Submitted information
Below is the list of second nine weeks honor roll for Crestview High School’s 2024-25 school year.
High School Honor Roll 3.75 – 4.00
12th grade: Samuel Boroff, Natalie Burk, Kennedy Crider, Sydney Dowler, Adelyn Figley, Elliana Kline, Josie Kulwicki, Jacob Pawlick, Kane Roberts, Nevaeh Ross, Elizabeth Rupert, Hannah Rupert, Wren Sheets, Kaylea Short, Saxton Short, Quinn Tomlinson, and Derek Yinger. 11th grade: Quintin Adam, Emily Adams, Lillie Best, Jyrzee Craft, Mathew Dealey, Anna Gardner, Owen Heckler, Rachel Hedden, Kenzie Heffner, Jacob Heth, Peyton Hoffman, Emily Lichtle, Caroline Marks, Emma Marquardt, Hayden Perrott, Rain Risley, Lulu Ross, Logan Schlemmer, Jacob Schumm, Leah Sowers, Madilynn Springer, Dakota Thornell, Lauren Tracey, and Makinzee Williamson. 10th grade: Caia Cook, Macie Dickman, Lainey Gardner, Kaden Gause, Lydia Grace, Kaci Gregory, Cylee Grubb, Andrew Heth, Gwyneth Kahle, Eleanor Lamb, Evelyn Lamb, Kash Lichtensteiger, Hailey Logan, Braelyn Marsee, Chloe Miller, Cole Miller, Ava Motycka, Alison Owens, Brooks Petrie, Jaymie Quickstad, Tory Singer, Alli Thatcher, Caleb Thomas, Andrew Tracey, and Kale Vining. 9th grade: Delanie Balliet, Alecta Baxter, Lily Bok, Evin Brincefield, Alexis Couchot, Kinley Crider, Elijah Foudy, Graylie Grose, Taylor Kittle, Logan Matson, Jetta Merkle, Noah Mosier, Ian Owens, Raygan Rockwood, Lucas Sawmiller, Kara Sheaffer, Harold Smazenko, Adalyn Tobias, Austin Yinger, and Derek Young.
High School Merit Roll 3.25 – 3.74
12th grade: Aieden Adams, Hayden Buuck, Ryden Cereghin, Javyn Craft, Michaela Debbe, Alivia Etzler, Alexis Flagg, Rex Gerardot, Evan Hart, Anthony Heffner, Tyler Hoblet, Jackson Marks, Zayden Martin, Kaylee Mollenkopf, Dakotah Nihiser, Katherine Sawmiller, Ean Scarlett, Zaddick Sherburn, and Evan Spieth. 11th grade: Camren Castle, Violet Dirr, John Forwerck, Marissa Gros, Huxley Grose, Brayden Huffine, Braxton Leeth, Haley McCoy, Liam Putman, Brentyn Rodriguez, Breanna Shellabarger, Ellieanah Ward, and Madison Wilson. 10th grade: Zaine Cereghin, Sebastian Craig, Chloe Diller, Jailyn Flickinger, Mackenzie Harting, Karley Hicks, Drayden Hoffman, JJ McGarvey, Nathaniel Mitchener, Evan Myers, Karsyn Parrish, Hudson Perrott, William Rupert, Kenadi Short, Carl Speelman, Robert Tyas, Bladyn Vibbert, Keilee West, Michael Whitson, and Kylie Williams. 9th grade: Alina Adams, Lucas Bigham, Ashley Burk, Xehrya Esparza, Draven Frost, Joseph Gerardot, Grant Grubb, Conner Hammons, Abbygayle Hedden, Kailey McClure, Emiley Paseka, Carter Perkins, Beckam Putman, Alivia Renner, Carter Roberts, Aaron Sherman, Lillian Stefanek, and Marlee Temple.
High School Commendable Roll 3.00 – 3.24
12th grade: Ayden Hyitt, Bryson Penix, and Marcel Romero. 11th grade: Gavin Burkhalter, Braxtyn Couts, and Jace Wehner. 10th grade: Keegan Ashford, Kortny Berridge, Sydney Bible, Denver McDougall, Nora Myers, and Gabriel Younker. 9th grade: Aleigha Brown, Gabriella Contreras, Jacelynn Korte, Leah Plotts, Emma Ward, and Xavier Williamson.
POSTED: 02/04/25 at 8:14 am. FILED UNDER: Youth
Submitted information
Below is the list of second nine weeks honor roll students for Crestview Middle School’s 2024-25 school year.
