Longwell, Byrne R.K. Thompson winners

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Two Lincolnview seniors earned top honors — and $1,000 in scholarship money — during the 45th annual R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards Banquet held Tuesday evening at Vantage Career Center.

The event, begun by R.K. “Roger” Thompson Jr. to honor his father, R.K. Thompson Sr., recognizes high school seniors who “do the best with what they have,” provides a $500 scholarship to the 10 finalists, and an additional $500 scholarship to the top boy and girl winners.

Roger Thompson’s son, David Thompson, announced the top winners, while Eunice Thompson, Roger’s widow, gave the top recipients their awards, which include a plaque and the additional $500 scholarship.

This year, Stephanie Longwell, daughter of Sean Longwell and Julie Beair; and Nathaniel Byrne, son of Michelle Byrne, were the top girl and boy finalists.

Longwell participates in band, choir, basketball, softball, Beta Club, Spanish Club, Science Club, National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Lincolnview. Longwell also helps get her younger siblings ready for school each day and also works evenings and weekends at Pizza Hut in Van Wert, often in charge of closing Friday nights and opening Saturday mornings.

After graduation, she plans to attend The Ohio State University and major in exercise science.

Byrne is a senior class officer and participates in choir, Science Club, Beta Club and Benefit Council at Lincolnview. He plans to attend Ohio State and major in chemical engineering, with a minor in nuclear engineering, and hopes to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Byrne also is the breadwinner in his family, supporting his mother and 11-year-old sister while working a 30-hour week at Cooper Foods Cooked Meats in Van Wert.

While Self-Reliance finalists are not always the top scholars, athletes or student leaders at their respective schools, they all have one thing in common: they have overcome significant obstacles and have learned to be self-sufficient.

The other finalists for this year’s award were senior girls Brittney Boaz of Van Wert, daughter of Pete and Nichole Boaz; Clarissa Clay of Lincolnview, daughter of Brad and Lydia Mendenhall; Riley Jones of Van Wert, daughter of Jon and Ellen Jones; and Mackenzie Strite of Dwight Strite and Stephanie Kleman; and senior boys Austin Cunningham of Crestview, son of Jonathan and Amy Cunningham; Nicholas Krugh of Van Wert, son of Michael and Cindy Krugh; Connor Shaffer of Van Wert, son of Neil and Teresa Shaffer; and Tyler Ruger of Van Wert, son of Eugene and Tracy Ruger.

Following the naming of the Self-Reliance Award winners, those attending the banquet heard an inspiring speech from Brad Hurtig, who lost both his hands in an industrial accident while a sophomore in high school and still managed to be named First Team All-Ohio and lead his Fairview Sherwood football team in tackles his senior year.

Hurtig noted that all people have to overcome obstacles in their everyday lives, noting that it is the ability to turn obstacles into opportunities that sets successful people apart from everyone else.

Hurtig said that, although he wondered whether he would ever play sports following his accident, he vowed to not let adversity overcome him.

“I was not going to allow the accident to have power over me,” Hurtig said. “You always have the power to decide.”

He said that those who succeed in the face of adversity have three things in common:

• They decide to take power over obstacles.
• They adapt.
• They persevere.

Tuesday’s event is sponsored by the Thompson Family Trust and administered by the Van Wert Service Club. Committee members include co-chairs Breanne Sudduth and Anthony Adams, banquet chairman Andrew Gearhart, and members Martin Burchfield (greeter), Brent Kohn, Steve Alspaugh, Fawn Burley, Mark Schumm, Randy Myers, Deb Laudick, Connie Ainsworth (greeter), John Gemmer, Allen Rager and Kim Wray.

Others providing assistance include Community Health Professionals, the Van Wert YMCA and Vantage Career Center, for hosting and preparing the dinner.