U.S. Army veteran and 2004 Benjamin Logan High School graduate Dan Deardorff made a confession to the nearly 200 Logan County high school seniors gathered Monday evening at the Bellefontaine Rotary Club’s 45th annual Honors Night.
“I didn’t achieve this same honor,” he said, noting that each of the students in attendance at the Bellefontaine High School auditorium had earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above during their high school careers.
“I was more focused on sports and friends in high school and relied on my natural abilities to pull me through. I did the homework, but I didn’t go above and beyond with my schoolwork.
“I applaud each of you for the hard work and dedication you’ve put forth during high school. I found that same type of dedication after graduation, in the military and going through college.”
Deardorff said a friend in high school also influenced him to share a light for Christ, which has changed his outlook on life since then. During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2006 as a radar crew member, he said he found time to grow in his faith and delve into God’s Word.
“I had more time to grow closer to God and open up my Bible,” he said. “I’d encourage anyone who is looking for direction in their life to open God’s Word.”
The East Liberty native said his Heavenly Father helped him to discern his next steps after his deployment. Through the GI Bill, he enrolled at DeVry University and then at Ohio Northern University to to complete his manufacturing engineering degree.
“I knew I was in my element once I found the major that was right for me,” he said. “I was able to attain a 4.0 GPA and really pushed myself to work hard, gaining that bedrock of knowledge.”
After college graduation, he first was employed as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation in Oregon, where he also met his wife, Suzanne. More recently, he and his family, including the couple’s two young children, moved back to Ohio, and he is currently employed as a manufacturing engineer manager at Navistar in Springfield.
During his engineering career and in college, the BLHS graduate said he has found serving his community through Habitat For Humanity, including traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, and volunteering at a correctional institute most rewarding experiences.
As the students prepare for their graduation later this spring and their next steps after high school, the featured speaker encouraged them with three take-away points.
“Seek a higher power in life. I seek Jesus fervently,” he said. “Seek to serve your community — no matter how busy life gets.
“And remember that smarts and natural talent will never replace hard work. Put the time in and realize when you’re not getting the chances you deserve — speak up for yourself.”
After the 195 high school seniors were honored by their respective district officials, the Bellefontaine Rotary Club announced the seven $1,000 scholarship winners for the Class of 2022: Chase Davidson, Riverside High School; Taylor Forsythe, Benjamin Logan High School; Shania Fruchey, Indian Lake High School; Micah Hermiller, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center; Lincoln Howell and Beau Salyer, Bellefontaine High School; and Naomi McGill, West Liberty-Salem High School.
Rotary Club representatives Angel Payne and Tammy Gump noted that the scholarship program was started by the service organization in 1964, and since then, a total of $265,000 in local scholarships have been awarded to area students.
Students recognized Monday evening include:
Bellefontaine — Azlynn Vaneese Bechtel, James Enoch Bowsher, Morgan Alexa Burden, Gage Douglas Crouch, Malcom Justin Dean DeSouza,Vivian Jane Eader, Elizabeth Nicole Foreman, Sarah Ann Fulmer, Liam Charles Harris, Emma Jane Heath, Camren Anthony Hinkle, Lincoln Michael Howell, Milah Shyann Hunt, Miriam Elizabeth Irick, Pierce Ryley Quinn Jahnigen, Harleigh Marie Jenkins, Cadence Elizabeth Latimer, Chloe Nicole Lloyd, Grant Robert Lotts, Elizabeth Kay Marcum, Mia Olivia McDonald, Emma Lenore Middaugh, Laney Hadley Mitchell, David Jerald Moody, Elizabeth Nicole Moody, Samuel Cole Moreland, Palmer Nathan Neeld, Amelia Leigh Neer, Caitlyn Marie Neill, William Michael Patterson, Kathryn Blair Pool, Kyeler Shay Rhoades, Dainela Ishell Salcedo Hernandez, Brielle Madison Shultz, Beau Alexander Salyer, Carmen Renee Shumaker, Courtney Anne Sims, Connor Alexander Skidmore, Mackenzie Marie Southard, Ellise Danae St Clair, Aylvia Eve Steggeman, Gabriella Michelle Stolly, Lily Elizabeth Turner, Tayteum Ellie Kathleen Vigansky, Ethan Patrick Yoder, Makayla Ryann Young.
