PENN HILLS, PA — November 1, 2026 — The Penn Hills Rotary Club, in partnership with the Penn Hills School District, officially dedicated a Peace Pole outside Penn Hills High School on Thursday, November 12, creating a lasting symbol of peace, unity and community togetherness for generations of students and residents.

The custom-made steel Peace Pole features the inspirational message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages, representing the diversity of cultures, backgrounds and perspectives that make up the Penn Hills community and the world.

The project was made possible through Penn Hills Rotary Club fundraising efforts and a Rotary grant. Rotary members took an active role in bringing the project to life, including arranging for the pole's fabrication, completing the installation and creating attractive landscaping surrounding the monument.

The dedication ceremony brought together Rotary members, school district administrators, school board members, students and community representatives to celebrate the project and its message.

“For us, this project represents so much more than simply installing a monument outside a school,” said Tyler Tomasino, President of the Penn Hills Rotary Club. “We wanted to create something meaningful that would serve as a daily reminder to our students and the entire community that peace begins with each of us. It's about choosing kindness over cruelty, understanding over judgment, respect over division, and compassion over indifference.”

The location outside Penn Hills High School was intentionally selected so the message would be among the first things students encounter as they arrive on campus each morning.

Tomasino emphasized that peace is not simply the absence of war or conflict between nations, but something that must be practiced in everyday life.

“Students enter this campus every morning carrying their hopes, their worries, their challenges and sometimes struggles that others may never see. Our hope is that this Peace Pole reminds them that, regardless of what's happening in the world around us, peace starts with how we treat one another in our classrooms, on our athletic fields and throughout our community,” Tomasino said.

There are approximately 250,000 Peace Poles installed around the world, serving as internationally recognized symbols of peace and goodwill. With this dedication, Penn Hills joins that worldwide movement. The installation is also particularly significant locally, representing just the fourth Peace Pole location in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Penn Hills School District Superintendent Dr. John Mozzocio praised the project and its significance to the school community.

“For me, this pole represents community, togetherness, and the charge that each one of us has to bring peace,” Mozzocio said. “It's a beautiful place for our students to congregate and have discussions with their classmates, teachers, and administrators.”

School Board President Erin Vecchio also highlighted the opportunity for the monument to positively influence students as they begin each school day.

“I think every morning when these kids come in, it will remind them to do something good for your community,” Vecchio said. “Do something good for your school and the kids that you're with.”

Penn Hills High School senior Elias Spearman expressed appreciation on behalf of the student body, describing the Peace Pole as an important addition to the school grounds.

“It's like a ray of light,” Spearman said, reflecting on the inspirational message the monument will provide to students.

The dedication represents another chapter in the longstanding relationship between the Penn Hills Rotary Club and the Penn Hills School District. The organizations have partnered on numerous initiatives over the years, including scholarships and the annual third-grade spelling bee.

Tomasino credited the school district's administration, school board and staff for embracing the project and helping make it possible.

“We are extremely grateful to the Penn Hills School District for welcoming this project and providing a home for something we hope will inspire students for many years to come,” Tomasino said.

The project also reflects Rotary's guiding principle of Service Above Self. Through community service, charitable initiatives and partnerships, the Penn Hills Rotary Club works to make a positive difference locally and around the world.

“As Rotarians, we believe making the world a better place doesn't always require grand gestures or sweeping changes. Sometimes it starts with a kind word, a helping hand, standing up for someone who can't stand up for themselves, or simply choosing to treat another person with dignity and respect,” Tomasino said.

“Our hope is that this Peace Pole becomes more than just a monument. We hope its message becomes something our students and our community live every day. You don't have to change the entire world to make a difference. You can start by making a difference in someone else's world.”

The Penn Hills Rotary Club is proud to present this permanent symbol of peace to Penn Hills High School and the entire community, with the hope that its message will inspire generations of students.

May peace prevail on Earth.

The Peace Pole is located at:

Penn Hills High School
Main Entrance
309 Collins Drive
Penn Hills, PA 15235