Bexley’s John Laing, Linden-McKinley’s Christopher Cities, Columbus Academy’s Grace Luo and Olentangy’s Parker Parker lead a bunch of twenty-two scholarship winners introduced Thursday through The Dispatch on the Central Ohio Top Faculty Sports activities Awards on the Larger Columbus Conference Heart.
As well as, the highest athletes in 30 sports activities had been commemorated right through the display, which used to be offered through Encova Insurance coverage and in partnership with National Youngsters’s Health facility. Former Dublin Coffman, Notre Dame and NFL quarterback Brady Quinn used to be the visitor speaker.
Encova Insurance coverage and the Warren B. Sneed Memorial Scholarship awarded $63,000 in scholarships in line with scholars’ accomplishments in the school room and at the box of play, and as leaders of their college and group.
The scholarship winners had been:
Christopher Cities, Linden-McKinley
John J. Bishop Student Athlete ($7,000 scholarship)
Cities completed highschool as valedictorian of his magnificence, with a 4.034 GPA, and took part in six sports activities in 4 years.
Nonetheless, the third-oldest of 16 youngsters does now not essentially emphasize completing first.
“I wish to give (my siblings) and pageant, whoever this is, the frenzy to be higher than me,” Cities stated. “There’s all the time pageant to recuperate grades and be a greater particular person. They give the impression of being as much as me with my grades and the way I act. …
“If our long run isn’t doing higher, then we don’t have a long run.”
Cities attended Patriot Prep his freshman and sophomore years sooner than spending his ultimate two years of highschool at Citadel Hayes. He participated in sports activities at Linden-McKinley, his house college.
Cities performed basketball all 4 years. He performed football as a freshman, participated in soccer and monitor and box for 3 years, move nation as a sophomore and baseball as a senior.
More youthful siblings Philip, a senior, and Emmanuel, a sophomore, had been Christopher’s teammates in soccer and basketball.
Former Northland basketball celebrity Seth Cities, who went directly to play at Harvard and Ohio State and just lately transferred to Howard, is a primary cousin.
Christopher served as a soccer and basketball captain, a member of the Nationwide Honor Society, a LEAD program mentor and a instructor’s assistant. He additionally labored together with his church’s Thanksgiving power, a Particular Olympics camp, a homeless safe haven and the “I Am Trade” program via Ohio State.
In soccer, he used to be a three-time all-Town League variety and a two-time all-district honoree.
Cities, who plans to check environmental sciences at Virginia State, lives through a pronouncing his father imparts every morning.
“ ‘I’m anyone. I’m going to make it. You’ll be able to’t prevent me. I’m gonna get all A’s and I’ll see you on the most sensible,’ ” Cities stated. “Any person is all the time looking at.”
Parker Parker, Olentangy
John J. Bishop Student Athlete ($7,000 scholarship)
Between excelling at box hockey, presiding over a pupil group or even volunteering on the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Parker hardly ever had a spare second in 4 years of highschool.
That used to be splendid for the hot graduate, who will play box hockey at Merrimack Faculty in North Andover, Massachusetts, and main in chemistry. However Parker does now not hesitate to percentage what used to be maximum essential.
“Almost certainly the group I helped discovered and create,” Parker stated of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. “We went via COVID and popping out of that, issues had been aggravating and no person knew what would occur. Getting the membership again up and operating, it used to be superb now not just for myself, but additionally seeing other folks have that opportunity … to not point out everybody at different faculties fascinated by their golf equipment, it’s lovely neat.”
Parker used to be vp of the GSA as a freshman in 2019 and president the following 3 years.
Parker additionally served at the Superintendent’s Committee for Variety and Inclusion and as an LGBTQ+ suggest with the Equality Ohio Adolescence Coalition along with beginning at the box hockey staff for 4 years. Parker will play at Merrimack Faculty in North Andover, Massachusetts and main in chemistry.
Parker scored 32 at the ACT, earned a 4.1 GPA, made the dignity roll all 4 years, used to be Educational All-Ohio 3 times and used to be a member of the Nationwide Honor Society.
Parker additionally ran the three,200 meters and used to be a thrower at the monitor and box staff. Having was hoping as a kid to be a certified hockey goalie, Parker as an alternative desires of proudly owning a espresso store or concentrating at the science of meals construction.
“Other folks talents are the largest factor,” Parker stated. “Even running with the zoo, I realized the ability of endurance and interacting, particularly with youngsters. I were given to show other folks about animals, even lend a hand other folks feed them, and simply lend a hand other folks be informed and direct issues.”