Benjamin Logan — Lindsay Riannon Achor, Grady Dean Algire, Rhyan Mckenzey Brewer, Kaycee Jean Cook, Kerryann Marie Copenhaver, Caleb Christian Epp, Taylor Malane Forsythe, Isabella Mariah Hope Gonzales, Charlotte Hua Feng Graham, Avery DeAnne Green, Olivia Anne Hahn, Rachel Anne Hammer, Isabelle Grace Heater, Maria Paige Henderson, Kayla Rose Horney, Andrew Robert Hughes, Taylor Madison Lafferty, Averi Michelle Lane, Junette Marie Ly, Lily Marie Makin, Ryan Thomas McCormick, Austin Gregory McGowan, Samantha Alexandria Meeker, Hannah Renay Miller, Jacob Douglas Mitchell, Jennifer Kathleen Naragon, Kelvin Januarto Ong, Zane Isaac Reynolds, Maven Elizabeth Rhoades, Madison Brooke Ridge, Jordan Renae Sexstone, Brice Peyton Shump, Arika Kilynn Stevens, Makenna Rae Straker, Danielle Nicole Widmark, Gretchen Elizabeth Wilber.
Calvary Christian — Kensey Renee Durnell, Grace Marie King, Annabelle Rhea Pack, Emma Rose Patton, Iasaac David Reinhard, Autumn Michelle Sellars, Ross Christian Sellars, Erin Lee Young.
Indian Lake — Colin Wade Burba, Dylan Jacob Carter, Kendall Grace Cotterman, Allison Nicole Culp, Ethan Joseph Elbert, Logan Lee Evans, Brayden Phillip Flesher, Payton Leigh Frost, Shania Marie Fruchey, Trenton Andrew Fulkerson, Cheyenne Grace Hill, Nathan Andrew Huffman, Kaleb Owen Hurley, Luke Andrew Jackson, Paige Michelle Kindle-Wyne, Easton Blake Klauer, Ethan Kyle Knief, Chelsea Marie Lariva, Lane Andrew McPherson, KaLynn Nicole Miller, Paige Elizebeth Monroe, Callie DeLynn Notestine, Benjamin Kramer Oldiges, Dylan Michael Pippin, Macie Noel Robinson, Conner Ryan Romanowski, Ella Louise Cook Shoffstall, Emma Selene Sickles-Sposa, Ethan David Snapp, Lindsey Kathryn Spofford, Hailey Sue Talbot, Reid Braxton Vance, Kelsi Sue Ullom, Rachel Wahl, Allexxie Nichole West, Ian James Wischmeyer, Lukas Earl Wisener, Caleb Alan Wurster, Beau Allen Young and Claire Meadow Young.
Ohio Hi-Point Career Center — James Bennett (Indian Lake), Victoria Blanks (Indian Lake), Makenzie Christina Buchenroth (Ben Logan), Toby Jason Evans (Ben Logan), Wyatt Furer (Ridgemont), Kelsey Gammon (Waynesfield-Goshen), Micah Hermiller (Kenton), Alexander Wayne Hubbard (Ben Logan), Serra Joseph (Indian Lake), Dalton Longwell (Indian Lake), Jaren Matthew Schneider (Riverside), Samantha Smith (Waynesfield-Goshen), Kaylee Jo Williams (Riverside) and Lillian Emma Brelyn Williamson (WLS).
Riverside — Zachary Shaun Armbruster, Grace Deborah Brownlee, Allison Abigail Buchenroth, Chase Adam Davidson, Rozlynn Nicole Estep, Owen James Holycross, Malaina Madora Jenkins, Riley Brooke Leeper, Trinity Faith Notestine, Brody, Sheldon Rhoads, Madelyn Rose Sanford, Kirstin Amber Schlumbohm, Mia Renee Stallard, Sasha Breann Stotler, Justin Kyle Thompson, Jenna Kay Woods and Rayce Addison Yelton.
West Liberty-Salem — Megan Victoria Adams, Kylie Michele Burgel, Macie Nicole Campbell, Madison Danielle Casto, Avery Hollister Davis, Amanda Rose Domachowski, Ayden Carl Estep, Brady David Forsythe, Alison Bailey Gault, Kierra Joann Gilroy, Jamie Alane Gluckle, Natalie Leatha Hacker, Elliott James Hager, Kathryn Olivia Hissong, Emily Kathleen Hollar, Owen Gregory Johnson, Bella Viola Kauffman, Jocelynn “Josie” Dakota Kennaw, Lauren Kristine Kindle, Adam Christopher LaRoche, Brandon Michael LaRoche, Dylan Thomas Lauck, Audrey Kaitlyn McGill, Naomi Ann McGill, William Christopher Motzko, Isaac Allen Reames, Logan Aleczander Saylor, Gavin Gene Schoenleben, Dani Marie Smith, Hallie Faith Smith, Micah Renae Stoner, Mandilyn Raine Weaver, Aubrey Jordan Williams and Gabrielle Megan Williams.