Southern High School Principal Mr. Daniel Otto extended a warm welcome to the crowd. He then introduced Student Council President Alexis Smith, who led those in attendance with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Otto then asked seniors graduating with honors to stand and be recognized. Those students graduating with honors were Tyreese Little, Brayden Otto, James Powell, Chloe Rizer, Ava Roush, Kamry Roush, Kimber Sands, Tristyn Sellers, Alexis Smith, Christina Smith, and Lauren Smith.
The Honorarian of the graduating class were also recognized. Seniors ranked in the academic top ten for the Class of 2024 were Kamry Roush, Jace Hill, Tyreese Little, Dana Card, Kaiden Michael, Lauren Smith, Ava Roush, Alexis Smith, Salutatorian Chloe Rizer, and Valedictorian Brayden Otto.
The principal then moved on to Southern Local Awards. Senior Michelle Adkins was honored with an AG key, while Senior Isiah Barton was presented with the Social Studies Key. Additionally, Ty Little was given the Spanish Key and OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award. The Class of 2024’s Valedictorian, Brayden Otto, was awarded the Citizenship Key, Activities Key, Science Key, Math Key, English Key, Larry R. Morrison Male Athlete of the Year, WSAZ Best of the Class, and OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award.
The Band Key was then given to Jimmy Powell and a Work Study Key was presented to Gage Riffle. Senior Ava Roush was graced with the honor of the National Federation of State High School Associations Award of Excellence.
Alexis Smith was awarded the Citizenship Key and OHSAA Courageous Student Award. Lauren Smith walked away with the Larry R. Morrison Female Athlete of the Year and OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award. Josiah Smith secured the National Federation of State High School Associations Award of Excellence.
Seniors were all smiles when the Agriculture/FFA awards were presented by Mr. Otto. The 2024 Agribusiness and Productions Systems Certifications went to Michelle Adkins and Caleb Jones. Michelle Adkins, Caleb Jones, and Katie Rowe were recognized for their achievements in the 4+ Ag Courses. The distinguished honor of Outstanding FFA Senior was awarded to Katie Rowe. Michelle Adkins snagged the Travis Adams Achievement Award.
Seniors honored with the American Red Cross Donation Achievement Award were Jordan Gilbride, Donavan Rose, and Andrew Burgess.
A 4H Cord presentation was given by Carolyn Kesterson, Ginnee Lee, & Rachel Kesterson. They honored seniors Chloe Rizer, Dana Card, and Mathew Jackson.
Ms. Beth Lanning, SHS Career Coach, was awarded the OHSAA State Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity.
The Class of 2024 was then awarded several thousands of dollars in scholarships. They included:
-Chase Roush Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)- Jaelyn Norville
-In Memory of Chase Roush Scholarship ($2,400 for 2 years)- Ava Roush.
-Jordan Hardwick Memorial Female Athlete Scholarship ($500)- Lauren Smith
- Jordan Hardwick Memorial Female Athlete Scholarship ($200 each)- Chloe Rizer, Kamry Roush, Lexi Smith, and Ava Roush.
- In Memory of Shirley Yvonne Beegle Scholarship ($2,900 each)- Lila Cooper, Reesa Dozci, Gracie Hill, Ty Little, Brayden Otto, Chloe Rizer, Ava Roush, Kamry Roush, Kimber Sands, Tristyn Sellers, Alexis Smith, Josiah Smith, Lauren Smith, and Ryan Volk.
-Miss Suzanne Scholarship ($300)- Gracie Hill
-Todd Grindstaff Memorial Scholarship ($300) Brayden Otto $300
-Cruisin’ Saturday Night Car Show Scholarships ($1,000 each)- Brayden Otto, Ava Roush, Alexis Smith, and Lauren Smith.
Up next was the marathon of RACO Scholarships. Brayden Otto, Ava Roush, Alexis Smith, Chloe Rizer, Lauren Smith, James Powell, Ty Little, Kamry Roush, Gracie Hill, and Lila Cooper were each awarded $1,000.
Alexis Smith was then awarded the Jim Adams Memorial Scholarship and the Clarence and Ruth Bradford Memorial Scholarship, which were both $1,000.
The Racine Enginuity Scholarship went to James Powell, which was worth $500, and The Vinas Lee Educational Scholarship was awarded to Kamry Roush for $1,000. The Jean Alkire Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ava Roush, for $500.
The Plus 1 Scholarship Sponsored by Rodney and Jean Littlefield was awarded to Ty Little for $600. The Carl B. Weese Memorial Scholarships were given to Lauren Smith and Ty Little, each receiving $750. The Kathryn Hart Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Chloe Rizer and Brayden Otto. They each received $500.
Frank & Delores Cleland Memorial Scholarship went to Tristyn Sellers and Alexis Smith, for $750 each. Alexis Smith was awarded $500 after securing the Roy & Alice Adkins Educational Scholarship.
Senior Lila Cooper brought home the Rosco Mills Jr Memorial Scholarship, for $500. The Multi-Purpose Medical Scholarship was given to Brayden Otto, for $500. The Southern Class of 1973 Scholarship went to Tristyn Sellers, for $735. The Spencer Carpenter Memorial Scholarship was awarded to James Powell, for $1,000.
