Class of 2014 graduates Sunday at VWHS

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It was just a coincidence, but a total of 143 seniors were listed as graduating Sunday during Van Wert High School’s 143rd annual commencement exercise held in the VWHS gymnasium.

The seniors processed into a gym packed with friends and relatives to the strains of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the VWHS band under the direction of Robert Sloan.

After the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the band,  seniors, teachers, parents and friends then listened to the VWHS choir, directed by Julia Reichert and accompanied by Marilyn Alessandrini, sing two numbers, “For Good” by Schwartz, and John Ness Beck’s “Benediction” – the singing of which is a VWHS tradition that goes back more than 40 years.

Class speakers for this year’s senior class were Clarissa Gamble, Kendal Humrickhouse and Holly Lawson, who provided some humor, as well as serious introspection and inspiration for the future.

A record number of graduates of distinction were introduced by VWHS Principal Bill Clifton, and then honored by Superintendent Ken Amstutz and Board of Education President Mike Morrow.

The 16 graduates of distinction are in the top 10 percent of their class, earned a grade point average of at least 3.85 (six graduates this year had a 4.0 average) and successfully completed at least three of the six Advanced Placement courses offered at VWHS.

This year’s graduates of distinction are as follows: Jacob Braun, son of Matt and Tina Braun; Amanda Clay, daughter of Scott and Sherri Clay; Andrew Dingle, son of James and Diane Dingle; Taylor Doidge, daughter of Brad and Kim Doidge; Sydney Dull, daughter of Mike and Brenda Dull; Eric Easley, son of Jeff and Michelle Easley; Kaitlynn Hall, daughter of Nick and Val Steyer; Hannah Hulbert, daughter of Matt and Tina Hulbert; Holly Lawson, daughter of Bill and Lisa Lawson; Lauren Mathew, daughter of Carey Mathew and Patricia Mathew; McKenna Merkle, daughter of Kevin and Brenda Merkle; Lexi Myers, daughter of Jim Myers and Linda Myers; Audrey Nicolai, daughter of Brad and Denise Nicolai; Daniel Patterson, son of Randy and LeAnn Patterson; Korbin Sanderson, son of David Sanderson and Amanda Kinkle; and Allison Smith, daughter of Franklin and Brenda Smith.

Amstutz then provided a few remarks for this year’s class of graduating seniors, followed by brief remarks from Morrow.

Members of the Board of Education, which includes Morrow, Ben Cowan, R.J. Coleman, Debbie Compton and Scott Mull, then presented diplomas to the seniors, followed by the playing of the VWHS “Alma Mater” and the traditional tossing of mortarboards by graduating seniors.

The Class of 2014 then recessed to the band’s playing of “Slow March from Scipio” by George F. Handel.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It was just a coincidence, but a total of 143 seniors graduated Sunday during Van Wert High School’s 143rd annual commencement exercise held in the VWHS gymnasium.

The seniors processed into the gym to the strains of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the VWHS band, under the direction of Robert Sloan.

After the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the band, the seniors, teachers, parents and friends then listened to the VWHS choir, directed by Julia Reichert and accompanied by Marilyn Alessandrini, sing two numbers, “For Good” by Schwartz, and John Ness Beck’s “Benediction” – the singing of which is a VWHS tradition that goes back more than 40 years.

Class speakers for this year’s senior class were Clarissa Gamble, Kendal Humrickhouse and Holly Lawson, who provided some humor, as well as serious introspection and inspiration for the future.

A record number of graduates of distinction were then introduced by VWHS Principal Bill Clifton, and then honored by Superintendent Ken Amstutz and Board of Education President Mike Morrow.

The 16 graduates of distinction are in the top 10 percent of their class, earned a grade point average of at least 3.85 (six graduates this year had a 4.0 average) and successfully completed at least three of the six Advanced Placement courses offered at VWHS.

This year’s graduates of distinction are as follows: Jacob Braun, son of Matt and Tina Braun; Amanda Clay, daughter of Scott and Sherri Clay; Andrew Dingle, son of James and Diane Dingle; Taylor Doidge, daughter of Brad and Kim Doidge; Sydney Dull, daughter of Mike and Brenda Dull; Eric Easley, son of Jeff and Michelle Easley; Kaitlynn Hall, daughter of Nick and Val Steyer; Hannah Hulbert, daughter of Matt and Tina Hulbert; Holly Lawson, daughter of Bill and Lisa Lawson; Lauren Mathew, daughter of Carey Mathew and Patricia Mathew; McKenna Merkle, daughter of Kevin and Brenda Merkle; Lexi Myers, daughter of Jim Myers and Linda Myers; Audrey Nicolai, daughter of Brad and Denise Nicolai; Daniel Patterson, son of Randy and LeAnn Patterson; Korbin Sanderson, son of David Sanderson and Amanda Kinkle; and Allison Smith, daughter of Franklin and Brenda Smith.

Amstutz then provided a few remarks for this year’s class of graduating seniors, followed by brief remarks from Morrow.

Members of the Board of Education, which includes Morrow, Ben Cowan, R.J. Coleman, Debbie Compton and Scott Mull, then presented diplomas to the seniors, followed by the playing of the VWHS “Alma Mater” and the traditional tossing of mortarboards by graduating seniors.

The Class of 2014 then recessed to the band’s playing of “Slow March from Scipio” by George F. Handel.