Middle School Honor Roll 3.75 – 4.00
8th grade: Emma Beougher, Lillian Crawford, Dylan Cress, Kane Crider, Cole DeWert, Emily Foudy, Emily Frazier, Paylin Gray, Jakoby Heck, Evan Heckler, Emily Heth, Memphis Huffine, Lilyth Kahle, Violet Kahle, Ayla Kreischer, Tate Lichtensteiger, Kaylee Owens, Nora Perkins, Evelyn Petrie, Ariah Reichert, Kailyn Robinson, Kenadie Schwartz, Emma Tobias, and Raidyn Young. 7th grade: Cira Averesch, Calin Balliet, Devin Berridge, Griffin Clouse, Adalee Gardner, William Gerardot, Gage Grubb, Aaliyah Herring, Mackenzie Kreischer, Makala Miller, Mara Myers, Sophia Skelton, August Smith, Cainon Smith, and Kinah Wallace. 6th grade: Brynn Carr, Morgan Cress, Kherrington Fuller, Josephine Kerns, Crew Kreischer, Mila Lichtensteiger, Isabel Merkle, Aubrey Osborn, Iva Owens, Mayla Owens, Stella Plumley, Kayden Pugh, Willow Sheets, Alexandria Short, Rawli Smith, and Jackson Tracey.
Middle School Merit Roll 3.25 – 3.74
8th grade: Isabella Delgado, Maverik Hammons, Ivy Harris, Brayden Hedington, Taylor Jewell, Addysun McDougall, Cody Mishey, Zoe Ross, Corbett Roth, Bladin Scott, Haylee Shellabarger, Lyza Sloan, Peyton Wallace, Macy Wehner, Evangelene Williman, Rylan Young, and Molly Younker. 7th grade: Connor Baxter, Claire Coleman, Jacqueline Dennie, Nickali Dorsett, Elizabeth Eding, Maggie Gilkey, Payton Haley, Logan Hoblet, Eliana Le, Mikeal Linton, Emma Lirot, Cadence Martin, Aubree Mills, Reid Motycka, Kourtney Noggle, Grayson Overholt, Harper Perrott, Bobby Ray Rodriguez, Myles Williman, Natalee Woodard, Dalton Woodruff, and Dylan Young. 6th grade: Andrew Beougher, Dana Bok, Emmalin Brincefield, Annistyn Bultemeier, Londyn Burley, Lucas Cress, Abigail Davis, Evelyn Dennie, Zander Dowler, Nash Feasel, Aurora Gilbert, Truitt Gross, Evan Kittle, Joel Lichtensteiger, Kenzie McClure, Ryder Roehm, Shooter Springer, Grayden Thornell, Colten Tice, and Liam Worden.
Middle School Commendable Roll 3.00 – 3.24
8th grade: Hudson Buuck, Cale Carr, Corbin Coil, Chase Feasby, Gavin Holaway, Evan Knueve, Bentley Scott, Hunter Waltmire, and Rheis Young. 7th grade: Eleanor Cologne, Carter Dull, Ethan McOmber, and Remington Ortiz. 6th grade: Addison Germann, Emma Gibson, Mavis Hull, Braxton Lutz, Ryder Marquardt, Emberlee Miller, Logan Shaffer Smith, Fisher Speelman, and Brody Williams.
POSTED: 02/04/25 at 8:10 am. FILED UNDER: Youth
Van Wert High School recently announced its Academic Award winners at a luncheon hosted by Central Insurance. Those honored include the following students:
2023–2024 Academic Award Recipients: Freshmen
Owen Bates, Sophia Berry, Cylee Boroff, Cohen Bragg, Valerie Byrum, Carley Chiles, Chandler Couch, Amaya Dowdy, Emory Ferckel, Jazzlyn Florence, Izabella Gonzalez, Lilian Greve, Kathryn Gross, Zeus Grunden, Caroline Haggerty, Michael Henninger, Gavin Hensley, Noah Hillery, Elizabeth Jones, Ella Kimmel, Leah Krites, Noah Krites, Natalie Kroeger, Charley Leaser, Lillian Mason, Aiden McClain, Brayden Miller, Andrea Owen, Quintin Parrish, Ashton Rager, Arkana Rodriguez, Jonas Rollins, Paxton Schlemmer, LilliAnne Schrader, Zachery Scott, Harrison Sloan, Sophie Smith, Quinn Spackey, Eliza Spath, Zachary Stoller, Madilynn Thompson, Mark Verville, Jude Vetter, Keaten Welch, and Elijah Wofford.
