Top Students Salute Significant Teachers

Several of Greene County’s top students and most influential teachers fought back tears on a recent Tuesday evening as they received the Greene County Educational Service Center’s highest award for classroom teaching: The Howard L. Post Excellence in Education Award.  During the event, the 38 valedictorians and salutatorians from each of Greene County’s high schools and the Greene County Career Center honored the one teacher from their K-12 school careers who had the greatest influence on their success.

“For a teacher to be selected by a valedictorian or salutatorian as their most influential teacher is extremely humbling and emotional,” according to ESC Superintendent Terry Thomas.  “It is the highest compliment that can be paid to a teacher.”

The program, started twenty-four years ago by ESC Administrator Dr. Ron Anderson, is coordinated by Tina Saunders. Assisting Tina are Wendy Wooten, Marnie Mangan, and Anita Sams.  More than two hundred teachers have received the award since its inception.  The awards were presented by ESC Superintendent Terry Thomas and Governing Board President Lee Snell.   The ceremony was held at the Greene County Educational Service Center in Yellow Springs. Valedictorians, salutatorians, and the teachers they have honored include:

Beavercreek City:

Andrew Weber, Co-Valedictorian, Angel Allen; Nandini Srinivasan, Co-Valedictorian, Kim Group; Thara Nagarajan, Co-Valedictorian, Betty Dunn; Colin Hu, Co-Valedictorian, Margo DeBrosse; Christine Fung, Co-Valedictorian, Jessica Dyer; Elise Duncan, Co-Valedictorian, Jami Russ; Melinda Dannenfelser, Co-Valedictorian, Kathie Anderson; Alyxis Camden, Co-Valedictorian, William Bagwell; Lorelei Turner, Co-Salutatorian, Kara Humphrey; Michael Ringle, Co-Salutatorian, Gregg Cross; Juliana Machicao, Co-Salutatorian, Ann Unverferth; Sherry Jiao, Co-Salutatorian, Cindy Kunk; Mariana E. Aboujaoude, Co-Salutatorian, Richard Little; Connor Slone, Co-Salutatorian, Douglas McCullough; Leah Fry, Co-Salutatorian, Bonnie McGriff; Will McGrew, Co-Salutatorian, Tim Campbell.

 Cedar Cliff Local:

Billy Vine, Valedictorian, Rita Doyle; Ashley Moore, Co-Salutatorian, Carolyn Baker; Rahel Seybold, Co-Salutatorian, Frances  Barber.

 Fairborn City:

Benjamin Lorenzetti, Valedictorian; Laura Dailey;  Jennifer Sollmann, Salutatorian, Susan Holloway.

Greene County Career Center:

Kyle Lutz, Co-Valedictorian, Robert Keller;  Sabrina Marie Perdue, Co-Valedictorian, Robert Keller;  Jacob Wuebben, Co-Valedictorian, Matt Smith; Jessica Amtower, Salutatorian, Thomas Grooms.

Greeneview Local:

Amanda Coe, Co-Valedictorian, Janet Newhart-Ary;  Ellie Reynolds, Co-Valedictorian, Margie Wysocki;  Megan Carr, Co-Salutatorian, Troy Terrill; Kyle Collins, Co-Salutatorian, Allen Rowland.

Sugarcreek Local:

Kaitlin Bernard, Valedictorian, Cindy Hasler; Srirama Josyula, Salutatorian, Pamela McDonald.

Xenia Community City:

Erika Thorn, Co-Valedictorian, Kay Scott; Megan Sanders, Co-Valedictorian, Patrick Marrinan; Clinton Krakowiak, Co-Valedictorian, Marsha Smith; Emily Harkleroad, Co-Valedictorian, Marsha Smith; Matthew Burket, Co-Valedictorian, Kathy Perkins.

 Yellow Springs Exempted Village:

John Michael Malone, Valedictorian, Phil Lemkau; Dylan Amlin, Salutatorian, Kathryn Burkland.