Life briefs: Educational honors, awards and more

Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum
·3 min read

Academic Challenge season-ending results for sixth through eighth grade

MANSFIELD — The sixth through eighth grade Academic Challenge teams wrapped up their season this month at Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. Students competed as teams, answering questions about a wide range of topics including literature, fine arts, geography, history, math and science.

Lexington Team A, comprised of (left to right) Jesse S., Noah T., Dominic G. and Sirar G., took top honors in the sixth grade Academic Challenge on May 9.
Lexington Team A, comprised of (left to right) Jesse S., Noah T., Dominic G. and Sirar G., took top honors in the sixth grade Academic Challenge on May 9.

On May 9, 20 teams participated in the Sixth Grade Academic Challenge meet. There was fierce competition throughout each of the matches and Lexington Team A was victorious. There was a tie for second place between Mansfield City Spanish Immersion Team A and Wooster City Team A. The Mansfield City Spanish Immersion Team A comprised Juliana Pacheco, Aubri Crider, Liam McCumiskey, Jersie Palmer, and Zoe Axiopoulos. Wooster City A included members Casey Howard, James Zhuang, Loudon Russell, Noah Greene, Mackenze Vick and Aryan Tankala.

From left, the Colonel Crawford team of Jaylee Kragh, Lexi Rankin, Seamus Comerford, Dalton Rankin and Owen Bland took first place in the seventh/eighth Grade Academic Challenge on May 10.
From left, the Colonel Crawford team of Jaylee Kragh, Lexi Rankin, Seamus Comerford, Dalton Rankin and Owen Bland took first place in the seventh/eighth Grade Academic Challenge on May 10.

On May 10, 32 teams participated in the Seventh/Eighth Grade Academic Challenge. Colonel Crawford's team ofJaylee Kragh, Lexi Rankin, Seamus Comerford, Dalton Rankin and Owen Bland took first place. The Lexington B team came in second place by only a narrow 15-point margin.

Pioneer salutes award and scholarship winners

SHELBY — Pioneer Career and Technology Center held its annual Pioneer Honors Night on April 26 where students were recognized for their achievements and more than $1.7 million in scholarships were awarded.

Lane Bauer, the 2023 Byron H. Carmean Award winner, with Pioneer Superintendent Greg Nickoli.
Lane Bauer, the 2023 Byron H. Carmean Award winner, with Pioneer Superintendent Greg Nickoli.

A major highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2023 Byron H. Carmean Character, Dedication and Service Award presented to Lane Bauer, a senior from Buckeye Central High School who has excelled in Pioneer’s Precision Machining program. The Carmean Award is the highest award given to a Pioneer student and was created to recognize students with outstanding qualities of character, personal dedication and service to education. Bauer is active at Pioneer, Buckeye Central High School and in the workforce at Gorman Rupp through Pioneer’s Early Job Placement program. At Pioneer, Bauer has been involved with SkillsUSA for two years. At Buckeye Central, he is a Teen Institute leader, three-year baseball letter winner and two-year football letter winner. Bauer is also an active Buckeye Central FFA member that includes holding leadership and advisor roles.

Other nominees for the Carmean Award were: Madison Ball, Colonel Crawford High School; Elisa Burson, Ontario High School; Leah Francis, Shelby High School; Ashley Huber, Shelby High School; and Braxton Reynolds, Shelby High School.

Pioneer students attend national leadership conference

SHELBY — Students from Pioneer’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter attended the 2023 BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, April 26-30.

The conference brought together an estimated 6,000 delegates from across the country to vie for top honors in business and information technology skills competitions. Students were able to attend leadership and professional development workshops, receive awards for community service activities, and elect BPA’s 2023–2024 national student leadership team.

From left, Pioneer students Brice Browning Jr., Devon Fallen Jr. and Gabriel Melvin Jr. recently earned awards at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California.
From left, Pioneer students Brice Browning Jr., Devon Fallen Jr. and Gabriel Melvin Jr. recently earned awards at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California.

The BPA students from the Pioneer Career and Technology Center that attended the conference are:

  • Brice Browning Jr., cybersecurity, Celeryville Christian School: Computer security, first place

  • Devon Fallen Jr., cybersecurity, Galion City Schools: Computer security, fifth place

  • Gabriel Melvin Jr., IT support, homeschooled: Linux operation system fundamentals, seventh place

While in Anaheim, participants also had opportunities to network with other BPA members and business leaders, visit famous Southern California attractions and participate in community service activities.

College news and notes

● Nolan McKibben of Bucyrus was recently recognized during The University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Conference. McKibben received first place for a presentation entitled "Biopolymer-Based Lutein Emulsion Improved Lutein Bioavailability and Ameliorates Retinopathy of Prematurity in Neonatal Rats" in the Human Environmental Sciences category.

● Jalyn Oswald of Galion was selected to give a formal presentation titled "The Effects of Different Dosages of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Mental Wellness & Muscular Strength in College Students," "The Effects of Childhood Adversity on the Mental Health of College Students," during Mount Union's SCHOLAR Day.

● Andrew Bostic of Crestline earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management with a minor in coaching from Bluffton University.

● Kaisey Speck of Galion recently graduated from University of the Cumberlands.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Academic Challenge results, Cremean Award winner, college news