Bellefontaine High School graduates the Class of 2021 during commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday, May 21, at AcuSport Stadium.
The rain date is 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22.
Bellefontaine Police Department Sgt. Andy Kennedy, a 2001 BHS graduate, returns to his alma mater to deliver the commencement address. He also will be inducted into the BHS Distinguished Alumni during the ceremony alongside three other 2021 award recipients: Paul A. Lambert Sr., Dr. Danielle C. Pfister-Foster and Dr. Ryan D. Kauffman.
Following graduation from BHS, the featured speaker entered the work force. In 2004, he joined the Bellefontaine Police Department.
During 2013, Mr. Kennedy became the DARE officer for the police department and became known as “Officer Andy” to the students of Bellefontaine City Schools.
For the next seven years, Mr. Kennedy oversaw the DARE and GUIDE programs, which included Safety Town and other safety curriculums for the youths of the community. He also organized DARE Summer Camps, DARE lock-ins, and Cops and Bobbers fishing events.
“Mr. Kennedy has done many things to help bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement and promote a more cohesive community,” his nominators said.
In May 2020, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and had to leave behind his DARE officer position. He is currently the second shift patrol supervisor.
During 2014, Mr. Kennedy won the Medal of Merit and Officer of the Year Award and in 2018, he received the Special Commendation Award for his excellent work within the Bellefontaine City Schools.
His community involvement includes: the Board of DD Community Basketball game, Bike Rodeo and the Ring of Lights. He attends the Bellefontaine First United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kennedy lives in Bellefontaine with his wife, Natasha, and their two sons, Reed and Calvin.
“Officer Andy possesses rare talents and character traits that he consistently models for our future leaders of tomorrow.” Thank you for your service to our community,” a Bellefontaine City Schools administrator said.
Mr. Lambert Sr. graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1956. He is a graduate of Anderson University in Anderson, Ind.
During his college days, he received a number of accolades but reveres his selection to “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities” followed up by being inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame.
After college, he enjoyed a successful multi-faceted 32 year career with the Dow Chemical Company. The major part being in the management of shipping hazardous substances globally.
It was through this background that he was asked by the Secretaries of Transportation and later Secretaries of Homeland Security to voluntarily serve on the national “Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee.” He served from 1970 until 2017.
This service assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in rule making, preparations for United Nations maritime committees, and partnering with industry for the safety and the quality of shore and vessel operations.
Mr. Lambert resides in Lake Jackson, Texas, with his wife Irene of 62 years. He has four sons and 10 grandchildren He attends the United Methodist Church and has taught Sunday School since 1970.
A 1995 Bellefontaine High School graduate, Dr. Foster earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational management, master’s degree in business administration from Bluffton University, and doctorate in organizational leadership from Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Foster worked in the private sector in the pharmaceutical industry and was then asked by the University of Findlay 18 years ago to build out the online learning platform.
In 2004, she joined Tiffin University as a business and international marketing instructor and was there for 15 years. She is now a professor at Ohio Northern University, teaching strategic market planning and international marketing.
Dr. Foster cares about students and has established student internships at multiple corporations and desires that all her marketing students are competent and employed.
During 2006, Dr. Foster received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” Award and The Pioneer Award from the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice in 2007. She is married and lives in Lima.
“The impact that I have on the Bellefontaine community as well as my academic and Lima community are two-fold,” she said. “I set out daily to serve as an example of a female educator with a passion for diversity that hopes to help enrich the lives of students that also strive to accomplish success in their own lives.”
The valedictorian of the BHS Class of 1995, Dr. Kauffman graduated with honors from Eastern Mennonite University and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. After completing his Family Medicine residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, he returned to Bellefontaine to practice at Oakhill Medical Associates.
After nine years at Oakhill, he left to start Hickory Medical Direct Primary Care, a medical practice that provides personal care focused on bringing healthcare directly to patients.
Dr. Kauffman served in numerous elected and appointed state and national positions within family medicine. He is past president of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians and is currently the alternate delegate for Ohio to the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is the editor of “The Ohio Family Physician” and an associate medical editor for the “FP Essentials” monograph. Dr. Kauffman regularly teaches family physicians in state, regional, and national lectures. He served on the Ohio Cabinet Opiate Action Team, has testified before the Ohio House, advocated on healthcare issues in Washington, DC.
Dr. Kauffman has served on various community organizations and boards. He has been a volunteer in Bellefontaine City Schools in the classroom as well as with academic boosters, band, cross country and track. Dr. Kauffman is married to Valerie and they have three sons who attend Bellefontaine — Simon, Neil, and Evan, who is graduating Friday.
