Eight Washington High School students were honored Tuesday by the Washington Court House Rotary Club.
During the event — held in the Crown Room at the Rusty Keg — City Manager Joe Denen introduced the students and each took time to thank the members for recognizing and honoring them.
The first student honored was Emily Semler as ‘“Outstanding athlete.” Semler, in her high school athletic career, has earned district honorable mention for basketball and, in volleyball, she has earned the Spike Award and “Heart of a Blue Lion.” After high school, she plans to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she will play for the reserve volleyball team.
“Good afternoon,” Semler said. “I would like to thank Rotary for the invitation and opportunity to speak with you today. While attending Washington High School, I have been involved in volleyball, basketball, track, and I cheered for a year. I also participated in senior caucus and DECA. I have been a part of the Academy of Scholars for five years, and I have also been very involved with my youth program at my church.”
Next to be honored was Madison Gilmore with the “Service Above Self” award. She said in her high school career she has participated in several extra curricular activities including cheerleading, marching band, symphonic band, concert band and has participated in student council for three years.
Gilmore said she is currently expected to graduate with her honors diploma and will attend Ohio University Chillicothe where she plans to study early childhood education.
The final students were honored as “Outstanding Scholars” and included Reilly Downing, Preston Hines, Analese Mitson, Ashlynn Thevenot, Morgan Williams and one student who was not in attendance—Hayden Brown. Each student took time to thank Rotary for their award and talked a little about themselves to the members present, sharing details such as future plans for school.
Downing talked about what he does in his spare time which includes working on his computer and researching new and exciting technology. He also talked about his high school career and the various activities he participates in including swim, track, soccer and cross country. Downing said he is hoping to attend the University of Dayton where he is expecting to be accepted into the college of computer engineering.
Hines spoke next and said he enjoys hobbies such as painting, drawing and working on his computers. Hines has also participated in a number of extra activities around the school including soccer, cross country, the swim team, track and various bands. His plan for after high school is to attend the Ohio State University and study computer science so he can help develop new technology to “make the world a better place.”
Mitson was next and said she enjoys singing, painting and writing in her spare time. She has participated in band, cheerleading and Quick Recall. Mitson said next fall she is planning to attend the Ohio State University to major in English with the long term goal of becoming a professor.
The next student honored was Thevenot who said while attending high school she has participated in band, volleyball, swim, Quick Recall, DECA, student council, soccer and senior caucus. After high school, she said she plans on attending the Ohio State University where she hopes to study accounting at the Fisher College of Business. She has already been selected to be a part of the business scholars program.
Finally, Williams took to the podium, thanked Rotary for honoring her and said she enjoys skateboarding and reading outside of school. While attending Washington High School, she said she has been involved in a number of the bands and Quick Recall. She said that currently she is expecting to attend Ohio University to study biomedical engineering in the fall.
Reach Martin Graham at (740) 463-9684 or on Twitter @MartiTheNewsGuy
