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Graduating Marietta seniors recognized at award ceremony

By Kristen Hainkel 4 min read

Forty five graduating seniors were recognized at the 2023 Marietta High School Academic Excellence Award banquet held at the Marietta Shrine Club Thursday.

Students needed to earn a 3.5 GPA or higher to receive this award. Each person chose an influential mentor such as a teacher or a coach to honor and invited them as guests to the dinner.

Marietta City Schools Superintendent Brad Silvus noted in his welcoming remarks that this dinner was his first and was pleased to see the room full.

"It's great to see this room with students and teachers. You won't always be a current Tiger. You'll be a former Tiger. Remember the teachers who helped you get there," he said.

A slideshow put together by Christy Boothby featured pictures of students and their chosen mentor, then transitioned into various school photos set to music.

MHS Principal Chad Rinard served as Master of Ceremonies.

Senior Ethan Gault talked about a unique motivation method his teacher Brittany Schob used when taking tests in elementary school. He held up a blue note card and read from it:

"Here's the magical test confetti. Before you go to bed tonight, put the magical test confetti under your pillow. It will help you get a good night's rest and remind you how smart you are. It will give you the determination to do your best. I hope my roommates at Ohio State won't question seeing this under my pillow."

Students referred to overcoming tough times, such as the pandemic.

"At a time when almost all of our high school career was affected by COVID, it's amazing that we maintained our high academic standards," Gault said.

This year, Rinard and MHS office staff decided to choose a teacher to honor as well. They chose Chris Hill. He told a story about a student to demonstrate her impact.

"(The student said) 'she's nagging me to death.' What is she wanting you to do? 'Get this work done.' I said, if you know Mrs. Hill like I do, you better complete it. He said, 'I'm on it,'" Rinard said

Rinard also acknowledged two teachers who are retiring, Keith Ullman after 34 years and Rita Frum after 37 years.

Teachers reflected on being chosen by the honorees.

"I may not be flashy, but that's okay. Students notice if you care. If you can reach one student, you've done your job," teacher Vickie Hull said.

Choir teacher Scott Rieder quoted Don McLean's song American Pie and said each teacher is teaching their own music in different subjects.

The 2023 Marietta High School Academic Excellence Award Recipients and the mentors they honored are as follows:

Sean Adams honored Scott Rieder

Rowen Baker honored Darcie Porter

Emma Bauerbach honored Steve Hill

Addison Betz honored Tom Betz

Keegan Bills (no mentor listed)

Alexis Brown honored Mollie Schramm

Kennedy Brown honored Sarah Snow

Adam Catalona honored Heather Catalona

Isabelle Doughty honored Charlie Laswell

Christopher Erb honored Dan Dailey

Sylvia Erdelyi honored Paige Fleming

James Farley honored Mike Elliott

Alexandria Freimann honored Steve Foutty

Ethan Gault honored Brittany Schob

Alec Graham honored Bryan Whittekind

Cassidy Graham honored Amy Warren

Finn Hall honored Darci Miller

Elizabeth Haller honored Jill Ruff

Andrew Hawkins honored Madeline Hawkins

Janelle Hawkins honored Gwynette Mayer

Kennedy Hearing honored Heath Rader

Andrew Huffman honored Ken Gebhart

Landyn Listerman honored Susan Ritzman

Kelsey Mallett honored Rachel Burnham

Kendal May honored J.D. Secrest

Airiana McVay honored Amber McVay

Megan Mestuzzi honored Vicki Hall

Abby Miller honored J.D. Benson

Sophia Moore honored Jared Hindy

Allee Nau honored Kory Parlin

Sophia Novo Honored Don Godfrey

Kristen Pfaff honored Ben Schenkel

Henry Porter honored John Ontko

Jack Roe honored Kirsten Goeller

Lily Sands honored Mark Johnson

Anthony Schaad honored Joe Rabbene

Owen Schaad honored Millie Stuthard

Lyanna Smith honored Chris Palmer

Madeline Stachera honored Keith Ullman

Kiera Starcher honored Sally Latture

Christopher Stoffel honored Chris Porter

Minise Sun honored Amanda Warner

Bhanu Thayaparan honored Chris Mayer

Aaron Vessels honored Zachary Goodman

Cody Zimmer honored Jason Schob

Starting at /week.