Pending the successful completion of state and local requirements, the following students are set to graduate:
Fadi Saleem Abukhader, Kane Roberts Adkins, Stevie Hannah Nicole Angel, Harsh Bakshi, Jarrid Jace Baughman, Jeremy Lee Baughman, Tiffany Lynn Baum, Ralph Lee Behlmer, Tiara Eileen Blevins, Torrie Renee Breaston, Robert Dylan Breckler, Cameron Todd Bridge, Joseph Williams Briggs, Kobe Slade Brown, Samuel Allen Brown, Markus Elliott Brugler, Brooklyn Page Buffkin, Ariel Rae Burkholder, Brian Scott Bush, Jessica LeeAnne Bush, Jaeden Stephan Campbell, Juan Diego Cardenas Rubio, Ryan Spencer Carman
Justin Lyle Carper, •+Cheyann Kayla Clingerman, Alexis Marie Close, Destiny Nichole Close, Cole Cameron Comstock, Nathan Cox Conner, Noah Cole Conner, Alayna Marie Cooper, Colton Reed Costin, Paige Alexis Cox, Grace Donna Leann Crumrine, Seth Michael Daugherty, Cameron Justin Davis, McKinsey Grace Davis, Mya Gail Davis, Hayden Clayton Deitsch, Madison Michelle DeLong, Destiny Elaine Dick, ~Natalie Kathryn Dinovo, Aden Joshua Downing, *^Olivia Claire Eader, *Lauren Victoria Easton, Ashley Leann Ehmer, James Ernest Epps, Abby Nicole Erwin, *Lily Ann Evans, Shayla Elizabeth Nicole Flagler, Micah Daniel Fogan, Derek Brayden Frazier, Griffen Scott Frisby, Rylie Paige Fullerton, David Daniel Ganson, Donavoan Montgomery George, Damian Aaron Michael Godfrey, Mya Kelis Godsey, Stephen Samuel Godwin, Caleb Andrew Gonterman, Peyton Anne Green, William Elijah Zee Hampton, *Adelyn Elizabeth Hankins, Angel Marie Harber, Nathan Daniel Hardy, Bowdy Allen Harrod, Miles Xavier Harte, Makayla Annie Hayes, Lindsey Nichole Heminger, Isaiah William Henry, Justine Ebony Heuser, *Anastasia Constance Hiatt, Robert Leroy Hicks, Kylie Grace Honaker, Jaydyn Michelle Nichole Horn, Ryan Michael Horsley, *Levon Thomas Howard, Lyssa Adair Hudson, Ryan Christopher Hunter, Tylin Reese Hunter, Blayden James Daniel Hurley, *Caitlin Meryl Erwin Hutchins, Amy Lynn Inskeep, •Alexis Jo Irick, Erin Elizabeth Jackson, •Morgan Leigh Jenkins, Aneisa Nyasia Lynae Johnson, Jorrell Antwain Johnson Jr., Ryan Joseph Johnson, *^Evan Michael Kauffman, Amira Grace Kaufman, Hope Elizabeth Kelly, Trinity Diane Kelly, Bailey Rose Kemper, Kailynn Jo Kenner, Timothy James Kerns Jr., Destani Ann Kiss, Destiny Michelle Kissling, *Abigail Anne Kite, Cameron Dean Kline, Madisen Kylee Kondracki, Leeah Nikol Kuhn, Austin Tyler Lamb, Aryana Rose Lane, Tyrese Teirmaine Leeper, Tiarra Denise Lewis, •Sarha Ryileah Loudermilk, Dakota Skye Mackey, Alex Colton Mahone, David James Manning, Ryann Nicholle Maples, Emily Danielle McCall, Meredith Paige McClain, Julian Kane Meeker, Madison Crystal Paige Melendrez, Elijah William Merrin, Ayla Nicole Meyer, Troy Andrew Meyer, *Gracie Elizabeth Middaugh, Candice Marie Miihlbach, *Brooke Katelyn Miranda, Reuben Michael Moon, Ethan Michael McClellan Moore, Ethan Mason Morales, Steven Stuart Moreno Hernandez, Tay’Sean Elijah Eugene Mundy, Marissa Dawn Murphy, *Riley Leanne Myers, Quinten Lee Neer, Tamaria Rayann Newell, Arianna Maria Nunez, Mathew Allen Nye, Alexus LeeAnn O’Brien, Devan Jade Oppy, *Benjamin Phillip Parsons, Sebastian Phi Phan, Nicholas Wesley Phelps, Payton James Plikerd, *Kayla Leanne Plummer, Brayden Riley Price, Jeannette Kathleen Price, Eden Aleen Radde, Mamie Susanne Randall, Xavier Malik Ratleff, Bryanna Marie Ravenscraft, Nolan Edward Rayles, Jacob Dillon Reynolds, Connor Blade Riley, Robert James Ritter, Dawson Willard Dean Roberts, Xavier Alexander Rollins-Grumbling, *Connor Ethan Rose, Jared Nicholas Salyer, Reyce Dalton Salyer, +Skyeleigh Aubryanna Scott, Benjamin Carter Seaford, Jazmin Grace Shire, Tad Mitchell Slayback, Andrew Richard Smith, Jenna Ruth Smith, Kameron Xzavier Smith Nolan Thomas Smith, Caydence Marie Stamford, Nicholas Aiden Stanton, *^Samantha Jo Starkey, *^Sarah Elizabeth Starkey, Austin Michael Stewart, *Madison Grace Taylor, Catana Reann Thomas, Hailee Marie Jo Tipton, Jesse Wayne Titus, Kaden Andrew Titus, ~Hunter Logan Michael Tolson, ~Emma Elizabeth Verbsky, Brooklyn Michael Verhoff, Kriss De Los Angeles Villasmil Linares, Rachel Lee Walker, *Meng Ting Wang, Hunter Maxwell Warner, Zane Hunter Warren, Kylee Evelynn Watts, Brenneke Canyon Wilcoxon, Robert Vernon Wildermuth, Caleb Matthew Williams, Nicholas Allen Williams, Jason Michael Willoughby, *Micah Paul Woolf, Lauren Ashley Yoder, Paige MacKenzie Ziegler.
*denotes National Honor Society
^denotes National Hispanic Honor Society
~denotes French National Honor Society
+denotes National Technical Honor Society
• denotes Ohio Hi Point Top 15 Seniors