Girl finalists, speaker named for award

R.K. Thompson information submitted

Five area girls have been selected for the 2012 R.K. Thompson Self Reliance Award, according to Andy Gearhart and John Gemmer, co-chairmen of the Van Wert Service Club’s selection committee.

Bethany Army, daughter of Clark Army and Susan Slagle, is a senior at Lincolnview High School where she is involved in FFA, National Honor Society, Student Council, Beta Club, Science Club, Spanish Club and is Captain of the volleyball team. After graduation, she will be attending The Ohio State University to major in Pre-Optometry. She is currently employed at Miller Vision in Van Wert and gives riding instructions at Army’s Performance Horses.

Elizabeth Callow, daughter of Brian and Cynthia Callow, is a senior at Crestview High School where she is involved in National Honor Society and Model United Nations. She is also active in her church youth group and AWANA Club. Following graduation, she intends to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences or Biomedical Engineering. She has contributed significantly to her family’s farming operation for several years.

Rachael Gent, daughter of Rick Gent and Storm Mercer, is a senior at Crestview High School where she is involved in Soccer, Cheerleading, National Honor Society and is Vice President of her class. Rachael was Crestview High School’s representative in the Peony Pageant this year. After graduation, she plans on attending Ball State University and major in Speech & Language Pathology.

Crystal Morgan, daughter of Vince and Laura Morgan, is a senior at Vantage Career Center where she is involved in Skills USA, serves as a Student Ambassador and is on the honor roll. She is also involved in her church youth group and was Queen of the Ohio City Lambert Days Pageant. Following graduation, she plans on attending college to become a Registered Nurse. She currently works at Vancrest Healthcare Center as an S.T.N.A.

Abigail Richey, daughter of Patrick Richey and Summer Vettori, is a senior at Lincolnview High School where she is involved in BETA Club, Spanish Club and FFA. She is also involved in 4-H, is on the Junior Fair Board and is involved with her church youth group. After graduation, she plans on obtaining a degree in Physical Therapy. She is currently employed at Beining’s Nursery and Landscape.

The Thompson family and Van Wert Service Club are pleased to announce the speaker for this year’s awards banquet will be Joel Penton.

Penton is a graduate of Van Wert High School and The Ohio State University where played football for the Buckeyes for five years. He was a member of three Big Ten Championship teams, a member of the National Championship team, and a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

In his senior year, Penton received the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, also known as the Humanitarian Heisman. The trophy is a national award that recognizes the one college football player in the entire country who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. After graduating from OSU, Penton turned down an opportunity to play in the NFL to begin a career in full-time speaking.

Since that time, Penton has quickly earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading youth motivational speakers. As one of the top school motivational speakers, he has shared his school assembly programs with more than 300,000 middle school and high school students nationwide.

This year’s awards banquet will be held Tuesday, April 24, at Vantage Career Center in Van Wert. The R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award Program was initiated 42 years ago in honor of the late R.K. Thompson Sr.

The program provides cash awards for high school seniors in Van Wert County who best exhibit self-reliance and is designed to seek out and honor a senior who “does the best with what he or she has,” whether he or she is a scholar, an athlete, a student leader or someone who must seek employment to help their family meet expenses. The R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award is sponsored by the Thompson Family Trust, through the Van Wert County Foundation, and administered by the Van Wert Service Club.