Leah Brown, Marysville
Capt. Warren B. Sneed Memorial ($3,000 scholarship)
Brown graduated with a 4.26 GPA that ranked her 14th in her magnificence. A long run Ohio State pupil, she used to be an AP Student and a member of the Nationwide Honor Society and Rho Kappa. She additionally has donated her time in the course of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and pupil council, and as a Spark Lab peer tutor.
She used to be a two-time captain of the Marysville ladies basketball and women football groups and used to be an all-OCC performer in each.
“It wasn’t tricky to juggle my time table as a result of I believe assured in how my oldsters raised me to be a student-athlete and the way the scholar comes first,” Brown stated. “I additionally suppose that my coaches did a really perfect task of emphasizing that.”
Brown has completed a lot of these issues whilst her father, Derric, has handled main well being problems. He suffered a stroke 9 years in the past and used to be recognized with most cancers in November.
“I’d be mendacity if I did not say that some issues took place in my family that did not scare me simply how I used to be going to wait school and the way I used to be going so that you can with the ability to come up with the money for it,” Brown stated. “The danger to get a scholarship approach so much. It’s any such reduction on the subject of the monetary support and with the ability to rank among one of the vital most sensible students.”
John Laing, Bexley
Most sensible Male Student Athlete ($7,000)
Laing graduated with a 4.56 GPA and scored an excellent 36 at the ACT. His educational honors are a large number of, together with Nationwide Advantage Student semifinalist, AP Scholarship with Difference, Nationwide Honor Society and Cum Laude Society.
However he wasn’t best heading in the right direction in lecturers. He certified for the state move nation meet in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and he used to be Educational All-Ohio within the recreation the ones years.
Laing leads a Boy Scout troop of fifth- via Twelfth-graders, coordinating conferences and group volunteering. He additionally began the Bexley Refugee and Immigration Provider Membership at the highschool, coordinating initiatives to learn native refugees.
He credit his luck to self-discipline and time control.
“Organizers and to-do lists and calendars with a view to stay the whole lot instantly,” he stated. “Whilst you plan the whole lot out and also you mete out your time, you are able to perform much more than you could possibly simply going round and having an unplanned day.”
Laing plans to check arithmetic and statistics at Boston Faculty. He stated the scholarship is “an indication that my arduous paintings has paid off and I’m going to be capable to proceed on, keep learning as a pupil.”
Collin LaVeck, Bloom-Carroll
First runner-up Male Student Athlete ($5,000)
LaVeck used to be a lot more than a celeb football and tennis participant. He used to be a member of the Science Membership for 3 years, the Ping Pong Membership for 4 years and the French Membership for 2. He used to be a Bloom-Carroll Scholar Ambassador who additionally has volunteered for a number of organizations, together with his church, whilst keeping up a 4.125 GPA.
In football, LaVeck used to be named Mid-State League Participant of the Yr, first-team all-district and second-team all-Ohio remaining fall. He additionally used to be remaining yr’s league Participant of the Yr in tennis.
LaVeck plans to check environmental sciences at Wittenberg.
Kaden Gannon, Delaware Hayes
2nd runner-up Male Student Athlete ($4,000)
Gannon used to be a fashion of consistency the previous 4 years for the Pacers. He used to be the varsity’s Student-Athlete Award winner in every of his 12 athletic seasons and used to be at the honor roll each quarter for 4 years because of a 4.2 GPA. He gained 4 varsity letters in swimming, 3 in soccer and two in baseball. He additionally certified for the state swimming meet this wintry weather. He plans to check psychology in school.
Isaac Carter, Grove Town
3rd runner-up Male Student Athlete ($2,000)
Management comes naturally to Carter, who used to be captain of the wrestling staff for 3 years, captain of the soccer staff for 2 and can be attending the U.S. Naval Academy. He completed highschool with a 4.78 GPA, used to be ranked 6th in his graduating magnificence and were given a 33 at the ACT. He additionally used to be a member of the Nationwide Honor Society and had the perfect GPA in his magnificence 3 years in a row. He has volunteered for plenty of college and group initiatives, together with meals banks, Eagle Scouts, the Nationwide Park Provider and the Ohio State Truthful.
Jackson Keller, St. Charles
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete ($1,000)
A 4.27 GPA is particularly neatly earned at a faculty like St. Charles, and Keller earned that mark with a complete educational and athletic load. He used to be a three-time All-American swimmer and two-time state qualifier who additionally used to be president of the promenade committee and an assistant editor of the scholar newspaper. Keller used to be a part of the Religion Ministry Provider for 4 years, used to be at the Nationwide Honor Society for 2 years and earned honor roll all 4 years of highschool. He’s going to find out about engineering at Notre Dame.
