{"id":38754,"date":"2013-05-18T07:09:45","date_gmt":"2013-05-18T12:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/?p=38754"},"modified":"2013-05-18T07:10:37","modified_gmt":"2013-05-18T12:10:37","slug":"vwhs-has-2013-awards-convocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2013\/05\/18\/vwhs-has-2013-awards-convocation\/","title":{"rendered":"VWHS holds 2013 awards convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"

CINDY WOOD\/<\/strong>independent feature writer<\/em><\/p>\n

For Van Wert High School\u2019s Class of 2013, it was a chance to sit back, breathe a sigh of relief, and relish in the accomplishments and accolades they have earned over the past four years.<\/p>\n

There was plenty to go around. A total of 28 scholarships and 12 departmental awards were passed out during Friday\u2019s annual senior convocation ceremony, and the school\u2019s candidates for the title of graduate of distinction were recognized.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
VWHS graduate Chuck Thompson presents Joe Hurless with the Chuck Thompson Scholar Athlete Award. (Cindy Wood\/Van Wert independent)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To be considered for the top honor, students must be ranked in the top 10 percent of their class, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 or higher. They also must have successfully completed a minimum of three of six advanced placement courses offered.\u00a0 The 2013 Van Wert High School Graduates of Distinction are Sarah Aurand, Alex Bair, Melissa Bono, Sydney Collins, Joe Hurless, Caleb Markward, Daniel Thompson, Andrew Todd, Scott Turner and Nik Wolford.<\/p>\n

The top-scoring students will receive the Graduate of Distinction medallion during the commencement ceremony and will also be featured in a picture in the hallway of the school. Graduates of Distinction were also winners of numerous other scholarships and honors during the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Turner, who will be attending the Ohio State University to major in music, took home several awards, including departmental awards in instrumental music and language arts, in addition to the Margaret Shaffer Maney Music Memorial Scholarship.<\/p>\n

In presenting the award, Dr. Dondra Maney noted her mother-in-law\u2019s passion for vocal and instrumental music during a time in American history that saw limited opportunities for students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think about that time, you realize her class was the one getting ready to go into World War II, so the opportunity to major in music, like I did, wasn\u2019t there for her,\u201d Maney said. \u201cBut she used music her whole life and we\u2019re proud to honor her memory today with this scholarship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Markward was also a big winner on the day, taking home multiple awards, one of which included Central Mutual Insurance Company\u2019s Black Inc. Award.<\/p>\n

Representing Central, company President\/CEO F.W. Purmort also presented the company\u2019s Charitable & Educational Foundation scholarships after giving a brief history of the charitable outreach of Central. Purmort noted that the scholarship program is an expression of gratitude to the community for its long-standing support of company. Since its inception, Central has granted 48 scholarships to area students.<\/p>\n

\u201cSelfishly, it was also formed in part to reward and support graduates who may eventually seek careers in the property and casualty insurance industry,\u201d Purmort said, adding that each $5,000 scholarship can be renewed up to three additional years. The 2013 Central scholarship recipients are Sierra Kesler, Markward and Hurless.<\/p>\n

Van Wert Rotary Club\u2019s scholarship winners, Hurless and Katie Etter, were lauded by retired teacher and Rotary Club member Lois Gehres, who noted the pair\u2019s academic successes, as well as their citizenship and leadership efforts in the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf all the things Rotary does in this community, and there are many, for me the best thing we do is give scholarships,\u201d Gehres said, adding that the Student Rotarian program, in which students attend the club\u2019s meetings for one month, is beneficial for both the students, as well as Rotary members.<\/p>\n

