Editor’s note: The Journal-Tribune wants to celebrate the success of local high school students from the community and tell their story.
As the students graduate from high school, there are always a few that go above and beyond the others and we want to acknowledge their achievement.
Below, Fairbanks Valedictorian Erin Ward and salutatorian Megan Olson are recognized. Also included is a listing of students honored during the Fairbanks Awards Ceremony.
Fairbanks seniors will graduate Saturday at 10 a.m.
–––
Fairbanks Valedictorian Erin Ward is the daughter of Amy and Shane Hunter, of Milford Center, and Damon Ward, of Springfield.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, Panther Pause and Mock Trial, where she was named as an outstanding witness.
She is involved with the youth group at her church. She is a four-year member of the softball team and was a manager for the football team.
This past summer, she was a delegate to Buckeye Girls State at the University of Mount Union and has taken college credit plus classes at The Ohio State University. She is a National Merit finalist and is graduating with a 4.35 grade point average.
She plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania to major in finance.
Salutatorian Megan Olson is the daughter of Mike and Mia Olson, of Marysville.
She is a four-year member and captain of the girls soccer and basketball teams, a two-year member of the track team and a one-year member of the football team.
Throughout high school, she has been involved in National Honor Society, FCCLA, science club and drama club. She is the president of the Interact club. She is also a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church youth group and is the vice president of her 4H club.
She is the recipient of the Zonta Outstanding Young Women of Columbus Award, the Franklin B. Walter Academic Award and the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award.
She plans to attend Xavier University to major in nursing.
–––
2017-2018 Fairbanks High School Awards
Those who were awarded the Darla Hall-Barrett Memorial Scholarship are Olivia Madden, Kira Jones and Jordan Curry.
Erin Ward received the National Junior Honor Society Scholarship, Rachel Studenmund was given the Patty Pease Memorial Scholarship and Grace Blumenschein was awarded the David Fisher Memorial Scholarship.
Bo Kuhn and Hannah Hollingshead received the Robert L. Homsher Memorial Scholarship.
Rachel Studenmund won the Friends of Fairbanks Scholarship in Honor of Kevin Kilfian and Abigail Hubbs received the Memorial Hospital Staff Scholarship.
Those given the Memorial Hospital Volunteer Recognition are Grace Blumenschein, Audrey Brackenridge, Shannon Conroy, Evan Hamm, Brian Higinbotham, Abigail Hubbs, Hunter Johnson, Meghan McCaslin and Rachel Studenmund.
The Impact 60 Community Service Award was given to Shannon Conroy, and the Fairbanks Alumni Association Scholarship was awarded to Grace Blumenschein.
Audrey Brackenridge, Lauren Coy and Megan Olson received the Alumni Scholarship, sponsored by the class of 1961.
The Alumni Scholarship, sponsored by Phelps Farm, was awarded to Audrey Scheiderer. The Alumni Scholarship, sponsored by Coughlin Dodge, was given to Rachel Studenmund.
National Guard Scholarships were given to Joseph Burnett, Phillippe Grand, Kayla Green, Austin Lester, Cole Murdock, Beau Sloan and Alexis Smith.
Trevor Chippas and Kayla Green were awarded the Union County Military Family Support Group Educational Assistance Scholarship.
American Legion Woman’s Auxiliary Buckeye Girls’ State 2018 Nominees are Taylor Hall, Kasey Carstensen, Katherine White, Mary Iannarino, Marissa Fornadel, Leanne Rhoades, Samantha Picklesimer, Madeline Weisburn and Claire Ruff.
The DAR American History Medal was given to Adeline Fitzwater, the DAR Senior Good Citizenship Award was awarded to Koryn Bosworth and Evan Hamm and the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship Participant was awarded to Erin Ward.
Phil Grand received the Americanism Test.
American Legion Post Awards were given to Shannon Conroy, Matt Bouic and Kate White.
Participation Awards were distributed to Cole Shepherd, Gage Garlinghouse, Samantha Adkins and Adeline Fitzwater.
American Legion Buckeye Boy’s State 2018 Nominees are Ben Macklin, Jacob Nicol, Charlie Scheiderer and Travis Dellinger.
