{"id":192799,"date":"2025-05-13T20:52:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T01:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=192799"},"modified":"2025-05-13T20:52:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T01:52:57","slug":"2025-vwhs-senior-awards-convocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2025\/05\/13\/2025-vwhs-senior-awards-convocation\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 VWHS Senior Awards Convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Submitted information<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Van Wert High School recently held its Senior Awards Convocation for the Class of 2025 in the Saltzgaber Music Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seniors were honored and recognized for their academic and athletic achievements garnered over the past four years, and several students were acknowledged during the awards program. Van Wert High School is proud to announce some of the following awards that were presented during the convocation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/VW-Cougars_stacked-copy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-96499\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Evan Purmort, chairman, CEO, and president of Central Insurance, presented\u00a0Mandy Burengawith the\u00a0L.G. Purmort Black, Inc. Scholastic Achievement\u00a0Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evan Purmort, Chairman, CEO, and President of Central Insurance, presented\u00a0Sam Houg\u00a0with the\u00a0Central Insurance Companies Educational and Charitable Scholarship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Career Connections of Van Wert County Scholarshipis awarded to students enrolled in an economics class. Career Connections Board Member Alyssa Putman presented the awards to\u00a0Keaton Foster\u00a0and\u00a0Carlee Kroeger.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Wally Grimm Education Scholarship\u00a0Awardwas presented toLilie Mull\u00a0and\u00a0Abi Rollins\u00a0by T.J. Grimm and Donna Grimm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Van Wert Athletic Booster Club Award\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Meredith Crummey\u00a0and\u00a0Nate Gearhart\u00a0by club president Andy Gearhart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Van Wert County Veterans Office\u00a0representative Ashley Showalter recognized Jaymison Calhoon, Robert Caskey, Kyle Eggleston,\u00a0and\u00a0Noah Spathfor enlisting in the military after graduation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Oberlin presented the\u00a0Steel Dynamics Scholarship\u00a0to\u00a0Zoey Miller.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Stolly Insurance SUCCEED Scholarship\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Sam Houg\u00a0by Patrick Stolly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mandy Burenga\u00a0received the\u00a0Farm Focus Scholarship, presented by Mark Schumm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Margaret Shaffer Maney Memorial Music Scholarshiprecognizes a student who plans to major in the area of music. This year\u2019s recipient is\u00a0Abi Rollins, who was presented with the scholarship by Dondra Maney.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0John Fox Maney Memorial Business Scholarship\u00a0recognizes a student who plans to major in business and has a desire to see the Van Wert community prosper. Kevin Maney presented this scholarship toCarlee Kroeger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adam Ries, with\u00a0Van Wert Rotary Club, provided three scholarships to Van Wert High School seniors: Haley Chiles, Keaton Foster,and\u00a0Nate Gearhart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schrader Realty sponsors an annual scholarship for area students. This year\u2019s scholarship went to Van Wert High School senior\u00a0Drew Laudick, presented by Tera Knebel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Chuck Thompson Scholar Athlete Award\u00a0is named in honor of Chuck Thompson, a 1975 Van Wert High School graduate, for students excelling in athletics and academics. This year\u2019s award winners are\u00a0Mandy Burenga and Sam Houg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Grand Lodge of Ohio Free Mason Scholarship, presented by Rick Busch, was awarded to\u00a0Abi Rollins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Braun Industries Project Lead the Way Engineering Scholarship\u00a0is awarded to a student completing the four-year engineering program. Demond Johnson, representing Braun Industries, presented the award to\u00a0Aaron Reichert.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Gaylord Leslie Golf Scholarship\u00a0was presented toKeaton Foster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0M.A.V. Youth Mentoring Scholarshipis awarded to a student who has participated as a youth or mentor in the M.A.V. Youth Mentoring program. Lisa Grunden presented this year\u2019s award to\u00a0Claire Rager.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kimberly Laudick, President and CEO of the YWCA presented the\u00a0YWCA \u2013 Young Women of Christian Leadership and Community Involvement Scholarship\u00a0to\u00a0Mandy Burenga.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Van Wert Band Parents Scholarship\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Abi Rollins, Carlee Kroeger, Olivia Vaas,\u00a0and\u00a0Lilie Mull\u00a0by Victoria Lewis.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Trina Langdon Scholarship\u00a0for PINK Graduates was presented by Alea Rex. The recipient of this scholarship was\u00a0Mia Rager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Sweet 22 Scholarship, presented by Megan Hurless, was awarded to\u00a0Drew Laudick.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kannen Wannemacher presented the\u00a0CHURCH Scholarship\u00a0to senior\u00a0Aaron Reichert.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Van Wert Service Pack Scholarship, sponsored by the Van Wert Service Club, recognizes students who have demonstrated community involvement through service projects and have been members of the VWHS Service Pack. Anthony Adams, Service Club representative, presented the awards to this year\u2019s recipients,\u00a0Mandy Burenga\u00a0and\u00a0Nate Gearhart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alexander Diaz, Kaden Mell,\u00a0and\u00a0Noah Spath\u00a0were recognized as finalists for the\u00a0R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award,\u00a0while\u00a0Sam Houg\u00a0and\u00a0Abi Rollins\u00a0were named winners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nancy Boylan presented the\u00a0American Red Cross Award\u00a0to\u00a0Hayden Davis\u00a0and\u00a0Breonna Pontius.