On Monday, Aug. 2, Olivia Fliehman, a member of the Miami Trace High School graduating Class of 2021, received the 53rd-annual Clarence A. Christman Jr. Award.
The Record-Herald announced on June 9 that Fliehman was the winner of the annual award.
As inscribed on the plaque she received, the award is emblematic of outstanding excellence in academics, athletics and community leadership.
The award, presented each year since 1969, began as the Record-Herald award.
It was renamed in honor of Clarence Alfred Christman, who in 1970, as the City Manager, arrived at the scene of a fire at the corner of Oakland and Dayton Avenues.
According to a report provided by then sports editor of the Record-Herald, Don Edwards, the popular City Manager passed away from a heart attack while directing traffic at the site of the fire.
Fliehman had a 4.0 grade point average and was instrumental in the Miami Trace volleyball team winning the first conference championship in the program’s history. Miami Trace went 10-0 in the Frontier Athletic Conference in 2020 and went on to defeat FAC rivals Hillsboro and Jackson in the postseason to win the program’s fourth Sectional title.
The award is being sponsored by the Record-Herald and Court House Manor & St. Catherine’s Manor.
Fliehman was selected for the award from a group of 27 nominees (16 from Miami Trace High School and 11 from Washington High School).
Fliehman was also a member of the Miami Trace track team, but was unable to compete this spring due to an injury.
She was valedictorian of the Miami Trace Class of 2021, a member of the National Honor Society and an office and library assistant and a member of Student Government, French Club, president of the Key Club and a member of the Future Farmers of America.
Fliehman, the daughter of Tracy and Julie Fliehman, is a member of the Sabina Church of Christ.
In addition to the commemorative plaque, Fliehman received a $500 scholarship.
“I’m definitely very excited,” Fliehman said. “That I was deemed as deserving of this is a really big deal for me. Especially with the people I was up against, because they were all deserving, as well.
“I’m definitely very grateful for not only being chosen, but also for the scholarship as well, because that’s going to help me so much with school coming up soon,” Fliehman said. “I want to give a huge thank you to the Record-Herald and Court House and St. Catherine’s Manor for making this happen for me.
“I know (the Christman Award) has been going on for a long time now,” Fliehman said. “I’m glad that it’s kept going on and that it’s something that can be looked up to and that people in the future can look forward to.”
Fliehman will be attending Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, where she will study nursing and be a member of the volleyball team.
Fliehman will move in to school on Aug. 9. Her first volleyball match will be on Aug. 20 and classes begin Aug. 23.
Fliehman also gave thanks to her high school coach, Doug Mace.