The recipient of the American Red Cross Scholarship is Rachel Studenmund.
The Voice of Democracy Award was given to Elizabeth Arend.
Kate White was given the Union County Bar Association Outstanding Government Student.
Megan Olson received the Zonta Club of Columbus Outstanding Young Woman Award.
Jenay Kocsis was awarded the URE Children of Members Scholarship, Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives Children of Members Scholarship and Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship – National Award.
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour URE representatives are Gage Garlinghouse and Juliet Palmer.
Rachel Studenmund was named to the Advanced Tech Products.
The Shelly Materials Scholarship went to Shannon Conroy.
Audrey Scheiderer was named to the Madison County Farm Bureau.
Meghan McCaslin and Rachel Studenmund won the Milford Center Lions Club Scholarship.
The Kiwanis/Sarge Chamberlain Scholarship was awarded to Megan Olson.
The Rotary Lynn Whatley Memorial Service Above Self Scholarship went to Shannon Conroy and Rachel Studenmund.
The Rotary Interact Club Award was distributed to Megan Olson, Olivia Madden, Rachel Studenmund and Audrey Brackenridge.
Shannon Conroy received the Elks Books and Pizza Scholarship.
Megan Olson was given the Elks Outstanding Volunteerism Award.
The Elks Jim Payne Award went to Rachel Studenmund, while the Elks Student of the Year award went to Erin Ward and Alexander Bellas.
Evan Hamm, Olivia Madden were named as Army Reserve Scholar/Athletes.
Sarah Young and Noah Rausch received the Marine Corp. Scholastic Excellence Award.
Alex Adkins and Jenay Kocsis were named the Marine Corp. Distinguished Athletes.
Marine Corp. Semper Fidelis went to Breanna Dawson.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Award was given to Marisa Nicol.
Erin Ward won the Honda/OSU STEM Medal.
Samantha Adkins was named to the HOBY Leadership Program and Rebecca Scholl won the HOBY Academic All-Star, Volunteer Service and President’s Volunteer Service awards.
The Agonis Club Award went to Robbie Gross and Erin Ward.
The Columbus Dispatch Scholar Award was distributed to Trevor Chippas and Megan Olson.
The OHSAA Ethnic Minority Athlete recognition was given to Baylor Green and Kayla Green.
The OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award was given to Audrey Brackenridge and the OHSAA Courageous Student Award was given to Zoe Walls.
Brian Higinbotham and Hunter Johnson won the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award.
Matt Gebhart and Shannon Conroy were given NFHS Award of Excellence.
The Franklin B. Walter Award was given to Megan Olson.
AP Scholars included Audrey Brackenridge, Shannon Conroy, Lauren Coy, Phillippe Grand, Hunter Johnson, Jenay Kocsis, Olivia Madden, Megan Olson and Alexis Smith.
Koryn Bosworth and Erin Ward are the AP Scholars with Honor.
Erin Ward is the National Merit Finalist and John Bill is the National Merit Finalist/ Scholarship Winner.
Listed below are the University Scholarships Seniors are Accepting.
Alex Adkins, University of Kentucky Bluegrass Spirit Award, $8,000 per year.
Bianka Alston, Ohio Northern University Merit Scholarship, $13,000 per year.
Taylor Bates, University of Northwestern Ohio Athletic Scholarship, $3,000 per year.
Xander Bellas, The Ohio State University Merit Scholarship, $1,500 per year.
Grace Blumenschein, Marion Technical College President’s Scholarship, $1,500 per year.
Koryn Bosworth, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Academic Scholarship, $24,000 per year.
Makenna Bowen, Cedarville University One Campus Leadership Scholarship, $2,000 per year; Founders’ Scholarship, $500 per year; Achievement Scholarship, $4,000 per year; Excellence Award $4,000 per year; and Fund Scholarship, $2,600 per year.
Audrey Brackenridge, Walsh University Dr. Baxter Honors Scholarship, $18,000 per year.
Amber Brooks, Xavier University Xavier Award, $17,500 per year.
Trevor Chippas, Case Western Reserve University Scholarship, $23,000 per year.
