(Posted April 16, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
Jonathan Alder High School Principal Mike Aurin was excited as he introduced a pair of scholarship winners.
Seniors Natalie Haines and Megan Gordin took center stage at the April 9 school board meeting April 9 for earning large amounts of college scholarship money.
Haines, an independent art student for four years under teacher Jen Moore, received an $18,000 scholarship from Columbus College of Art and Design for the outstanding quality of her portfolio. One of her art pieces won a Gold Key in local competition and is going on to national competition. She also placed in the top 25 of the more than 11,000 students who entered the 2018 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. She will receive a Governor’s Award of Excellence later this month.
“There’s likely more coming,” she said, noting that she has entered her work in other competitions.
“She inspires me,” Moore said.
Gordin was selected as the 2018 recipient of the Ohio University Dishon Scholarship at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. The award is worth $32,000. She wrote an essay to accompany her application, then sat for an interview. To date, she has earned $57,500 in scholarship funds.
She said she’d like to work on a magazine.
Aurin was all smiles as he introduced the two students and their parents.
“There’ll be more, I promise you,” he said as the board members and audience gave the students a round of applause.
Also receiving commendations from the board were members of the winter sports teams.
Brent Cahill, his assistant coaches, and the boys’ basketball team were singled out as champions of the Kenton Trail Division in the Central Buckeye Conference. Jackie Santa-Emma was named first-team CBC, and honorable mention Central District. Jaron Wheelbarger received the CBC Sportsmanship Award.
Coach Rusty Walter, assistant coaches and the boys’ and girls’ bowling teams were applauded. The boys were sectional and district champions and state runners-up. The girls were Kenton Trail Division CBC co-champions and sectional champions.Luke Honigford earned honorable mention all-Ohio and Joshua Schrock won the CBC Sportsmanship Award. Hallie Nichols was named first-team CBC and won the league’s Sportsmanship Award, while Rena Kirts was named first-team CBC and first place in the district.
From the girls’ basketball team, Sydney Bourquin was named first-team CBC, District 10 Top 10, and first-team Central District. Peyton Mast received the CBC Sportsmanship Award.
From the wrestling team, Jacob Johnson was named first-team CBC, CBC Wrestler of the Year. He finished first at sectionals and district and fifth at state. He also received the CBC Sportsmanship Award.
From the swimming team, Maryn Herring and Alec Page each won the CBC Sportsmanship Award, and Herring was a district qualifier in two relay events.
Eleven Jonathan Alder students participated in the Battle of the Books on April 11. Students were given a list of 45 books at the start of the school year. Central Ohio librarians made out a list of questions for the competition. Among the books were “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” “Columbine,” “Ready Player One,” “The Glass Castle,” “The Secret Life of Bees” and “This Side of Paradise.”
Board members approved overnight trips for two groups of students. Several band members will attend a leadership camp July 20-22 in West Chester, Pa., and the girls’ basketball team will go attend camp in Findlay June 18-19.
Also approved was the summer online course credit recovery program for students who need to make up classes. Course offerings include algebra, geometry, English, history, biology, chemistry, government and health.
The board ended with an executive session on personnel matters. The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is May 14.
