The night before Josh Merkel graduated, he and his sister Cassidy stood outside Palmerton Area High School — one preparing to move on, the other ready to step forward.

When Josh began his senior year, he didn’t just want to check off the usual boxes. He wanted to leave a lasting impression.

“I just wanted to put one last mark as a Palmerton student,” Josh said. “Whether it was in wrestling, in the classroom, with graphic design or social media — I just wanted to be as involved as possible and make the biggest impact that I could make.”

He did just that — and more.

Josh graduated earlier this month with a résumé that reflected both versatility and commitment. A member of the wrestling and tennis teams, he also served as president of Palmerton’s FBLA chapter and vice president of the senior class. Later this month, he’ll represent Palmerton and the state of Pennsylvania at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, after placing first in graphic design at the state competition alongside his partner, Mackenzie Long, a fellow senior who played field hockey in the fall.

“It feels like a really nice way to wrap everything up,” Josh said. “Even if I go out there and it doesn’t go exactly how I want, I already accomplished what I set out to do.”

The national competition, which runs from June 29 to July 2, will give Josh one last opportunity to showcase the creative and collaborative talents that helped him thrive at Palmerton — and will follow him to Kutztown University, where he plans to double major in art education and graphic design.

Finding His Voice

Josh’s journey into FBLA began as a freshman, largely because his older sister had been involved. But over time, he found his own niche — and grew into a leader.

“It’s so easy to really involve yourself with the school and the people here,” Josh said. “You just naturally want to do more.”

He remembers staying up late perfecting their project for the state competition — tweaking graphic design layouts and color palettes for their fictional sports team, often bouncing ideas back and forth with Mackenzie.

“Mackie’s always been the idea person, and I’m the one who puts pen to paper,” he said. “It’s worked really well for us.”

The influence of his teachers and advisers played a big role. He credits Jennifer Danzeisen, Palmerton’s FBLA co-adviser and tennis coach, with encouraging him to step outside his comfort zone.

“She got me to play tennis,” he said with a smile. “That’s just the kind of person she is — she wants you to get involved, and she makes it easy to want to try new things.”

He also acknowledged Justin Petersen, his wrestling coach and biology teacher, who now serves as Palmerton’s athletic director and assistant principal.

“I think it’s just that connection we have here — with the staff, with the school, and with the community,” he said. “You don’t just go to school here. You’re a part of something.”

A Sibling Influence

Few people have seen Josh’s evolution more closely than his younger sister, Cassidy, who will be a senior in the fall.

“He’s helped me a lot — especially with school,” Cassidy said. “I didn’t always care that much about it, but seeing how much he was involved made me want to do more, and do better. My grades are a lot better now, and I actually enjoy going to school and seeing my teachers.”

While Josh prepares for college and one final trip west, Cassidy – who also participated in track and field during the spring – is locking in for her biggest wrestling season yet.

She still scrolls through old match photos and training clips from last season, already imagining what it will feel like to step on the mat for the final time as a senior.

“I just want to give it everything I have this year,” she said. “The goal is to improve, get some looks from colleges, and just have fun with it. I want to keep getting better.”

Art is a passion she shares with her siblings — Josh and their older sister Brynn, who also continued her education at Kutztown — but for Cassidy, it remains more of a hobby.

“I’ve always loved art, but now I actually enjoy the art classes too,” she said. “It’s a good outlet, something I can do to relax.”

Looking Ahead

For Josh, the FBLA Nationals in Anaheim will be the final checkpoint in a senior year that felt like the culmination of everything he hoped to accomplish — and a springboard into what’s next.

“I think it wrapped up really nicely,” he said. “When I started high school, I never really expected to be class vice president or president of FBLA or even going to Nationals. But the more involved I got, the more I realized how much this school and this community give you the chance to do something meaningful.”

Cassidy is ready to take that momentum and make it her own.

“Seeing everything he did definitely made me want to do more,” she said. “I care more about school now. I want to keep getting better in wrestling. I just want to make the most of it.”

Together, they’ve already set a standard — one that goes beyond points scored or titles won. It’s about showing up, making an impact, and leaving something behind that others can build on.

This story is the third part of Following the Dream, a Times News series chronicling the journey of Josh and Cassidy Merkel. The project strives to bring the community closer by highlighting local student-athletes as they pursue excellence in athletics, academics, and service.