2023–2024 Academic Award Recipients: Sophomores
Kylee Ball, Tristan Blackmore, Jayci Blue, Karly Bohyer, Breese Bollenbacher, Jaida Clay, Mackenzie Couch, Finley Dickinson, Trevor Dotson, Trey Dotson, Kallee Dunn, Clayton Fast, Johan Gemmer, Trevor Halker, Brissia Ickes, Lila Jensen, Savannah Johns, Meah Johnson, Jaelynn Karcher, Brenna Kimmet, Catherine Kramer, Dante Lippi, Blade Lowe, Jackson Martinez, Felicia Martz, Maria Parrish, Madalynn Pontius, Natalie Rayman, Colton Richardson, Harper Roop, Alexis Ruposky, Sidney Ryan,, Chelsea Sanderson, Lindsey Say, Harmony Schuerman, Lilly Serna, Lottie Shartzer, Grace Spieles, Gavin Springer, Brock Stoller, Hannah Vetter, Addison Wallace, Briggs Wallace, Emma West, Isabella Wise, Carter Wright
2023–2024 Academic Award Recipients: Juniors
Alivia Bates, Clair Benner, Amanda Burenga, Meredith Crummey, Hayden Davis, Lillian Davis, Kendra Deehring, Alexa Deitemeyer, Ashlynn Delzeith, Noah Doctor, Alexandria Doner, Hayden Dowler, Evan Falk, Keaton Foster, Robert Gamble, Nathan Gearhart, Sophia Gearhart, Isabelle Gomez, Leia Hoersten, Samuel Houg, Aaliayha Jordan, Carlee Kroeger, Andrew Laudick, Meagan Mason, Brendon Mendoza, Zoey Miller, Jaymison Moynihan, Lilie Mull, Ethan Noble, Heet Patel, Austin Pierce, Breonna Pontius, Haylee Prine, Raelyn Profitt, Mia Rager, Aaron Reichert, Kristine Rison, Abigail Rollins, Owen Scott, Ava Sealscott, Noah Spath, Case Stegaman, Addison Sturwold, Carmella Tomasi, Olivia Vaas, Aubrey Wollet, Brooke Young, and Carolina Zappa.
2023–2024 Academic Award Recipients: Seniors
Caleb Bledsoe, Kelby Blythe, Jordanne Blythe, Zoe Coleman, Kelta Cowan, Aaron Dowdy, Sydney Dowler, Lyndsey Heath, Tiera Hobbs, Deborah Jones, Hope Keuneke, Jacob Kitson, Andrew Klewer, Johnathan Kramer, Reese Krugh, Cayden Laukhuf, Annika Maples, Gwyneth McComas, Ellie Mooney, Kaden Shaffer, Emma Spoor, Gage Stemen, Ashlyn Stoller, Devin Story, Dennis Sudduth, Olivia Treece, Sarah Verville, Addison Waltmire, Caleb Wise, and Kierden Yoh.
POSTED: 11/20/24 at 9:30 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth

Shown are Van Wert County Junior Fair Rabbit Show winners (from the left) Grand Champion Ethan Lugabihl With his Californian, Judge Platt, Carson Lape with the Reserve Champion Dutch, Evelyn Lamb with her third place New Zealand, Judge Carr, and Peyton Evans with his fourth pace Mini Lop (all results can be found here). photo provided
POSTED: 09/12/21 at 10:42 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth
Independent staff and submitted information
Project Believe has once again stepped up to help students at The Marsh Foundation start school on a positive note. Last week, representatives visited campus with a delivery of backpacks and school supplies for all students.
The organization, which originated in 2009, began by donating Christmas gifts to children in residential facilities. It now is also active on Easter, Valentine’s Day, and the start of the school year. Tammie Rafferty, the group’s founder, was initially inspired to help others by her own daughter’s circumstances.

This year, Bob Lavoie visited the campus to present the backpacks and supplies to Marsh Foundation School Principal Robbie Breese and teachers.
“We feel very fortunate that Project Believe has chosen to continue to assist The Marsh Foundation in our mission of inspiring hope to our children,” said Breese. “Our students and teachers are very excited to accept the backpacks and supplies as we return to the classroom this school year.”
Learn more about Project Believe by visiting its website at http://project-believe.net or by contacting Rafferty directly at projectbelieve@live.com.
POSTED: 09/01/21 at 11:55 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth
Independent staff and submitted information
MASON — Dancers from Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks attended Encore Talent Productions National Dance Competition in Mason at the end of June.

The best dance groups from the surrounding states competed at this competition. Many of the groups also brought home top overall high scores and Special Judges Awards. The jazz number performing to “Rhythm Nation” (at right) earned first overall in the teen large group division and was recognized in the “best of the best” and was then selected as the top winner of the entire competition, earning group members the title of National Champions 2021. The dance was choreographed by Kim Hohman and is instructed each week by Mrs. Hohman and Kylie Hohman.
