BELLEFONTAINE- The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center honored 242 high school seniors during the annual convocation ceremonies Wednesday evening.

The ceremony, which celebrates students who completed the career-technical programs from OHP’s 14 partner school districts, was held at the Bellefontaine campus just below Campbell Hill.

“Dream big,” remarked Superintendent Jeff Price, “write down your goals, verbalize your action plan, have a dedication to that dream, and whatever you aspire to be will come to pass.”

The ceremony was led by OHP’s students of the month. Audrey Foster (Animal Management) from Mechanicsburg High School, and Michael White (Electronics Engineering) from Kenton High School conducted the ceremony with the introduction of guests.

The student speakers for convocation were David (DJ) Patterson (Health Technology) from West Liberty-Salem High School; Jo’Dawn Parisse (Culinary Arts) from Graham High School; and Colton Low (Electronics Engineering) from Bellefontaine High School.

Low addressed the crowd in his speech saying, “We have all the skills and opportunities to make a difference in this world. With hard work and the application of the knowledge we’ve gained at Hi-Point, we will be successful.”

Superintendent Jeff Price; Shelly Swaney, high school director; and Lynda Arehart and Lynne Hall, guidance counselors, also spoke during the ceremony. Lou Vito, president of WPKO/WBLL in Bellefontaine, announced the names of each student to receive senior certificates from career-technical instructors.

Audrey Foster, an Animal Management student from Mechanicsburg High School, received the Best of Class Award, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.

The night held numerous inspiring moments, but none as powerful as a standing ovation for the graduating students who will be entering the military.

(To few a full gallery of convocation photos visit our Facebook page)

Over $167,000 in scholarships was awarded to members of the class of 2013. The following seniors received scholarships:

• Audrey Foster (Mechanicsburg), Animal Management, received the Ohio State University Provost and Scarlet and Gray Scholarships in the amount of $16,000
• Audrey Foster (Mechanicsburg), Animal Management, received the 2013 Dr. Earl S. Sloan scholarship in the amount of $4,000
• Rebecca Crum (Benjamin Logan), Culinary Arts, received the Sullivan University Merit and FCCLA Scholarship in the amount of $14,000
• Ashton Waggamon (Benjamin Logan), Printing and Graphics, received the Columbus College of Arts and Designs Dean’s Scholarship in the amount of $10,000
• Andrew Jones (Home schooled), Architectural and Mechanical Design received the Urbana University Honors and Academic Scholarships in the amount of $21,000
• Kaylin Trout (Indian Lake), Culinary Arts, received the Urbana University Honors and Academic Scholarships in the amount of $9,000
• Cortney Hill (Upper Scioto Valley), Printing and Graphics, received the Art Institute of Pittsburg Merit Award Scholarship in the amount of $9,000
• Hillary Rader (Bellefontaine), Professional Turf and Landscaping, received the Ohio State University/ATI and Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarships in the amount of $6,650
• Kheloni Rylander (Urbana), Auto Collision, received the Universal Technical Institute Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $6,000
• Michael Schurter (Home schooled), Diesel Technology, received the University of Northwestern Ohio SkillsUSA Scholarship and Lincoln Technical College Scholarship in the amount of $5,000
• Seth Powell (Marysville), Auto Technology; received the University of Northwestern Ohio Tech Prep Scholarship in the amount of $2,000
• Charles Carpenter (Indian Lake), Information Technology, received the University of Northwestern Ohio Tech Prep Scholarship in the amount of $2,000
• Austin Tussing (Marysville), Diesel Technology received the University of Northwestern Ohio Tech Prep Scholarship in the amount of $500
• Michael White (Kenton), Electronics Engineering, received the Rhodes State Outstanding Tech Prep Scholarship in the amount of $3,000
• Bryanna Messner (Graham), Health Technology; Grant Cole (Kenton), Carpentry; Cody Dicus (Kenton), Masonry; Whitney Gossard (Waynefield-Goshen), Health Technology; Amber Hites (Benjamin Logan), Health Technology; Deirdra Kaeck (Riverside), Health Technology; Timothy Ranes (Indian Lake), Health Technology; Ashley Skaggs (Marysville), Early Childhood Education; Christopher Woodard (Bellefontaine), Electronics Engineering received Rhodes State College Tech Prep Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each
• Charles Gerritsen (Benjamin Logan), Culinary Arts; Dustin Kane (Benajamin Logan), Culinary Arts; Katelyn Finch (Bellefontaine), Culinary Arts; and Kiana Price (Waynesfield-Goshen), Culinary Arts, received Sinclair Tech Prep Scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each
• Miranda Roberts (Benjamin Logan), Health Technology; Kristine Faulkner (Graham), Health Technology; and Jesse Phelps (Urbana), Information Technology received Clark State George Mueller Tech Prep Scholarships in the amount of $2,400 each
• Grant Cole (Keton), Carpentry; Amanda Ray (Kenton), Animal Management; Stephanie Sorgen (Kenton), Auto Collision; and Cortney Hill (Upper Scioto Valley), Printing and Graphics, received the R.E. Allen Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each
• Stephanie Sorgen (Kenton), Auto Collision, received the Ohio Technical College Scholarship in the amount of $2,500
• Damon Devine (Indian Lake), Information Technology; and Cortney Hill (Upper Scioto Valley), Printing and Graphics, received the Imagine America Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each
• Bryanna Messner (Graham), Health Technology; and Meghan Wackerman (Benjamin Logan), Health Technology, received the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Board of Education scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each
• Kaylin Trout (Indian Lake), Culinary Arts; and Kaitlyn Salyers (Triad), Early Childhood Education, received the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each
• Kimberly Collinsworth (Graham), Health Technology, received the Louis G. Crowe Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $750
• Grant Cole (Kenton), Carpentry; and Jennifer Metz (Indian Lake), Early Childhood Education, received the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Alumni and Friends Scholarships in the amount of $500 each
•  Kyla Colwell (Triad), Health Technology; and Cortney Hill (Upper Scioto Valley) Printing and Graphics, received the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Student Ambassadors scholarship in the amount of $500
• Kimberly Collinsworth (Graham), Health Technology, received the Red Cross Drive to Serve Scholarship in the amount of $500
• Grant Cole (Kenton), Carpentry, received the Miami Valley Building Trades Scholarship in the amount of $500
• Michael White (Kenton), Electronics Engineering, received the 664^th AC&W Squadron Scholarship in the amount of $500