Elmwood High School teacher Eric Poffenbaugh speaks about senior Zachery May.
PERRYSBURG — Twenty seniors from 10 area high schools were honored at the 28th annual Achievement of Excellence Awards banquet, sponsored by the Wood County Educational Service Center.
Held at Penta Career Center on April 20, the event showcased the bonds between each district’s top two students and their favorite teachers.
Teachers spoke from a podium about their relationships with the students, who sat nearby.
Caleb Robles, from Northwood High School, is the son of Tami and Ariel Robles. He plans to attend Ohio State University and study astrophysics. His favorite teacher was Roger Myers.
Myers said Robles rarely spoke when he first had him in class in seventh grade — but when he did, his peers listened.
Myers said he still uses Robles’ argumentative essay about vaccines in his class.
“He’ll certainly use his powers of good,” Myers said.
Isabella Espinosa, Bowling Green High School, is the daughter of Laura and Angel Espinosa. She plans to attend the University of Notre Dame to study biochemistry. Her favorite teacher was Josh Iler.
“She’s the type of student who drives me every day,” Iler said, and called Espinosa “a quiet superstar.”
He said he has not met anyone as positive, down to earth, quiet, respectful and sincere, and it would be a better world if there were more people like her, he said.
“She does more for me that what I do for her,” Iler said. “She’s a warrior, one of the hardest working individuals I know.”
Mara O’Connor, Northwood High School, is the daughter of Erin and Brad O’Connor. She plans to study communications and Bowling Green State University. Her favorite teacher was Katrina Moses.
Behind the quiet façade is a fiery competitor, said Moses, who was varsity volleyball coach and had O’Connor on the team.
“Wanting and seeking the best for everyone around you is a quality that is rare,” Moses said. “Success and happiness are not a matter of chance — they are a matter of choice.”
Chloe Madden, from Rossford High School, is the daughter of Carrie Madden. Her plans include studying biomedical engineering at the University of Toledo. Her favorite teacher was Justin Kelley.
Kelley said he met Madden seven years ago as a sixth grader as she was trying out for band. She was going to play flute until she started to cry, and her mom got her a percussion kit, Kelley said.
Grace Kingery, Eastwood High School, is the daughter of Jill Contris-Kingery and Chad Kingery. She plans to study animal science at Wilmington College. Her favorite teacher was Kristy Pioterek.
Kingery always demonstrates the Eagle Way and is often overlooked because of that, Pioterek said.
Kingery was in the first play Pioterek every directed and “she’s actually happy to take on a challenge.”
She lives by the motto life is like a buffet: If you don’t like one thing try something else.
Andrew Chung, Perrysburg High School, is the son of Susie and Kyung Chung. He plans to study political science and computer science but is undecided where. His favorite teacher was Tim Kitson.
“Andy’s one of the best students with whom I’ve ever worked,” Kitson said.
Chung has achieved a lot “but what makes him excellent is his character,” Kitson said.
He is valedictorian of his senior class and a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
“You are just getting started,” Kitson said to Chung.
Emily Darr, at Lake High School, is the daughter of Jennifer and Dan Darr. She plans to study business at Ohio State University. Her favorite teacher was Anna Stewart.
“You make a difference. You are a person who doesn’t stop,” Stewart said about Darr.
Alyssa Malanowski, Otsego High School, is the daughter of Carin and Christopher Malanowski. She plans to study data analytics at Ohio State University. Her favorite teacher was Ashley Tatham.
Malanowski is salutatorian at Otsego as well as two-time DECA national competitor and CEO of the student café, Tatham said.
“I can always count on her to do what is asked of her,” Tatham said.
Lucas Bernius-Fischer, from Rossford High School, is the son of Amy Bernius and James Fischer. His plans include studying microbiology at Miami University. His favorite teacher was Heather Smith-Nissen.
He does things his way, Smith-Nissen, adding that he is very inventive and witty.
He has been her class guinea pig for a lot of her new projects, and she said she hopes in 10-15 years he is back as a Penta Outstanding Alumni.
Nikhil Methi, Perrysburg High School, is the son of Garima and Anand Methi. He plans to study biochemical engineering at Duke University. His favorite teacher was Amy Farrar.
Methi is not obsessed with winning the race — but with the thrill of the race, Farrar said.
While she runs and looks forward to the finish line, Methi’s finish line is the horizon. He’s always wondering how much farther he can run and what more he can learn, Farrar said.
