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A Celebration of Excellence: The Vals and Sals of 2015
Special to The Truth
Once again Toledo Public
Schools celebrated its highest achieving scholars – the
valedictorians and salutatorians of the Class of 2015 with a
gala banquet at the Toledo Club on April 29. Each of the
eight TPS high schools was represented by a pair of
outstanding students:
Bowsher Valedictorian Michelle Klingsberg
During her academic
career, Michelle is proudest of having served as the
treasurer of the National Honor Society, winning the Paul
Miles Award and earning a I rating for vocal solos in the
OMEA Solo E Ensemble.
Michelle is a member of
Bowsher’s famous Rebelaires, as well as the concert and
honors choir. She also played JV and varsity volleyball and
was a member of the spring musical cast.
She found it very humbling when she served food at a soup
kitchen with her youth-to-youth group.
Michelle plans to attend
the University of Toledo and major in chemistry.
Bowsher Salutatorian Jacob Stewart
Jacob is proudest of
having received a Ray Kest Memorial Scholarship, of earning
a President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic
Excellence and for being nominated to be a National Youth
Delegate.
During his career at
Bowsher, he received the Student Award for Anatomy and
Physiology and served as a member of both the Student
Council and the Physics Club.
Jacob does volunteer work at Camp Miakonda and his most
memorable service project was working on a trail service
crew at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He says,
“It was redeeming, tough work in the beautiful Sangre de
Crosta Range of the Rocky Mountains that paid for itself
with the experience.”
Jacob plans to attend
either the University of Michigan or the University of
Toledo to study Health Sciences.
Rogers Valedictorian Taylor Adolphi
Taylor’s pick for his top
high school honors are being named BCSN Student of the Month
for December, playing in the Jazz Band and being a member of
the Drama Club and the National Honor Society.
The most memorable service project was when he volunteered
last year for the TPS Special Olympics. Taylor says, “It was
meaningful to me to see the community’s support for persons
with disabilities.”
Eastern Michigan
University is Taylor’s next stop, where he plans to double
major in creative writing and psychology.
Rogers Salutatorian Layla Vehue
Kay is president of the
National Honor Society, a recipient of the Coaches Award and
a Student of the Week in the Toledo Blade.
The three activities Kay
is most involved in are the National Honor Society, the
Girls’ Tennis Team and school dances. She works at Subway in
her spare time.
Kay’s most memorable service project was raising money and
then buying Christmas presents that were donated to homeless
shelters. “It was a great experience because we gave them a
second chance at Christmas.”
Her educational goals
include getting a master’s degree in social work at Bowling
Green State University.
Scott Valedictorian Jazmyliena Martin
She lists her top three
high school honors as serving as vice president of her class
this year and earning the Academic Excellence TRIO and Most
Conscientious in Math awards.
The activities Jazmyliena
is most involved in at Scott are playing trumpet in the
marching band, the Teen Outreach Program, serving in the
Student Body Government and being a member of Young Women of
Excellence.
Her most memorable community service project was
volunteering at Tent City “because I was able to give to
those in need. Tent City gave me a sense of self awareness
and made me want to help out more by opening a shelter in
the future.”
At the time Jazmyliena
filled out her form, she said her college choice was
undecided but she wants to major in mechanical engineering.
Scott Salutatorian Zaynab Alfaham
She is most proud of
winning the Foreign Language Week Award, participating in
the Art Showcase and winning the Sylvania Southview
Scholarship Award.
Activities Zaynab are most
involved in are the Mystery Music Step Team, Young Women of
Excellence (YWOE) and the Asian Cultures Club.
Her most memorable service project was working as a
volunteer with the Toledo Lucas County Democratic Party,
which gave her a new outlook on the people of Toledo as she
talked to them on the phone and met them on the campaign
trail. She says, “Seeing the people of Toledo giving their
opinions on local issues opened my mind and gave me
inspiration to continue conversations with citizens and look
more into the political aspect of the city.”
Zaynab works at Mary Ella
Homes and reported that her college choice had not yet been
made. She does know she wants to major in political science
and minor in linguistics. Her long-term goal is to continue
learning languages and to eventually get an MBA.
Start Valedictorian Derek Corey-Goodman
Derek is most proud of
being a member of the National Honor Society, vice president
of Mu Alpha Theta and secretary of the Latin Club.
His activities were all
sports related. He played four years of football, was a
two-year captain of the wrestling team and ran track and
field as a freshman.
Derek says his most important service project was giving a
hot Easter meal to those who were in need. He says, “This
was meaningful as it wasn’t only giving back to the
community, but also paying it forward to the next
generation. The small children who received food say that
there are good people who do good acts. Hopefully, in giving
food, we were able to make a positive influence on the
youth.”
Derek, who works at Little
Caesars Pizza, plans on attending The Ohio State University
and major in mechanical engineering.
Start Salutatorian Jack Smolenski
Jack was the drum major in
the school’s marching band, is President of the Drama Club
and won the German Speaking Award from the National German
American Society.
His top three activities
are Band, Drama Club and National Honor Society
Jack says his most meaningful service project was at the
Toledo Symphony Family Concert when he played frog sounds on
a bassoon for children to teach them about different animals
through the use of music.