Eight dance groups from KHDW earned a spot in the Best of the Best competition. The studio also had individual dancers qualify for the Best of the Best from the solo competition. Dancers in the mini division included Sydney Ross and Addy Young, with Young winning the title of Mini Miss Encore. Teens qualifying were Chloe Nielsen, Olivia Treece, and Annie Renner. The senior level dancers qualifying were Kaden Hohman and Ellie Vining, with Vining winning the title of Senior Miss Encore.
The dance studio is located at 11199 Van Wert-Decatur Road. For more information, contact the studio at 419.232.6505 or come to its open house on Tuesday, August 10, from 5-8 p.m.
POSTED: 08/02/21 at 11:05 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth
Independent staff and submitted information
Scott Niswonger was born and grew up in Van Wert, where he learned to fly, soloing on his 16th birthday. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Aviation Technology and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Technology degree in 2004.
In addition, Mr. Niswonger earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tusculum University in 1986, from which he was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2006. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from East Tennessee State University and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from the University of Tennessee.
Over the last three years, the Niswongers, Scott and his wife, Nikki, have generously donated to the Operation Back to School event. With this year’s donation, the couple will have given a total of $12,500 towards this outreach.
Last year, Operation Back to School reached over 1,000 students in the local community. The event will be held this year from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, August 1, at its original location in Fountain Park. This free event provides backpacks filled with school supplies and personal hygiene items to all county school children, preschool through eighth grade. There will also be games and food offered to all who attend.
Pre-registration is required, which can be completed online at www.vanwertfirst.net or by visiting the First United Methodist Church office to fill out a registration form.
The high school event will be held at a later date. For more information, volunteering opportunities, or to donate to this event, call the church office at 419.238.0631, extension 307.
Staff and submitted information
Two Van Wert High School seniors have been awarded Believe in Ohio STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, & Math) scholarships from The Ohio Academy of Science.
Jamie Burenga and Sophie Rutkowski were among 46 students from 41 high schools who received the $1,000 scholarships, which can be used at any Ohio college, university, post-secondary career center, or vocational school.
The scholarships, funded through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, recognize seniors for their contributions to STEM innovation and entrepreneurship through the Believe in Ohio statewide scholarship program.
“STEM and Entrepreneurship are the basis for innovation and building new business opportunities and problem solutions,” said Michael E. Woytek, executive director for The Ohio Academy of Science. “Ohio has a long tradition of innovation, and these students are the future professionals needed to propel Ohio’s innovation economy.”
Believe in Ohio is a free, comprehensive, curriculum-based STEM and Entrepreneurship program for Ohio high school students. The program is designed to create a “culture of innovation” and to prepare students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labor market and become contributors to Ohio’s innovation economy.
POSTED: 05/19/21 at 11:09 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth
Staff and submitted information
The Van Wert County Board of Developmental Disabilities mission is “through respect and support, the VWCBDD partners with people, families, and communities to foster independence and pathways to individual success.
VWCBDD has specific services an individual will need at the time they are approved for eligibility and are adjusted for what they need in the future. Those include school age, transition age, adult, family support, and crisis intervention services. VWCBDD’s biggest goal is inclusion and being involved in the community.

The YMCA of Van Wert County hosted a pool party for the VWCBDD on March 20 in celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The month of March highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.
Paula Miller and volunteers from the VWCBDD and the YMCA will be at Camp Clay on May 1 to help clean up for the 2021 summer season. In addition, each volunteer will receive a free swim pass for the Camp Clay Aqua Park. Anyone else interested in joining the cleanup day should contact Kevin Morrison at kevin@vwymca.org
The YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that help healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
The YMCA of Van Wert County is partially funded by the Van Wert County Foundation and is a United Way agency.
POSTED: 04/22/21 at 12:52 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, Youth

The York Commanders 4-H Club held its second meeting of the year on March 28 in the Lincolnview Community Center. During the meeting, members discussed any enrollment questions, had new member introductions, and also took officer pictures. Shown are club officers (from the left) Avery Zielke (historian), Destiny Breese (reporter), Lakyn Bailey (health and safety officer), Graham Kill (recreation leader), Bennett Kill (treasurer), Corbin Evans (president), Delayna Profit (vice president), and Ella Davis (secretary). The club will hold its annual track pick-up at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, while the next meeting will be Sunday, May 9. photo provided
POSTED: 04/21/21 at 10:50 pm. FILED UNDER: Youth