Today’s high school seniors have grown up in a technological age where they can access all kinds of information, social media, news, music, movies and more all at the palm on their hands on their smart phones and other electronic devices.
Considering the fast-paced way that their lives move, Ohio Northern University President Dr. Daniel DiBiasio addressed the Logan County high school seniors honorees Monday evening at the Bellefontaine Rotary Club’s 44th annual Honors Night, encouraging them to take the time to “think slow.” The 208 students recognized attained a 3.5 cumulative GPA during their high school careers.
The featured speaker related that 98 percent of teens own a cellular phone, and for individuals of all ages, our cell phones constantly clamoring for attention.
“We check our phones an average of nine times an hour and an average of 110 times a day,” Dr. Biasio said.
In the college setting, the ONU president said there is a need for students to “slow down” for deeper contemplation.
“A college professor will have you sift through enormous amounts of reading materials on a daily basis,” he said. “They want you to examine information skeptically and to determine whether to accept or reject the information — to think critically.
“While ‘think slow’ might never become a popular slogan, I encourage you to slow down and to take the time to soak in information and conversations.”
In closing, he encouraged students that they can become “who they want to be” if they take themselves up on the challenge.
“You deserve nothing less,” he said.
To conclude the event, Bellefontaine Rotary Club member Chad Ross announced organization’s 2019-20 $1,000 scholarship winners as follows: Mason Hammer from Benjamin Logan, Rachel Taylor from Riverside, Cheyenne Gluckle and Eli McGill from West Liberty-Salem, Hannah Rader from Bellefontaine, Ethan Fulkerson from Indian Lake and Ellie Young from Calvary Christian.
He said since the Rotary Club’s scholarship program began in 1963, a total of $213,500 has been awarded to area students to further their education.
While many of the high school seniors are counting down the days until graduation, Ross also urged them to slow down a little.
“Make sure you take the time to stop and smell the roses. Time is a precious commodity, and you’ll never get to experience these high school days again. While you’re looking forward to the future, there’s a lot left in these upcoming days to experience.”