries. Students can also place and collect the wreaths at the cemeteries, attend ceremonies and even play T.A.P.S. if musically inclined.
Veterans Day
Some social studies students take a walking field trip to uptown Amherst and attend the Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 11th, 11:00 am at Patriots Park, 248 Park Avenue. This is a major Amherst Main Street event sponsored by the Veteran's Mural Association -- a group of American Patriots that have helped to create, maintain, and grow a series of breathtaking murals honoring our nation's finest. The murals honor the veterans of a different foreign war and include a permanent fixture that allows for artwork additions every year, continuing the tradition of honoring our veterans.
Field Trips & More....
Mrs. Marty's AP Human Geography & CCP World Civilization class went to the Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, Ohio on 9-11-25.
Mr. McConihe's Sports History class will head the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Students will connect with a football museum rich with history and civic pride. The Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coaches, officials, franchise owners, and front-office personnel, almost all of whom made their primary contributions to the game in the National Football League.
Mr. Kelley's Financial Literacy class is learning to budget their money.
Mr. Wolshuck assisted Deanne Kelbley, AEVS Nutrition Services Supervisor, on how lobbying for school meals can relate to the educational program of the district and social studies curriculum. Ms. Kelbley, along with senior student plan to go to Washington, DC in March to lobby for school meals. During the trip, they will visit Capitol Hill to meet with Senatorial and Congressional Representatives to ask for and discuss more money per meal, keeping the current nutritional regulations and changing USDA Review cycle.