Shannon Conroy, Miami University Bridges Program for Excellence, $3,000 per year; Redhawk Excellence Scholarship, $6,000 per year; and University Academic Scholars, $2,000 per year.
Lauren Coy, University of Toledo Merit Scholarship, $6,000 per year and Youth Nations Global Leadership, $1,000 per year.
Jordan Curry, Ohio Northern University Scholarship, $17,000 per year.
Matthew Gebhart, Columbus State Community College Future Leaders Scholarship, $1500.
Coree Gifford, Otterbein University Provost Scholarship, $10,000 per year and Kerr Thomas J IV Scholarship, $1,650.
Philippe Grand, OSU Marion Academic Scholarship, $5,000.
Baylor Green, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Achievement Scholarship, $13,000 per year; Diversity Scholarship, $1,000 per year; University Scholarship $3,602; and Nazarene Challenge, $2,500.
Kolbie Green, Kent State University Trustees Scholarship, $2,500 per year and Oscar Ritchie Memorial, $3,000 per year.
Evan Hamm, Bowling Green State University Freshman Academic Scholarship, $4,000 per year.
Hannah Hollingshead, Bowling Green State University Falcon Achievement, $2,000 per year; Freshman Academic Scholarship, $4,000 per year; and Wurzburger Memorial Scholarship, $2,000 per year.
Gavin Horn, OSU Marion Academic Scholarship, $2,250.
Abbey Hubbs, Miami University Merit Scholarship, $2,500 per year.
Hunter Johnson, The Ohio State University OSU Trustees Scholarship, $1,500 per year.
Megan King, Bowling Green State University Freshman Academic Scholarship, $4,000.
Brooklyn Kleiber, Bowling Green State University Freshman Academic Scholarship, $2,500 per year.
Jenay Kocsis, Capital University Presidential Scholarship, $24,000 per year; Alumni Scholarship, $1,000 per year; and Lutheran Scholarship, $1,000 per year.
Olivia Madden, Ohio University Ohio Distinction Scholarship, $1,000 per year; Ohio Success Scholarship, $2,000 per year; and Ohio Pathway Scholarship, $2,000 per year.
Mikayla Mansfield, Ohio Northern University Choose Ohio First Health Scholarship, $1,500 per year and Dean’s Scholarship, $14,000 per year.
Megan Olson, Xavier University Xavier Scholarship, $17,500 per year.
Josephine Palmer, Ohio Northern University Legacy Award, $3,000 per year and Dean’s Scholarship, $16,000 per year.
Natalie Parker Ohio Dominican University President’s Achievement Scholarship $19,000 per year.
Wes Pyers, Marietta College Marietta Scholarship, $19,000 per year.
Noah Rausch, OSU Marion Campus Scholarship, $2,500.
Lexi Ruggles, Eastern Kentucky University SMART Award, $8,000 per year.
Alan Schnees, OSU Marion George H. Alber Scholarship, $2,000.
Beau Sloan, University of Findlay Dean’s Scholarship $12,000 per year and Presidential Scholarship, $15,000 per year.
Logan Stidham, Alderson Broaddus Scholarship $2,000 per year and Go Give Scholarship, $4,500 per year.
Rachel Studenmund, Ashland University Director Level Award, $9,000 per year.
Erin Ward, University of Pennsylvania Penn Wharton Scholarship, $63,500 per year.
Aletha Wiggins, Thomas More College Spirit Award, $1,500 per year; Dean’s Academic Scholarship, $13,000 per year; and Saint’s Award, $1,500 per year.
Emily Wilson, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Achievement Scholarship, $13,000 per year; University Scholarship, $3,392 per year; and Golf Scholarship, $3,000 per year.
Sarah Young, University of Akron Guaranteed Scholarship, $25,500.
–––
Honors diplomas were given to Alexander Adkins, Bianka Alston, Alexander Bellas, John Bill, Koryn Bosworth, Audrey Brackenridge, Trevor Chippas, Shannon Conroy, Lauren Coy, Jordan Curry, Noah Eubanks, Alexander Francis, Coree Gifford, Evan Hamm, Brian Higinbotham, Hannah Hollingshead, Gavin Horn, Abigail Hubbs, Hunter Johnson, Jenay Kocsis, Bo Kuhn, Olivia Madden, Mikayla Mansfield, Meghan McCaslin, Marisa Nicol, Megan Olson, Josephine Palmer, Natalie Parker, Noah Rausch, Nathan Richmond, Alexis Smith, Rachel Studenmund, Zoe Walls, Erin Ward, Aletha Wiggins and Sarah Young.