The next stop for Jack is
Bowling Green State University, where he plans to major in
Music Education.
Toledo Early College High School Valedictorian Tala
Abou-Dahech
Tala cites being president
of the Class of 2015, graduating high school with 60 college
credits and being named to the University of Toledo’s
President’s List as her top three high school honors.
In addition to her Student
Council work, Tala’s activities include serving as president
of the Arab group for the International Festival and
tutoring fellow students.
She writes of her most memorable service project, “I was
involved in a Young Women for Change Club where we discussed
issues in our society, many about women, and how we can go
about bettering them. We helped many girls in the group
undergoing personal struggles feel better and improve.”
With 60 credits already,
it’s no surprise that Tala says she plans to attend the
University of Toledo and study Speech Language Pathology.
Toledo Early College High School Salutatorian Ngoc Mai
She is most proud of
receiving a $5,000 Old Newsboys Scholarship, making The
University of Toledo Dean’s and Presidents’ Recognition
lists and winning The Dr. Eugene Saunders and Dr. Daniel
Johnson Award recognizing the Highest Level of Scholarship
and Activities for 2015.
Ngoc is a member of the
TECHS Quiz Bowl Team, tutors underclassmen (mostly in math)
and has been a singer and an actor in school shows.
The most memorable service project she was involved in was
volunteering to help the UT Chapter of the American Chemical
Society set up science stations and demonstrate to younger
kids’ mini science experiments at the Imagination Station.
“I greatly enjoyed educating kids and adults alike how
science occurs,” she reports.
The plan next year is to
attend the University of Toledo’s College of Engineering and
major in Chemical/Environmental Engineering.
Toledo Technology Academy Valedictorain Kaylee Loofbourrow
Kaylee says her top three
high school honors have been attending the
2014 Marathon Classic to accept an award and give a speech
on behalf of Junior Achievement; being elected vice
president of the National Honor Society and being chosen to
compete at Skills USA.
Her top activities are
serving as a senior representative on Student Council,
Youth-to-Youth and being part of the Yearbook Committee.
Kaylee, who works at the
Kent Branch Library, said her most memorable service project
involves the branch where she has volunteered since the 7th
grade. “I love to read and was able to share that love by
helping with the Summer Reading Club. One of the best
moments was helping and seeing kids sign-up that I had
helped the year before,” she says.
Kaylee will be majoring in
Communication (specifically Journalism) at the University of
Toledo.
TTA Salutatorian Rosa Celestino
She is a member of the
National Honor Society and the Director’s List and was a
Skills USA participant.
Her activities include
serving as a Student Council representative and being a
member of both Youth-to-Youth and the Year Book staff.
Rosa cited a number of
service projects she’s been involved in, including working
church festivals, tutoring younger students and assisting
the elderly with household chores, but she said her most
memorable project was one she did for TTA.
“We boxed up holiday baskets for needy families. I knew the
families were in need of help and they were extremely
grateful for the baskets,” she remembers.
Rosa, who works at Los
Amigos Restaurant, plans to attend Cleveland State
University to study mechanical engineering.
Waite Valedictorian Hannah Hartford
Hannah is proudest of
winning the Jefferson Award for Service, receiving a
scholarship from the Old Newsboys and having perfect
attendance for all four years.
She has played the alto
saxophone for four years in the marching and jazz bands,
worked on school dances and programs as a Student Government
Officer and has worked on floats and helped to run the
senior class.
Hannah’s most meaningful
service project was during last summer’s water crisis.
“We passed out water packages to people in need at my home
high school. It brought the community together and it was so
much fun,” she remembers.
Next stop is the
University of Toledo, where Hannah plans to major in Public
Relations and Business.
Waite Salutatorian Jerrica Slawski
Jerrica says, “I am proud
of being Waite High School’s October Student of the Month,
being president of MU Alpha Theta and for being one of the
few students to be selected to be a member of the National
Honor Society.”
Her school activities
include Teen Pep, softball and the National Honor Society.
Jerrica’s memorable
service project was delivering holiday baskets to families
in need. “It was great to be able to see the appreciation
they had for them,” she writes.
Jerrica, who works at
McDonald’s, is heading to The Ohio State University. She
says she’s undecided on her major right now but is leaning
towards something in the medical field.
Woodward Valedictorian Maya Olive
Maya is proudest of being
a member of the National Honor Society and earning awards at
the Academic Banquet every year of her high school career.
She is involved in Young Women of Excellence and the Girl
Scouts and her most memorable service project was when she
hosted a Girl Scouts event at Woodward called ‘Free to be
Me.’ The purpose of the event was to promote healthy
self-esteem and Maya worked with the elementary school girls
of the community.
Maya, who works at
McDonalds, plans to attend Owens Community College for two
years and then transfer to the University of Toledo to major
in social work.
Woodward Salutatorian Shyanne Crawford
Shyanne is proudest of
being a member of the National Honor Society, winning
Sophomore Princess and receiving an Old Newsboys
Scholarship.
She is a member of Young
Women of Excellence and played volleyball and softball.
Shyanne’s most important service project was when, “as a
member of YWOE, we held a Seed Swap at Woodward High and I
was a proud volunteer.”
An employee of McDonalds,
Shyanne plans to attend Eastern Michigan University and
major in accounting.
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