Ian Sander, Eastwood High School, is the son of Shannon and Michael Sander. He plans to study biochemistry/pre-dentistry at Ohio Wesleyan University. His favorite teacher was Libby Dulaney.
Dulaney said she has had Sander in her German class for four years and he “always goes above and beyond what is asked of him.”
Sander earned his Eagle Scout in eighth grade and while he wanted to be a “fish doctor” when he was little, his goal now is to become an orthodontist, Dulaney said.
Sander was at a swim meeting in Denver and his father, Michael, accepted his award.
Zachery May, Elmwood High School, is the son of Heidi and Dustin May. He plans to study math education.
His favorite teacher, Eric Poffenbaugh, said he has known May since fifth grade and the senior is loyal, resilient, optimistic and unselfish.
“I have no doubt Zach will continue to embody these traits through college and life,” Poffenbaugh said.
As his senior capstone project, May chose to make a water trough for the football team and put a plaque on it listing everyone who helped. Poffenbaugh insisted May include his name.
Chloe Higgins, Bowling Green High School, is the daughter of Stacey and Jeff Higgins. She plans to study pharmacy at Ohio Northern University. Her favorite teacher was Brenda Babcock.
Higgins’ list of achievements includes National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, and earning an honors diploma, Babcock said. She also was a Hugh O’Brien and Girls State delegate and licenses soccer coach, said Babcock, who was Higgins’ first grade teacher.
As she was cleaning out her files, Babcock said she found a writing sample by Higgins. While most students wrote three lines on the topic, Higgins wrote several pages front and back.
Owen Johnson, North Baltimore High School, is the son of Shelly and Jerry Johnson. He plans to study architecture and environmental design at Bowling Green State University. His favorite teacher was Emily Meyerson.
“Everything I’ve learned about music and everything I love about music goes back to her,” Johnson wrote about Meyerson.
She said she has known the senior since he was in elementary school when they shared a Harry Potter obsession. Meyerson said she hopes to see Johnson perform some day.
“You’re at home on stage, you’re a force to be reckoned with on stage,” she said.
Sophie Kepling, from Penta Career Center, is the daughter of Dawn Kepling. She will study early childhood education technologies at Owens Community College. Her favorite teacher was Jill Kao.
Kepling this year is on the FCCLA state executive council and had led different workshops for the organization, said Kao, who said she met the senior as a seventh grader.
“I hope you continue this leadership path,” Kao said.
Julie Gross, Elmwood High School, is the daughter of Renee and Andy Gross. She plans to study psychology at Ohio Northern University. Her favorite teacher was Jill Davis.
“She has the maturity to understand that people do have a difference of opinion,” Davis said, adding that the senior backs her arguments up with facts, not opinions.
Leah Rader, North Baltimore High School, is the daughter of Rachel and Kenneth Rader. She plans to study accounting at Miami University. Her favorite teacher was Stefanie Waldvogel.
“I’ve never met a student who can read more than me,” Waldvogel said about Rader.
“She has not only tried it all but has succeeded,” she said about Rader’s involvement in National Honor Society, student council and Paws for Cause.
Carlos Aguero-Valerio, from Penta, is the son of Linda Valerio Mancha and Carlos Aguero Jauregui. He plans to study graphic design at Owens. His favorite teacher was Carrie Soellner.
Aguero-Valerio was head designer for the yearbook. He is super respectful and always happy to learn, Soellner said.
Zachary Buschmann, Lake High School, is the son of Christina and Jason Buschmann. He plans to study computer science at the University of Toledo. His favorite teacher was Sargon Babona.
Buschmann, who is valedictorian at Lake, has crazy critical thinking skills and resilience in problem solving, Babona said.
As a perennial math competitor, Buschmann was ranked in the top 6% of 17,000 kids as a sophomore, he said.
Nataleigh Hartman, Otsego High School, is the daughter of Janell and Doug Hartman. She plans to study politic science at Ohio Northern University. Her favorite teacher was Kerri Ann Chandler.
Hartman did not attend the event.
Prior to the ceremony, visiting scholars Nurdan Kalayci and Fahriye Hayiersever spoke about their time in Ohio.
“Your country has contributed to my professional life,” Kalayci said.
She said coming from a foreign country was hard, from learning new food to transportation.
“I hope our countries … our friendship and our cooperation will last a long time,” she said.
Hayiersever, who has lived in Bowling Green for seven months, said she was impressed by the music and art classes and how students are willing to stay after school for science and sports.
The two women are from Turkey.
