Marietta High School senior Avery Baker, left, embraces Spanish teacher Jade Thompson after speaking during the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Best friends since preschool, Avery Baker and Millie Becker have shared a lot over the years.

This week, the Marietta High School seniors shared Spanish teacher Jade Thompson as their honoree at the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Awards dinner Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club.

“Not only has she been a very good teacher, she’s also been a role model,” said Baker, who also worked with Thompson as junior class president to put on the 2024 prom.

“Although (organizing the dance) is really stressful, she made it fun,” Baker said.

The event honors Marietta students who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and gives them an opportunity to spotlight a teacher, coach or other mentor that had an impact on their lives. Forty-four students participated Thursday.

Colton Holdren, second from left, pats Marietta High School senior Collin Davis on the back after Davis’ explanation for choosing Holdren to honor at the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards was read Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Becker said she chose Thompson because “I just feel like she always makes her class … so welcoming.”

Thompson, who also convinced Baker and Becker to join Model UN, described the duo as “smart, dedicated students” and said she appreciated being selected, which she has been at previous dinners.

“It’s an honor each time,” she said.

Thompson was one of six people to be selected by multiple students, along with soccer coach Telma Poole, high school language arts teacher Amy Warren, volleyball coach Ron Kidder, former crew coach Tanner O’Connor and high school math teacher Paige Fleming, picked by three students.

Honorees weren’t limited to current district personnel. Collin Davis chose former assistant soccer coach Colton Holdren, who left the team in 2023 and now is an assistant at Marietta College.

Marietta High School Guidance Counselor Lisa Polk, left, talks with senior Lilly Roe during the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“He’s always been someone I can look up to, amazing coach,” said Davis, adding that Holdren has always been there for him.

Holdren called it “the ultimate honor as a coach, because it means you’re making an impact more than between the lines.”

High school guidance counselor Lisa Polk was chosen by senior Lilly Roe.

“When I do get picked, it’s a kid I have a really good relationship with and I know I made an impact because I’m not a traditional educator,” she said.

Roe was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome that caused her to have anxiety at a level that sometimes prevented her from going to school for long stretches. She took many online courses and classes through Washington State College of Ohio.

Jenna Stewart, career pathways specialist with Building Bridges to Careers, shares a laugh with Marietta High School senior Claire Mangiafico during the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

In many cases, “Mrs. Polk was the only teacher I had in person,” Roe said.

Polk helped her develop coping skills and navigate a return to school.

“She’s just a big support beam,” Roe said.

“And she’s a good kid,” Polk replied. “She makes me smile.”

Senior Claire Mangiafico chose Building Bridges to Careers Career Pathway Specialist Jenna Stewart, who helped her secure internships with Micro Machine Works Inc. this spring and the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition this summer.

Marietta High School senior class President Nolan Parman speaks during the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“I think it really kickstarted my career, and it has just helped me gain so much experience,” said Mangiafico, who plans to study mechanical engineering at Ohio University.

Stewart said being chosen by Mangiafico reminds her of an old saying about teachers planting seeds that will provide shade to people they may never meet. Attending the dinner, she said, was like “a sigh of relief and enjoying the shade.”

Senior class President Nolan Parman, who chose to honor health teacher Jason Schob, said the evening provides another activity for the class to enjoy together before graduation.

“It’s pretty cool … to just take a night and sort of recognize some of our favorite teachers,” he said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Forty-four Marietta High School students honored teachers, coaches and other mentors who made an impact on their lives during the 38th annual Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Thursday at the Marietta Shrine Club. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

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The 2025 Marietta High School Academic Excellence Award recipients and the mentors they honored are:

* Dania Atwat – Paige Fleming

* Alyssa Baker – Ben Schenkel

* Avery Baker – Jade Thompson

* Amelia Becker – Jade Thompson

* Rachel Brooks – Ron Warner

* Arianna Buckley – Jared Hindy

* Madison Butler – Kristen Goeller

* Sean Catalona – Steve Foutty

* Bridget Crock – Cheryl Cook

* Cameron Davis – Telma Poole

* Collin Davis – Colton Holdren

* Joshua Fournier – Telma Poole

* Ojash Gautam – Amy Warren

* Sophia Hutchinson – Jona Rinard

* Jeffrey Harlan – Karen Young

* Taylor Karcher – Ron Kidder

* Leigha Lauer – Ryan McClain

* Cooper Laumann – Lauren Copen

* Hannah Lee – Millie Stuthard

* Blake Limegrover – Todd Morris

* Madison Lovejoy – Tanner O’Connor

* Isabel Macatol – Paige Fleming

* Claire Mangiafico – Jenna Stewart

* Jacey McKnight – Bill Mannix

* Emma Middleton – Ron Kidder

* Hailey Miller – Gwynette Mayer

* Haylee Oliver – Bethany Colvin

* Nolan Parman – Jason Schob

* Sophia Paschal – Laura Coughlan

* Audrey Porter – Korey Parlin

* Dwight Proper – Ian Miller

* Lilly Roe – Lisa Polk

* Brionna Roux – Lisa George

* Meredith Schaad – Molly Schramm

* Brice Schilling – Keith Ullman

* Audrey Sears – William Sears

* Audrelle Seevers – Heather Klintworth

* Wilkey Smith – Tanner O’Connor

* Pierson Stengel – Amy Warren

* Maggie Sun – Amanda Warner

* Jessie Vaca – Paige Fleming

* Constance Warner – Jon Sarver

* Gabriella Wojcik – Scott Rieder

* Jessica Yu – Ed Flanders