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0FCCLA Award\u00a0was given to\u00a0Adysenn Delzeith, presented by Lynda Ragan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Excellence in Theater Award\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Landon Adams, Brody Kreischer,\u00a0and\u00a0Mia Rager\u00a0by Rachel Dettrow and Melissa Bloomfield, Theater Production instructors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Brandon Burlsworth Character Award\u00a0is given to a football player who displays character and sportsmanship. This year\u2019s recipient is\u00a0Nate Gearhart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Van Wert Federation of Teachers Anita Zuber Future Teacher Scholarship\u00a0is given to students entering the field of education.\u00a0Lilie Mull, Abi Rollins, Ava Sealscott,\u00a0and\u00a0Addison Sturwold\u00a0are this year\u2019s recipients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Ohio JCI Senate Roberston Memorial Scholarship\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Mandy Burenga.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Adolph &amp; Letitia Weck Memorial Scholarship\u00a0is awarded to two students who rank scholastically in the top third of their class. Students complete an application and are selected by the Van Wert High School Faculty Committee on Awards. Recipients of this scholarship are\u00a0Sophie Gearhart\u00a0and\u00a0Sam Houg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Olivia Vaas\u00a0was awarded the\u00a0Convoy Foundation\/Trinity Lutheran Convoy Scholarship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Shirley Johns Hart Memorial Scholarship\u00a0was established in memory of Shirley Anne Johns Hart by her family. Mrs. Hart was a graduate of Van Wert High School, Class of 1953. This scholarship is based on academic achievement and financial need and is chosen by the Faculty Committee on Awards.\u00a0Meredith Crummey\u00a0and\u00a0Drew Laudick\u00a0were selected to receive this award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Captain George L. Purmort Prize\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Claire Benner, Hayden Davis, Keaton Foster, Nate Gearhart,\u00a0and\u00a0Nash Pugsley.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tom Hittle \u201cHero\u201d Award\u00a0is given in memory of Mr. Hittle to a student who has displayed an \u201cI Can\u201d attitude in situations that they have been given.\u00a0Abi Rollins\u00a0received the award from Mr. Kerry Koontz, CEO and Career Counselor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emilie Lewis honored\u00a0Danica Suckow\u00a0with an award for\u00a0Outstanding Achievement in Art.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mandy Burenga\u00a0was awarded the\u00a0National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nate Gearhart\u00a0is the recipient of the\u00a0Tyler Priest Memorial Scholarship,\u00a0presented by Kerry Koontz.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The\u00a0Jim Murray Memorial Scholarship\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Abi Rollins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Van Wert High School Athletic Director Trent Temple presented several athletic achievement awards:\u00a0Mia Rager\u00a0and\u00a0Keaton Foster\u00a0with the\u00a0OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sophie Gearhart\u00a0and\u00a0Drew Laudick\u00a0were presented with the\u00a0OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aliviah Bates, Claire Benner, Mandy Burenga, Haley Chiles, Meredith Crummey, Hayden Davis, Lexi Deitemeyer, Hayden Dowler, Keaton Foster, Nate Gearhart, Sophie Gearhart, Sam Houg, Drew Laudick, Jaymison Moynihan, Lilie Mull, Mia Rager, Aaron Reichert, Owen Scott, Noah Spath, Olivia Vaas,\u00a0and\u00a0Aubrey Wollet\u00a0with the\u00a0WBL All-Academic Team Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student Body President Sam Houg and Class President Drew Laudick presented\u00a0Jeremy Kitson\u00a0with the\u00a0Teacher of the Year Award.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Principal \u201cCougar Pride\u201d Awards\u00a0were given by Mr. Chuck Rollins to\u00a0Nate Gearhart\u00a0and\u00a0Sophie Gearhart.\u00a0 Students are chosen by Mr. Rollins based on their involvement in school and extracurricular activities, character, respect, and school pride.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claire Benner\u00a0was recognized for\u00a0Perfect Attendance\u00a0throughout high school.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Governor\u2019s Merit Scholarship\u00a0recipients are\u00a0Meredith Crummey, Keaton Foster, Robbie Gamble, Sophie Gearhart, Nate Gearhart, Sam Houg,\u00a0and\u00a0Zoey Miller.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Departmental Award\u00a0Winners are as follows:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social Studies &#8211;\u00a0Keaton Foster<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Science &#8211;\u00a0Mandy Burenga<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business and Computer &#8211;\u00a0Keaton Foster<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>German &#8211;\u00a0Leia Hoersten (Not Pictured)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instrumental Music &#8211;\u00a0Abi Rollins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Language Arts &#8211;\u00a0Sophie Gearhart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Media Arts &#8211;\u00a0Brendon Mendoza<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spanish &#8211;\u00a0Brooke Young (Not pictured)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project Lead the Way Pre Engineering &#8211;\u00a0Aaron Reichert<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mathematics &#8211;\u00a0Mandy Burenga<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visual Arts &#8211;\u00a0Lily Davis (Not pictured)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vocal Music &#8211;\u00a0Mia Rager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/photos.google.com\/share\/AF1QipOg_xwyH9vVuiIF7TbG9QsNC2R2fKfwi75AJAMUyapbrnd8oZ_BQOSeuY58D9FRXA?key=RTV2Um91NnVpUkxHMXBGMXRkQzFBVGpja0NjbVB3\">here<\/a> to view a full photo gallery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Submitted information Van Wert High School recently held its Senior Awards Convocation for the Class of 2025 in the Saltzgaber Music Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Seniors were honored and recognized for their academic and athletic achievements garnered over the past four years, and several students were acknowledged during the awards program. Van [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-192799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-06 17:29:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192799"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192801,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192799\/revisions\/192801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}