Vantage class of 2014 Award of Distinction winners: Front row: Clirissa McMonigal, Cailah Rickard, Marissa Garza, Shana Brincefield, Austen Stukey, Libbi Brown, and Alex Schnipke. Back row: Dustin Carter, Derric Shisler, Alexandra Winebrenner, Ethan Fraker, Adam Jurczyk, and Evan Prowant.
In memory of junior Welding student Robbie Seffernick (Wayne Trace), his family created the Robbie Seffernick Memorial Award for an outstanding junior, which will be presented annually. The award consists of a Lincoln welding bag full of tools – a hand grinder, welding jacket, 2 sets of welding gloves, and safety glasses, and a Lincoln auto-darkening welding helmet. The Seffernick family is pictured with this year’s recipients Curtis Moore (Lincolnview) left, and Jarett Bute (Antwerp).
A full house, including home school representatives, family, and friends, joined together at the annual Awards Assembly on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of senior students enrolled in Vantage career technical programs. Awards of Distinction and scholarships highlighted the event and juniors put technology to the test as they watched the assembly via “live video streaming” from classrooms.
The student speaker for this year’s assembly was LaShawne Granger, a National Technical Honor Society senior in the Cosmetology program from Van Wert. LaShawne shared her Vantage story with the crowd and included a poem by William Byrd called “Each of us Must Climb our Separate Mountain”. She thanked teachers, staff members and classmates for their guidance, friendship and support.
Each year, career technical teachers select outstanding students to receive an “Award of Distinction”. To be eligible for this award, a student must demonstrate leadership qualities at school, have outstanding achievement in their program area, show exceptional skills in the subject area, participate as an active member of a school career technical club and demonstrate cooperation, initiative and responsibility. This year’s “Award of Distinction” winners are: Adam Jurczyk (Van Wert) and Clirissa McMonigal (Continental) Auto Body, Austen Stukey (Parkway) Carpentry, Shana Brincefield (Lincolnview) Cosmetology, Marissa Garza (Delphos Jefferson) Early Childhood Education, Derric Shisler (Paulding) Electricity, Libbi Brown (Delphos Jefferson) and Alexandra Winebrenner (Wayne Trace) Health Technology, Alex Schnipke (Ottoville) Industrial Mechanics, Tiffany Romero (Antwerp) Interactive Media, Cailah Rickard (Continental) Medical Office Management, Dustin Carter (Van Wert) Network Systems, Evan Prowant (Continental) Precision Machining, and Ethan Fraker (Lincolnview) Welding.
Kennedy Manufacturing Plant Manager Mike Pond announced the first annual Kennedy Manufacturing Precision Machining and Industrial Mechanics “Senior of the Year” award. Beginning this year, Kennedy Manufacturing will present a Machinist’s Rolling Chest to an outstanding Precision Machining senior and a Maintenance Rolling Chest to an outstanding Industrial Mechanics senior. This year’s recipients are Evan Prowant (Precision Machining) and Alex Schnipke (Industrial Mechanics.
Scholarship recipients were also recognized at the assembly. Carly Fortman from Central Mutual Insurance Company presented the prestigious Black Ink Award to Karissa Carder (Lincolnview) from the Medical Office Management program. The Robert C. Stevens Scholarship is given by the Vantage Teacher’s Organization in memory of Bob Stevens, who taught Occupational Work Experience (OWE) at Vantage from 1976 until 1984. Students who are awarded this scholarship have shown outstanding achievement in their program area, while demonstrating initiative and perseverance. This year, the Robert C. Stevens Scholarships were awarded to Emily Farr and Taylor Farr (Paulding) and Jenna Hankinson (Antwerp). The Joshua Ralston Memorial Scholarship was established in 2003 in memory of Josh Ralston, a Vantage Ag Diesel student from Parkway. This scholarship is given to a student pursuing a career and further education in mechanics. Josh’s father, Scott Ralston presented this scholarship to Ian LeValley (Delphos Jefferson). The Robert Brandt Scholarship was was established in 2011 in memory of Bob Brandt, the very first Vantage superintendent, who stayed at the helm of the school for 27 years. This year’s scholarship recipient was Brian Richey (Lincolnview). Ms. Staci Kaufman, Vantage Superintendent and Mrs. Lisa McClure, Executive Director of the Paulding Area Foundation, presented the scholarship. The Bayless Memorial Scholarship was presented to Cameron Mohley (Network Systems) by his grandmother, Sandy Mohley.
The Van Wert Rotary Club provides an annual scholarship to students at all Van Wert county schools. As of this year, the scholarship has been renamed the Dee Whitcraft Memorial Rotary Scholarship and Rotarian Dave Roach presented the scholarship to Adam Jurczyk.
In March, 2014, Vantage Welding junior Robbie Seffernick lost his life in a car accident. His family has established the Robbie Seffernick Memorial Award to be presented to a junior Welding student. This year, there were two recipients – Jarett Bute (Antwerp) and Curtis Moore (Lincolnview).
All student scholarship recipients were recognized at the Awards Assembly. This year, Vantage students received over $210,000 in scholarships to continue their education. Also honored were national BPA contestants, state skill contestants, National Technical Honor Society members, students receiving academic awards, students with perfect attendance, and student ambassadors.
