MANSFIELD — A room of over 100 guests filled Dan Lew Exchange with applause, proud smiles and big dreams Wednesday night at the Mansfield Noon Optimist Club’s fourth annual Student Appreciation Banquet.
The event brought together students, families, educators and community leaders to celebrate achievement – and the character behind it.
Dave Siebold, past president of the Mansfield Noon Optimist Club and chair of the Scholarship, Essay and Quality Student Committee, led much of the effort.
He said the club invites each student to attend with a parent or guardian and a school administrator, making it a true community event.
“It is so gratifying to see the parents’ and guardians’ proud faces when their student is presented with an award,” Siebold added.
Awards and recognition across the county
The club presented three award categories: Scholarship, Essay and Quality Student.
For the essay awards students reflected on the prompt, “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me.”
- Bronze: Alyson Brokaw, Clear Fork High School, $50
- Silver: Jarrett Burrer, Plymouth High School, $100
- Gold: Darbie Broom, Ontario High School, $200
Broom shared her winning essay with the audience, emphasizing, “Community is about lifting others.”
Scholarship awards included two Lexington High School seniors who received $1,000 each to support their higher education goals:
- Katerina Prykhodko
- Lillian Thomas
“Our club not only recognizes students who receive monetary awards, but we also request that each school in the county nominate two outstanding students to attend the event and be recognized as well,” Siebold said.
Schools across Richland County selected students demonstrating exceptional character and leadership for the quality student awards. Each received a commemorative plaque:
- Clear Fork High School: Trista Cromer, Jozie Lloyd
- Crestview High School: Kandyce Abbott, Jeriel Martinez
- Lexington High School: Uloedo Ezike, Allison Laury
- Lucas High School: Kaitlyn Griffey, Reuel (Ray) Lewis
- Madison Comprehensive High School: Emma Reynolds, Esther Stanfield
- Mansfield Senior High School: Dajohn Corbin, Jevaeh Hudgens
- Ontario High School: Brady Baumgard, Delany Mortiz
- Plymouth High School: Madeline (Maddy) Putt, Kristi Yeager
- Shelby High School: Natalie Korbas, Lucian Thull
Siebold reflected on the awards’ broader impact, saying the event gives students the opportunity to connect with peers from other schools.
“Some might be surprised to discover how much they have in common—and maybe even become college classmates in the future,” he said.
Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson delivered a personal message urging students never to take education for granted.
Kate Shannon, artist laureate and associate professor at OSU Mansfield, gave the keynote address, encouraging students to recognize value doesn’t come from perfection.
“The remarks by Miss Ohio and Kate Shannon were very appropriate and uplifting,” Siebold noted. “We’ve been fortunate to host the current Miss Ohio each of the past four years and OSU Mansfield has consistently provided one of their staff to give the keynote.”
The Mansfield Noon Optimist Club concluded the evening by congratulating every award winner.
Sponsors DLX and Amvets Post 26 helped make the evening possible, alongside Ron Taylor, whose gave a generous contribution during the Richland Gives drive. Volunteers and club members worked behind the scenes to shape the celebration.
(Photos from the Student Appreciation Banquet. Provided by Kevin Zehe.)