Andrew Pizzico, Gahanna Lincoln
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete ($1,000)
A 3-time state champion and three-time state runner-up in monitor and box, Pizzico additionally has been a state champion in DECA, a Nationwide Emmy Award winner and is lively in Nationwide Honor Society. He has volunteered in a different wishes lecture room since 8th grade. He additionally coaches in Gahanna Particular Olympics, performs basketball and runs move nation whilst protecting a three.7 GPA. He’s going to main in nursing at Grand Valley State.
Kaleb Schaffer, In a position
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete ($1,000)
Schaffer completed off 4 years by which he gave the impression to perform a little little bit of the whole lot through serving to lead In a position’s boys basketball staff to the state match. He used to be Scholar of the Month in 9 categories, a Scholar of the Yr in African-American historical past, a homecoming nominee and an all-state participant at the basketball courtroom. He additionally coached adolescence basketball, helped particular wishes scholars and volunteered at meals banks amongst many different actions. Schaffer will main in chemistry in school.
Graham Shoaps, Granville
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete ($1,000)
Shoaps helped make the Blue Aces’ boys football staff one in every of central Ohio’s highest. He used to be all-state two times, all-district two times, Licking County Participant of the Yr remaining fall and a two-time captain. He’s a volunteer instructor at his church and has been a part of the Varsity G Membership, Spanish Nationwide Honor Society and the Cum Laude Society. He additionally performed baseball and basketball. Shoaps will attend school at Colorado Faculty of Mines.
Justin Viau Jr., Fisher Catholic
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete (now not eligible for a scholarship)
Viau used to be ranked moment in his graduating magnificence with a 4.0 GPA. He additionally scored 31 at the ACT. His educational accomplishments come with Top Honor Roll, Nationwide Honor Society treasurer, Educational All-Mid-State League all 4 years of highschool and Educational All-Ohio. Viau additionally gained an appointment to the U.S. Army Academy at West Level, the place he hopes to earn an officer’s fee. He already has served his group via Have interaction, Neighborhood Care Day, Bottoms Up Pressure and laying wreaths on veterans graves on Christmas. Viau additionally used to be an all-league soccer and baseball participant.
Ben Yasnowski, Westerville Central
Honorable Point out Male Student Athlete ($1,000)
A standout in move nation, swimming and monitor and box, Yasnowski has been much more spectacular off the sector. He has been at the honor roll all 4 years of highschool, a Student Athlete all 4 years and a dean’s record honoree at Otterbein remaining fall. He has performed all of this whilst keeping up a 4.35 GPA. He additionally has been lively in Eagle Scouts, symphonic band, the varsity’s Hope Squad and at his church. He plans to check trade, finance, laptop science and arithmetic on the College of Cincinnati.
Grace Luo, Columbus Academy
Most sensible Feminine Student Athlete ($7,000)
Calling Luo a pioneer technically could be proper, for the reason that she used to be an authentic member of Academy’s first ladies golfing staff and 3 years later helped the Vikings to the Department II state championship, however it hardly ever would quilt the legacy she leaves at the back of.
Luo, who graduated with a 4.62 GPA and earned an excellent rating of 36 at the ACT, is especially proficient in math and science and plans to check laptop science at Stanford. However even the ones achievements weren’t the primary that got here to thoughts.
“As a result of I’ve any such numerous vary of pursuits, I’ve gotten to fulfill a large number of people who find themselves very other from me,” Luo stated. “That’s some of the stunning issues concerning the previous 4 years. In golfing, I made a large number of buddies now not best on my staff however throughout groups and throughout faculties. …
“I unquestionably went into highschool in need of to take a look at all kinds of new issues, however I didn’t be expecting myself to decide to such a lot of other actions. However I’m satisfied I did.”
She used to be decided on for the distinguished Ross Arithmetic Program, used to be a three-time qualifier for the American Invitational Arithmetic Exam and evolved an app referred to as “Telling Time for Children + Math” that has greater than 11,000 customers.
Luo used to be a Nationwide Advantage Finalist as a senior and an AP Student with Difference as a junior. She additionally used to be co-president of the code and math golf equipment, used to be a member of the Spanish Membership and served at the Youngster Advisory Board, serving to advertise studying and literacy for kids.
Luo hopes to parlay her laptop science main right into a profession involving synthetic intelligence or device finding out.
A four-time district qualifier in golfing, Luo completed 8th at state in my view as her staff gained the championship through 23 pictures. She additionally served as an teacher when her staff began a adolescence golfing program at Academy.
“(The name) used to be one thing we didn’t totally be expecting,” Luo stated. “We simply sought after to experience our season and make lasting reminiscences. However (profitable state) used to be reputation for all of the paintings we and all of the other folks round us installed.”
