Wednesday, April 25, 2007

AMF Straight A Luncheon Awards

Walker, Battle ’07 winners

By Ed Letsinger

Eighteen tri-state students who all have displayed academic excellence, athletic achievement, strong ambition, a winning attitude, community involvement and overcame adversity attended the annual Anthony Munoz Foundation Straight “A” Luncheon at Jeff Ruby’s downtown yesterday.

Walking away as the female and male winners were Christina Walker of Withrow University High School and Kyle Battle of Sycamore High School.

Walker has been awarded seven varsity letters through her participation on the volleyball, cross country, and both indoor and outdoor track and field teams.  As a freshman she played varsity volleyball and during her sophomore year cross country team and was named first team all-league.  She stays involved in the community through her activity in the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative Mentoring Program and church choir.  A member of the National Honor Society, she currently has a 3.5 GPA.  After graduating she plans on majoring in Psychology and eventually wants to work in the child psychology field.  She will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall.

Battle is actively involved in the community and in his high school.  He has been a class president for three years and is currently the student body president. He has been an honor roll student for four years, a member of the Global Language Honor Society and a National Achievement Scholar. Battle has received seven varsity letters in football, track & field and basketball and was co-captain for his football and basketball teams.  He has a 3.5 GPA and will attend Dartmouth College.

Finalists

Jasmine Barnes, Woodward HS
Jasmine is currently a high honor senior and holds a 3.8 GPA. She plays basketball and softball and has earned two varsity letters. Jasmine stays involved at school where she is the Jobs for Cincinnati President. She also led the school’s Make a Difference Day project, in which students collected toiletries and donated them to the Mary Magdalene House. Her continuous advocacy for the Campaign 4 Youth program has taken her around the community to gain support for the program. Jasmine was selected as 1 of 12 students to be a part of the Mayor Youth Advisory Council where she discussed issues important to teens with the Mayor. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and major in Criminal Justice.

Mary Boeddeker, McAuley HS
Mary has been a Varsity swimmer for four years and was a sectional and district qualifier, along with being the team’s captain. She has also been on the Varsity golf team for three years where she is also the captain. She’s received numerous golf awards, including 1 st team all-city and 5 th place representing Ohio at the Down Under International games. Along with her athletic accomplishments she has won numerous art awards and stays active in her community and school. Mary has volunteered at St. Vivian’s School to tutor young people and is involved with the Key Club, Leadership Council, and Student Council at her school. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati next fall where she plans to study Fashion Design in the DAAP program.

Jonathan Bender, Villa Madonna
Jonathan is a member of the Christian Outreach program, Villa students against destructive decisions and was co-chair for Villa’s World Hunger Banquet. Jonathan has served in the student council for the past three years and has been a class president. He was a Kentucky State Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Finalist, A member of the National Honor Society and was a 2005-2006 National Society of High School Scholars Who’s who of American students. He has three varsity letters in swimming and diving and is also a world class Trampoline athlete. Jonathan was named a 2006 and 2007 NISCA all American in diving and has competed against the best in the world in the trampoline. Jonathan is ranked first in his class with a 4.14 GPA. Jonathan is still undecided about college but has many offers and will decide within the month. 

Darci Butler, Lakota East HS
Darci is an active member in the National Honor Society and maintains a 3.8 GPA. She has been on high honor roll throughout high school and took the National Latin Exam in which she was awarded Maxima Cum Laude. For the past nine years she has played recreational soccer and has become active in her community and church. Darci has participated in her church choir and RASKALS, where she does outdoor chores for seniors in the community. She has also volunteered at vacation Bible school and the local elementary school. Darci is a dedicated, hard worker and plans to attend Bowling Green State University in the fall.

Andrew Clark, Winton Woods HS
Andrew is a young man with Cerebral Palsy that is confined to a wheelchair, but he does not let this disease slow him down. Although Andrew has not been able to hit the floor with his team he exemplifies the true meaning of an athlete by following his dreams in sports to the fullest and not letting his disease control his ambitions. He has been a member of the basketball team for four years as a manger and statistician. He was selected as channel 9’s student of the week in November of 2006. He is also one of twenty five students to be selected in the DECA/Sports marketing class. Andrew has four varsity letters in basketball and was named to the FAVC all conference academic team in 2005 and 2006. Andrew has maintained a 4.0 GPA in his past two years of high school and will be attending Wright State University.

Amanda Buttelwerth, Gallatin County HS
Amanda has played sports throughout high school and has received varsity letters in softball, basketball, volleyball, and cross-country. While playing sports she has maintained a 3.88 GPA and is the top 10% of her class. Amanda stays active in her community and church. She has recently been on two mission trips, one to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina in which she helped with the clean up efforts. Amanda has helped with basketball camps for inner-city children and participated in the Adopt-A-Highway Program. She plans to attend Georgetown College in the fall and major in Pre-Med.

Kevin Flynn, LaSalle HS
Kevin is ranked in the top 3% of his class and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Kevin has accumulated over 375 hours of community service. Kevin has taken part in a mission trip to Honduras and in 2006 helped organized the 30 hour famine between Lasalle, Mercy and Roger Bacon High School. He has also been involved in National Honor Society, Student Government, Key Club and SADD. Kevin is extremely involved at little flower church where he helps run and organize their annual festival. He has five varsity letters in swimming and track & field and also competes in cross country. He has achieved many awards in swimming such as co-captain, two time state meet qualifier, three year district qualifier and two time all GCL. Kevin has many college offers and is still undecided.