The Rio Grande Community College Jake Bapst Scholarship went to Dana Card, which is worth up to $9,900. The Rio Grande Thrive Scholarship went to Emilee Barber, which is worth up to $21,000. The URG/RGCC Alberta Koehler Scholarship also went to Emilee Barber, which is worth up to $1,250.
Additionally, the URG/RGCC Bernard V. Fultz Scholarship was awarded to Michelle Adkins, which is worth up to $1,000. The URG/RGCC Delma L Roush Scholarship was given to Christina Smith, for $2,000.
The Ohio River Producers Scholarship was given to seniors, Michele Adkins ($1500) and Caleb Jones ($1,000). Racine Party in the Park Queens’ Scholarship was awarded to Alexis Smith for $500.
The Daughters of American Revolution Scholarship went to Brayden Otto ($50). He also earned the Eastern Local Education Association Scholarship for $500 and the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio Scholarship for $1,500. Brayden and Alexis Smith were awarded the Braylyn Strong Childhood Awareness Scholarship, for $1000 each.
Wiseman Real Estate Scholarships were awarded to Ava Roush and Chloe Rizer for $1000 each.
Mr. Otto then passed out even more scholarships including:
-American Red Cross Blood Services High School Scholarship ($500)- Brayden Otto
-Mick Winebrenner Memorial Scholarship ($500)- Lauren Smith
-Ronald “Ron” Hill Memorial Scholarships- Brayden Otto ($1,400) and Alexis Smith ($300).
-Roma Sayre Memorial Scholarships ($500 Each)- Kassidy Chaney, Lauren Smith, Lila Cooper, and Gracie Hill.
-Kyger Creek Scholarship, which is given to the student with the highest ACT score ($350)- Brayden Otto.
Racine-Southern Scholarship Association also presented the following scholarships ($500 each): Helen Coast Hayes Memorial Scholarships, Jaelyn Norville and Brayden Otto; Wayne Roush Memorial Scholarship, Tristyn Sellers; George M. Sayre Memorial Scholarships, Alexis Smith; Dave Diles Memorial Scholarship, Lauren Smith; Maude Sellers Scholarship, Josiah Smith; Edith Jividen Memorial Scholarships, Ty Little, Gracie Hill, and Abigaile Weaver; Hilton “Big Fooze” Wolfe, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Chloe Rizer; Marilyn Wolfe Memorial Scholarship. Kamry Roush; and the Alumni Scholarship, Ava Roush.
Principal Otto also recognized seniors who were awarded scholarships/Awards that seniors turned in. They were:
Emily Barber- Volleyball
URG Women’s Volleyball team -$2,000
Dana Card- Archery
URG Continued Commitment Program Scholarship $1,000
Lila Cooper- Volleyball
Alice Lloyd $500
Jacoby Hall- Track Rio
American Legion Post 140 of New Haven Scholarship- $500
Gracie Hill
Ohio Admissions Promise Award- $2000 Annual
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $4,000 Annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472 annual
The Creed Janes Scholarship- $2,000
Ty Little
OHIO Admissions Promise Award- $2,000
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $4,500
OHIO Forward Scholarship- $1,500
President’s Opportunity Promise Award- $200 annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472
Kaiden Michael- Baseball
Capital University Main Street Scholarship- $26,000
Capital University Comet Community Award- $1500
Jaelyn Norville
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472
Brayden Otto
Holzer Science Award- $500
Governors Merit Scholarship- up to $5,000 a year
Franklin B Walters Award- $500
The Land Grant Scholarship- $32,042 per year
Chloe Rizer
Governors Merit Scholarship- up to $5000 a year
From OSU, The Lucile and Roland Kennedy Scholarship Fund in Human Ecology- $2,000
Ava Roush
Ohio Admissions Promise Award- $2,000 annual
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $5,500 annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472 annual
Kamry Roush:
Ohio Admissions Promise Award- $2,000 annual
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $4,500 annual
OHIO Forward Scholarship- $500 annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472 annual
Katie Rowe:
Occupational Certificate from Hocking College in Advanced Welding
Kimber Sands
URG Continued Commitment Program Scholarship $1,000
Alexis Smith
Ohio Admissions Promise Award- $2,000 annual
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $6,000 annual
President’s Opportunity Promise Award- $200 annual
OHIO Forward Scholarship- $2,000 annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472 annual
Ohio College Opportunity- $4,000 annual
Christina Smith
URG Continued Commitment Program Scholarship $1,000
Josiah Smith- Football
Wittenberg University Merit Scholarship $25,000
Lauren Smith
Ohio Admissions Promise Award- $2,000 annual
OHIO Excellence Scholarship- $5,500 annual
President’s Opportunity Promise Award- $4,478 annual
OHIO Forward Scholarship- $2,000 annual
Dill Arnold Cutler- $472 annual
Southern Local expresses sincere gratitude to everyone who supported SHS seniors through awards and scholarships. We extend our deepest appreciation to all the guest speakers who attended the event to share their loved one's stories.
Southern’s graduation is Sunday, May 19 at 7:30 pm. Doors open to the public at 6:45 pm.