The renewable scholarship recipient is selected by a panel of area guidance counselor and Gehres said that, although the club can choose only two students, \u201cevery applicant is worthy of this scholarship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Wert High School Principal Bill Clifton chose Livia Butler and Jacob Brake as this year\u2019s Cougar Pride Award winners, and noted that both students were excellent representatives of Van Wert High School. Award criteria include being a good student in the classroom, as well as being actively involved in extracurricular activities offered at VWHS.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it\u2019s important to display a sense of respect towards your community, school and each other,\u201d Clifton said, adding, \u201cand it\u2019s important to have the utmost pride in being a Van Wert Cougar. Be proud of it. Brag about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The presentation of honor cords was also held, recognizing students who will graduate cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude from Van Wert High School. In closing, Clifton thanked students for their commitment in the classroom and the community, and recognized the Class of 2013 for its accomplishments.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are beginning to close in on thirteen long and somewhat difficult, yet rewarding, years in school,\u201d Clifton said. \u201cToday is about recognizing you for your achievements, your commitment and your accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other scholarship and award winners recognized during the ceremony include:<\/p>\n

YWCA Community Involvement Award and Carrols\/Burger King Scholarship \u2013 Katie Etter<\/p>\n

United States Military Appointment at West Point \u2013 Nik Wolford<\/p>\n

Braun Industries Project Lead the Way Engineering Scholarship — Alex Bair<\/p>\n

Psi Iota Xi Scholarship \u2013 Brooke Fuerst<\/p>\n

John F. Maney Business Memorial Scholarship \u2013 Robbie Trittschuh<\/p>\n

Optimist Club Service Scholarship \u2013 Sierra Kesler<\/p>\n

Tom Hittle Hero Award \u2013 Terrin Contreras<\/p>\n

Van Wert Service Pack Scholarship \u2013 Melissa Bono and Joe Hurless<\/p>\n

Junior Achievement Scholarship \u2013 Maggie Allmandinger, Katie Etter, Caleb Markward<\/p>\n

Ralph McCuddy Science Scholarship \u2013 Alex Bair<\/p>\n

Van Wert Federation of Teachers Scholarship \u2013 Scott Turner, Colten Royer, Matt Saunier<\/p>\n

Captain George L. Purmont Prize \u2013 Melissa Bono<\/p>\n

Adolph and Letitia Weck Scholarship \u2013 Sarah Aurand<\/p>\n

Gaylord Leslie Golf Scholarship \u2013 Jacob Brake and Tyler Turnwald<\/p>\n

Chuck Thompson Scholar Athlete Award \u2013 Jacey Eikenbary and Daniel Thompson<\/p>\n

American Legion Citizenship and Americanism Award \u2013 Jessica Klausing, Jacob Hoverman, Caleb Markward, Rebecca Johnson<\/p>\n

Delta Epsilon Phi Senior \u2013 Robbie Trittschuh<\/p>\n

Rembrandt Award — Daniel Thompson<\/p>\n

Cougar\u2019s Roar Journalism Award — Skylar Wood<\/p>\n

TV Production Award — Logan Ray<\/p>\n

OHSAA Awards — Kase Schalois, Caleb Markward<\/p>\n

Departmental Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art — Brooke Fuerst<\/p>\n

Family & Consumer Science — Maggie Couts<\/p>\n

Science — Alex Bair<\/p>\n

French — Caleb Markward<\/p>\n

Vocal music — Jacob Hoverman<\/p>\n

Spanish — Corrine Nouza<\/p>\n

Math — Alex Bair<\/p>\n

Social Studies — Matt Saunier<\/p>\n

German \u00ad– Joe Hurless<\/p>\n

Language arts — Scott Turner<\/p>\n

Commencement speakers — Katie Etter, Caleb Markward, Joe Hurless (photos of all the awards in sometime late next week)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Candidates for Graduates of Distinction at Van Wert High School were announced during Friday\u2019s annual senior convocation ceremony. They include (from the left) Joe Hurless, Melissa Bono, Sarah Aurand, Alex Bair, Andrew Todd, Sydney Collins, Scott Turner, Nik Wolford, Caleb Markward and Daniel Thompson. (Cindy Wood\/Van Wert independent)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CINDY WOOD\/independent feature writer For Van Wert High School\u2019s Class of 2013, it was a chance to sit back, breathe a sigh of relief, and relish in the accomplishments and accolades they have earned over the past four years. There was plenty to go around. A total of 28 scholarships and 12 departmental awards were […]<\/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-38754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-02 18:42:14","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\/38754","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=38754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38754\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}