Julia Lundrigan, Clark Montessori HS
Julia is ranked first in her class and has a 4.0 GPA. She has received the Director’s Merit Award from Cornell University’s summer college program, along with the Athletic Director’s Award, given to students who maintain a high GPA while participating in school sports. Julia is a member of her school’s swim team, academic team, and fencing team. She is the senior captain for the swim team and committed a great deal to the annual MS Society Walk and Bike Tour. Julia stays involved in the community through her volunteer work, which includes volunteering at the Cincinnati Zoo pre-school camps and coaching Mercy Montessori’s pre-school through 3 rd grade swim team. She plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in the fall.

Grant Johnson, Bellbrook HS
Grant has competed in football for eight years. This is an amazing feet since he only has one lung due to Sawyer James Syndrome and has asthma. He has not let his let this stop him from playing football and working hard to be JV captain and was awarded the JV coaches award in 2005 and has earned two varsity letters during his Junior and Senior years. He was also awarded the Eagle Heart award for showing courage and never giving up through adversity. He has also earned many academic awards for football. Grant has volunteered at the Miami Valley Hospital for the past six years. He is also involved in the yearbook committee and films sporting events for his high school. Grant has been involved with his community and school since junior high and is an inspiration to all. Grant has a 3.7 GPA and will be attending Miami University of Ohio.  

Lauren McCartney, Talawanda HS
Lauren has been on the honor roll for four years and currently has a 3.898 GPA. She is a candidate to graduate with Highest Honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, and just received 2 nd place in the Oxford Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest. Lauren is an active member in her high school’s soccer and swim teams. She has been awarded four varsity letters and League All Academic for two years. Along with her athletics, Lauren is involved in the High Five Club, Future Farmers of America, and French Club. She also spends her spare time volunteering and helping with numerous events. In the fall she plans to attend Central Michigan University and major in Psychology.

Jacob Ober, Walnut Hills HS
Jacob has competed in tennis for three years and will be attempting to earn his first varsity letter in tennis this spring. He has competed in tennis as part of the JV team for three years. Jacob’s biggest achievements in sports are helping is Brother Steve who has a development disability, compete in sports at the Special Olympics. Jacob had played on unified teams in the Special Olympics, where Special Olympians and “typical” athletes compete and play together. His unified soccer team played in the Ohio Special Olympics last summer. Jacob has a 4.13 GPA and is considering UC, Michigan and Indiana.

Sarah McGrath, Sycamore HS
Sarah is a four year varsity starter on her school’s volleyball team. She has been captain of the team for two years and is the All-Time Sycamore High School student leader for Digs and Kills. She has been on the high honor roll every quarter since freshman year and has a 3.9 GPA. At school, Sarah participates in Student Council as class secretary and a member of the Executive Board. Sarah began “Volleyball for a Cure, Pack the Stands with Pink,” the first student-sponsored event of its kind in the area. The event raised more than $4,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and impressed the Ohio High School Athletic Association so much that they plan on making it statewide event. She plans to attend the Ohio State University in the fall. 

Torian Pauley, Cincinnati Christian HS
Torian has been a member of the National Honor Society and Junior Honor Society. He competes in football, basketball and track & field and has earned 5 varsity letters. He was a member of his school inaugural football team. Troian has been named first team MVC all conference 2006-2007, second team MVC all conference 2005-2006 and Cincinnati Enquirer Honorable mention in football. He is also involved in his community, faith and School. Torian has been on several mission trips to Chicago, New Orleans and St. Louis. He has volunteered at the command grounds mission group and assisted in the cleanup process for the TV show extreme home makeover for families of Cincinnati Christian alum that were killed in Iraq. He has also been named to homecoming court three times and was voted Senior Class Survivor. Troian 3.4 GPA and will be attending Ohio Northern University.

Ciara Murphy, Clinton-Massie HS
Ciara has earned three varsity letters as a member of her school’s tennis team. She is a member of the honor roll at her school and has received an Outstanding Student nomination, along with student of the month awards. Ciara is an active member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Clinton Massie yearbook staff, and the newspaper staff. She enjoys writing and has been recognized in numerous poetry and essay contests. She currently holds a 3.125 GPA. Ciara wants to become a dental hygienist and plans on attending Youngstown State University.

Austin Rankin, Blanchester HS
Austin has been a three year starter and was wildcat team captain this year in football. He has been a member of two teams track & field and football that won two conference championships. During this year of football Austin was named to all the all state team, all district, all league and all city teams. He was also the Anthony Munoz Foundation offensive lineman of the year, Vince Lombardi down lineman of the year, that’s my boy honoree and a McDonald’s Mcscholar athlete. Austin is in the top twenty five of his class with a 3.48 GPA and has been a member of the National Honor Society. Austin is involved with his church where he is an assistant band director and guitar player. He is also a member of the fellowship of Christian athletes. He is attending the College of Mount St. Joseph in the fall.

William Scott, Newport Central Catholic
William has been a member of the Cross Country team and tennis team where he has earned five varsity letters. William was a team captain his junior year and will be captain again this year. William is also a member of the quick recall team, the robotics team and mock trial. William is a member of the National honor society and a governor scholar. He earned the John D Praff Memorial Scholarship given to a one the top ranked seniors at Newport Central Catholic. He has also taken part in a mission trip to Belize and also takes part in the fine arts programs at school. William is ranked second in his class with a 5.7 weighted GPA. He will attend the University of Dayton.