Audrey Keplar, Teays Valley
First runner-up Feminine Student Athlete ($5,000)
A member of the Nationwide Honor Society, Keplar ranked moment academically in her magnificence with a 4.928 GPA. A standout golfer for the Vikings, she used to be a four-time Department I district qualifier and three-time MSL-Buckeye Participant of the Yr. Keplar holds program information for nine-hole reasonable and 18-hole reasonable. She is going to attend Findlay to pursue some extent in chemistry and proceed her golfing profession. She is a member of a number of management teams and has participated in a large number of group provider initiatives.
Emma McCrady, Fisher Catholic
2nd runner-up Feminine Student Athlete ($4,000)
McCrady had a 4.11 GPA, score her first in her magnificence at Fisher Catholic, and she competed in volleyball and basketball. She performed setter in volleyball and used to be named first-team all-MSL-Cardinal the previous two seasons and first-team all-district remaining fall. McCrady used to be a member of the Nationwide Honor Society and earned a number of educational awards. She additionally has been a volunteer for a number of provider teams in the neighborhood and can attend Capital.
Anh Thi Thai, Hilliard Bradley
3rd runner-up Feminine Student Athlete ($2,000)
Thai ranked first in her graduating magnificence with a 4.789 GPA and scored 35 at the ACT. She is a Nationwide Advantage Student, a four-time student athlete at Bradley and previous president of the Nationwide Honor Society. Thai held the perfect GPA amongst senior ladies tennis gamers within the OCC-Central and used to be named Most worthy participant at the tennis staff all 4 years. Her dedication to management comprises main a staff of 18 friends to boost greater than $38,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is going to attend Ohio State, the place she plans to main in pharmaceutical sciences on a pre-med monitor.
Hannah Brady, Watterson
Honorable Point out Feminine Student Athlete ($1,000)
Brady had a three.94 GPA, used to be a member of the Nationwide Honor Society and a four-year All-Ohio Educational Award recipient. She competed in monitor and football at Watterson. In monitor, she used to be a Department I district and regional champion within the lengthy leap and completed 8th at state in 2022. She additionally helped the 1,600 relay end 7th at state a yr in the past. Her many hours of group provider come with serving as a pacesetter for Kairos Retreat campus ministry. Brady will compete in monitor at Ashland and pursue some extent in training.
Sydney Davis, Olentangy Berlin
Honorable Point out Feminine Student Athlete ($1,000)
Davis used to be a member of the Nationwide Honor Society and a six-time All-Ohio Educational award recipient because of a 4.31 GPA. She made group provider a concern, volunteering her time every yr of highschool. Davis helped lead the Berlin ladies football staff to a Department I district name remaining fall. In softball, she used to be named first-team all-OCC-Cardinal, second-team all-district and the staff’s Most worthy participant as a junior after hitting a program-record .549. She additionally used to be a softball staff captain in 2022 and 2023, and he or she’ll proceed her taking part in profession at Hillsdale.
Kora Garee, Northridge
Honorable Point out Feminine Student Athlete ($1,000)
Garee is heading to Ohio College after score first in her graduating magnificence with a 4.43 GPA. She earned a large number of educational awards, together with being named to the superintendent’s record all 4 years. She used to be named to the dean’s record at Ohio State and Columbus State, and he or she’s a member of the Nationwide Honor Society. Garee helped get started the women bowling program at Northridge in 2021 and used to be a captain in volleyball. She took on different management roles, together with beginning a nonprofit group referred to as Knot-On my own by which she made and donated greater than 60 knot blankets and 20 scarves to the Newark Side road Venture.
Katherine Radwanski, In a position
Honorable Point out Feminine Student Athlete ($1,000)
Radwanski used to be moment in her graduating magnificence with a three.96 GPA and scored 33 on the ACT. She earned a number of educational awards, together with 8 Scholar of the Yr awards for perfect total magnificence grade and 6 Scholar of the Month awards. She plans to pursue some extent in trade and finance at Ohio State. Her management roles incorporated serving as president of In a position’s bankruptcy of the Long term Industry Leaders of The us and Nationwide Honor Society. She additionally volunteered on the Grove Town Meals Pantry. Radwanski competed in monitor and move nation at In a position.
Kasey Wells, Delaware Hayes
Honorable Point out Feminine Student Athlete ($1,000)
Wells ranked 7th in her graduating magnificence with a three.958 GPA and scored 1,390 on her SAT. She will pursue some extent in engineering at Kentucky after incomes a number of educational awards, together with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Environmental Coverage in 2020 on the Ohio State Science Truthful. She competed for the Pacers’ wrestling program, incomes berths to the women state match the previous 3 seasons and receiving the Delaware Hayes Wrestling Legacy Award this yr. She additionally competed in lacrosse and used to be a member of pupil council, the fundamental’s advisory staff and the varsity’s orchestra.
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