Memorial scholarships go to community's best

The 2017 WYHS Senior Awards Ceremony took place on the last day of school in what continues to be a celebrated annual tradition highlighting the best of the best in this year’s senior class.

Many awards and scholarships are given out during the ceremony but three awards in particular have a very special meaning in this community.

The Larry J. Gilmore Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Larry Gilmore, a graduate of WYHS in 1966. Gilmore served on Whitehall City Council for 14 years, a member of the Civil Service Commission, WBBA officer/coach, and was a WCCA official. Gilmore was also once Whitehall’s Citizen of the Year.

Criteria for eligible seniors included a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA and plans to attend an Ohio post-secondary college or university. The selected senior will embody strength and humility through adversity and demonstrate the qualities of being a good citizen at school and in the community.

This year’s recipients of the Larry J. Gilmore Scholarship are Tia Sanders and Kimberly Rubio.

James A. “Herk” Soteriades was a big supporter of the WYHS Department of Theatre. A pillar of the community, Soteriades was also a firefighter and longtime Chief of the Whitehall Fire Department. His love for the community of Whitehall was immense and his generosity knew no bounds.

The James A. “Herk” Soteriades Memorial Scholarship is intended for students pursuing further studies in either the area of safety services or the performing arts. One senior from both categories are selected to receive $1,000 to continue their education beyond high school.

The two seniors that were awarded this scholarship are Gloria Rubin and Martha Bennett.

The Michael Ferguson Memorial Scholarship was established by past students to honor his life and work for WYHS. “Fergy” as he is more affectionately known, was a graduate of WYHS and was the school’s athletic director from 2002 to 2015. During his time at athletic director, he was recognized by the Central Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association for numerous awards in addition to serving in several leadership roles in those organizations.

Criteria for eligible seniors included a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA, participated as a student-athlete for at least 1 sports season during senior year in good standing, and plans to attend an Ohio post-secondary college or university.
This year’s recipients of the Michael Ferguson Memorial Scholarship are Natnael Dessa and Tia Sanders.

Congratulations, seniors! (Ahem)…we mean graduates!