Three Granville High School graduates were among five Licking County high school seniors sharing in $9,000 worth of scholarships presented by the Rotary Club of Granville on May 18.
An annual event, the scholarships presented to GHS graduates are the Carl A. Frazier and Mike Gregory awards. In addition, two scholarships are given to students at the Career and Technology Education Center.
“This is by far the best Rotary meeting we have all year,” said Amanda Schneider, Granville Rotary’s Youth Services Chair, who presented the honors along with Steve Thaxton, chair of the club’s Granville Rotary Foundation.
The scholarships are funded by the foundation, which raises dollars from four major annual events: Taste of Granville, the Fourth of July Firecracker Five footrace, the Granville Chili Cook-off and the club’s annual rose sale.
Owen Costa is the winner of the $3,000 Frazier scholarship, named for a man known as “Mr. Granville,” who is credited with service to the community as a banker, mayor, Rotarian and cofounder of the Granville Community Foundation among many other roles. The scholarship is given to one outstanding member of the GHS graduating class who has shown exceptional service to the school and community.
Schneider said Costa is recognized for contributing “countless hours to the Student Advisory Council as a thoughtful and effective voice for his peers.
“He has advocated for meaningful changes to support student well-being, including initiatives related to homework, testing and stress reduction,” Schneider said, while working with faculty to strengthen relationships across the school community.
What’s more, Costa volunteers time in both the band and theatre departments, willing to be of service wherever needed. “He is a respected role model who communicates effectively with students, staff and district leaders, embodying the spirit of service this scholarship seeks to honor,” Schneider said.
Sydney Lauffer and Grady Johnson of GHS were each winners of a $1,500 Mike Gregory Scholarship, Schneider announced, given to one boy and one girl who excel both in the classroom and community, and as athletes. Mike Gregory, a Denison University graduate, was a charter member of the Granville Rotary Club in 1949 and was highly regarded in his profession by serving as president of the National Hardware Association in addition to being a community leader. A standout athlete at Denison, he operated the Gregory Hardware store in the three-story brick building that once stood where CVS Pharmacy is located today.
Schneider said Lauffer distinguished herself through academic dedication and a strong moral compass.
“But her leadership also shines brightly in athletics,” she said. “As a member of the girls’ soccer team and a committed athlete on the swim team, Sydney consistently modeled what it means to be a great teammate. She is known for uplifting others, setting a standard of discipline and pursuing competitive excellence with humility and determination.”
Schneider also pointed to Lauffer’s ability to balance rigorous coursework with demanding athletic schedules, reflecting resilience and time management skills, adding, “Whether in the classroom, the pool or on the field, Sydney leads by example, steady and focused, and always striving to bring out the best in those around her.”
Johnson was recognized for academic strength, a service-minded approach and a “remarkable impact as a multi-sport athlete,” Schneider said. He competed in soccer, basketball and track, demonstrating versatility, discipline and a relentless commitment to improvement, Schneider said.
“Grady’s teammates and coaches describe him as someone who leads through action, being hardworking, encouraging and consistently dependable,” Schneider said.
Winners of $1,500 C-TEC scholarships are Carter Mason of Heath High School and Brody Driskel of Newark High School.
Mason, throughout his high school career, volunteered at numerous community fundraisers where he not only assisted with food preparation but also served meals directly to individuals and families. He has also contributed to the beautification and upkeep of local spaces by participating in landscaping and mulching projects for community parks in Newark.
“Carter’s service extends to monitoring and supporting younger students as well,” Thaxton said. “Most notably, he has dedicated many volunteer hours to firehouses throughout Licking County. This experience not only reinforces his passion for public service but also highlights his initiative in preparing for a career as a Firefighter/EMT,” the program in which he was enrolled at C-TEC.
Mason has maintained a 4.2 GPA while enrolled in all honors courses and played football and basketball throughout high school, excelling in both, Thaxton said.
Driskel, in the Electric Trades Program at C-TEC, volunteered with Newark Biddy League Baseball, assisted with middle school baseball tryouts, and prepared and delivered meals to a local shelter for the homeless. He participated in Newark neighborhood cleanups and mulching projects around Newark High School. He was involved with community events such as parking cars at Swappers Day, organized and delivered Christmas dinners for elderly residents and contributed to the Newark City Park cleanup on Earth Day.
“Brody is also an accomplished athlete whose dedication and teamwork have been evident throughout his involvement in baseball,” Thaxton said, noting that he maintained a 3.6 GPA and received National Career Tech Honors with Diploma distinction.
Information submitted by the Rotary Club of Granville.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Five Licking County students earn Granville Rotary scholarships
Reporting by Special to Granville Sentinel, USA TODAY NETWORK / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Special to Granville Sentinel, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