The Career Tech Honors Diploma was given to Brendan Swartz.
National Honor Society sophomores are Samantha Adkins, Rose Arend, Livvy Bellas, Sarah Belmonte, Emma Bookwalter, Grace Boerger, Kincaid Carstensen, Emma Cook, Kyle Craig, Adeline Fitzwater, Kalor Greve, Wyatt Griffey, Katelyn Harris, Owen Herbst, Sarah LaPointe, David Montgomery, Keagan Nicol, Sara Nicol, Autumn Scheiderer, Nora Scheiderer, Cole Shepard, Chloe Stage, Megan Stallings, Abby Underhill, Kai Van Dyke, Nathan Vollrath, Seth Whitehead, Savannah Walls.
National Honor Society juniors are Elizabeth Arend, Devin Baum, Austin Becker, Justin Brackenridge, Kasey Carstensen, Travis Dellinger, Marissa Fornadel, Abby Gerty, Audra Gerty, Taylor Hall, Mary Iannarino, Peter LaPointe, Ben Macklin, Jacob Nicol, Samantha Picklesimer, Trevin Rausch, Leanne Rhoades, Claire Ruff, Charlie Sheiderer, Mason Smith, Kelsey Thorbahn, Macy Wanamaker, Maddie Weisburn, Kate White, Jordon Yates, Joelle Ziegler.
National Honor Society seniors are Alex Adkins, Bianka Alston, Taylor Bates, Koryn Bosworth, Audrey Brackenridge, Trevor Chippas, Shannon Conroy, Lauren Coy, Jordan Curry, Breanna Dawson, Noah Eubanks, Alex Francis, Coree Gifford, Evan Hamm, Brian Higinbotham, Hannah Hollinghead, Abbey Hubbs, Hunter Johnson, Kira Jones, Brooklyn Kleiber, Jenay Kocsis, Megan King, Olivia Madden, Mikayla Mansfield, Meghan McCaslin, Marisa Nicol, Megan Olson, Josie Palmer, Cassidy Shepard, Lindsey Shepard, Alexis Smith, Rachel Studenmund, Zoe Walls, Erin Ward, Aletha Wiggins, Sarah Young.
Madison Montenaro is the sole National Technical Honor Society member.
Yearlong Distinction Honor Roll (3.6 – 4.0) freshmen are Brendan Baker, Brianna Bosworth, Bryce Bosworth, Ellee Bouic, Julia Cheney, Madeline Conroy, Miranda Coover, Mason Cushman, Linsey Eddy, Emma Feaster, Trey Good, Braylon Green, Shelby Jones, Emma Kugel, Antonia Mapes, Lillian Miller, Meghan Moran, Elizabeth Nicol, Molly Olson, Jayda Rausch, Megan Rausch, William Reed-Bodey, Carter Schultz, Diego Shaw, Aubrey Tillman, Paul Tossey, Ellie Trego, Emily Truskoski, Brenna Zavar, Jeremy Ziegler.
Yearlong Distinction Honor Roll sophomores are Samantha Adkins, Rose Arend, Olivia Bellas, Sarah Belmonte, Emma Bookwalter, Emma Cook, Adeline Fitzwater, Sean Galsterer, Kalor Greve, Wyatt Griffey, Katelyn Harris, Owen Herbst, Hayden Hoover, Parker Horn, Alex Jones, Dakota Key, Allison Kise, Sarah LaPointe, David Montgomery, Keagan Nicol, Sara Nicol, Juliet Palmer, John Pastirzyk, Autumn Scheiderer, Nora Scheiderer, Cole Shepherd, Taylar Sphapmixay, Chloe Stage, Megan Stallings, Taylor Swartz, Abigail Underhill, Kaori Van Dyke, Nathan Vollrath, Savannah Walls, April Ward, Ashlyn Ward, Seth Whitehead, Michaela Writesel.
Yearlong Distinction Honor Roll juniors are Elizabeth Arend, Justin Brackenridge, Kasey Carstensen, Marisa Fornadel, Abby Gerty, Audra Gerty, Ben Macklin, Nick Murray, Jacob Nicol, Samantha Picklesimer, Josh Powell, Trevin Rausch, Leanne Rhoades, Claire Ruff, Mason Smith, Kelsey Thorbahn, Macy Wanamaker, Madeline Weisburn, Kate White, Joelle Ziegler.
Yearlong Distinction Honor Roll senior Audrey Brackenridge, Molly Burger, Shannon Conroy, Lauren Coy, Jordan Curry, Noah Eubanks, Matthew Gebhart, Hannah Hollingshead, Gavin Horn, Abbey Hubbs, Hunter Johnson, Megan King, Jenay Kocsis. Olivia Madden, Marisa Nicol, Megan Olson, Josie Palmer, Natalie Parker, Audrey Scheiderer, Cassidy Shepard, Lindsey Shepard, Erin Ward, Taylor Woolum, Sarah Young.
Yearlong Merit Honor Roll (3.2 – 3.59) freshmen are Alexis Anderson, Alex Blumenschein, Jordan Ergino, Kaitlin Heffelfinger, Hunter Jackson, Sam Keller, Cassandra Lamb, Wyatte Miller, Maggie Nicol, Annika Parks, Lily Pearson, Wyatt Rausch, Brendan Sayer, Brianna Walters, JD Welch, Meghan Wenger, Gage Wilson.
Yearlong Merit Honor Roll sophomores are William Anderson, Grace Boerger, Hannah Bond, Kaidie Carstensen, Ethan Chippas, Kyle Craig, Ian Dowling, Gracie Hubbs, Weston Lorenz, Alexis Murray, Makenzie Nichols, Alyssa Nisly, Sam Rengert, Sarah Sands, Braxton Wilhelm, Janelle Woolum.
Yearlong Merit Honor Roll juniors are Ayden Adams, Devin Baum, Austin Becker, Tyler Beem, Matthew Bouic, Cross Hackathorne, Taylor Hall, Jacob Headings, Piper Huston, Peter LaPointe, Chris Long, Ciera Madison, Kendrick Mitten, Samantha Priest, Thomas Rogers, Cayla Talbott, Jordon Yates.
Yearlong Merit Honor Roll seniors are Bianka Alston, Xander Bellas, Trevor Chippas, Breanna Dawson, Alex Francis, Kayla Green, Baylor Green, Charlotte Green, Thomas Gruenbaum, Brian Higinbotham, Holden Jackson, Kira Jones, Brooklyn Kleiber, Elizabeth Lowry, Mikayla Mansfield, Heath Percell, Wes Pyers, Noah Rausch, Lexi Ruggles, Alan Schnees, Rachel Studenmund, Zoe Walls, Aletha Wiggins, Emily Wilson.
Student Council
Student Council President is Rachel Studenmund
Freshman Class Officers are President Madeline Conroy, Vice President Shelby Jones, Secretary Linsey Eddy, Treasurer Aubrey Tillman and Representative Billy Reed-Bodey.
Sophomore Class Officers are President Cole Shepherd, Vice President Savannah Walls, Secretary John Pastirzyk, Treasurer Kaidie Carstensen and Representative Lexi Murray.
Junior Class Officers are President Abby Gerty, Vice President Madeline Weisburn, Secretary Audra Gerty, Treasurer Devin Baum and Representative Macy Wanamaker.
Senior Class Officers are President Rachel Studenmund, Vice President Chase Litzke, Secretary Olivia Madden Treasurer Brian Higinbotham and Representative Phil Grand.
Freshmen who achieved perfect attendance are Alex Blumenschein, Mason Cushman, Jacob Nichols, Carter Schultz and Aubrey Tillman.
Sophomores who achieved perfect attendance are Emma Bookwalter, Sam Rengert, Kaori Van Dyke and Braxton Wilhelm.
Juniors who achieved perfect attendance are Chris Long, Madeline Weisburn and Seth Rengert.