Latest news with #LakesideHighSchool
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lakeside seniors bid farewell
HARPERSFIELD — Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the Lakeside High School Class of 2025 as they graduated Thursday evening at SPIRE Academy. Alongside students were their families, school staff and district administration. Lakeside's graduation has generally been at the high school, but it was moved to SPIRE this year, after the high school's roof collapsed during the Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm. Valedictorian Aryanna Toth said there were many who helped her along the way to success. 'I would not be standing up here today if it were not for the individuals who believed in me even when I could not find it to believe in myself,' she said. 'The connections that I have made throughout these years are not fleeting.' Toth circled back to the nontraditional experience of the class of 2025. 'If I could use one word to describe it, it would probably be unusual,' she said. 'We began our freshman year coming out of the pandemic, and ended our senior year in the elementary school. I can't say this is how I expected the past four years to go, but I can say this experience has allowed us to go.' Toth learned from her experience in high school it is okay to ask people for help, she said. 'The way to truly appreciate the support that has been given to us is to actively use it, to integrate it into our future,' she said. Toth said the connections students have made will follow them for the rest of their lives. 'It is beyond important to allow yourself to rely on the support of others,' she said. 'I am not sure what will happen in the coming years, even the next two months, but what I am confident in is the connections I have built, and will continue to build moving forward.' Salutatorian Alexandra Shevchik said it was an honor to speak to her classmates. 'I have been stressing about what to say in this speech for a long time, because I feel like the people who give these speeches always have some super important life advice to give to the graduates,' she said. Shevchik had one piece of specific piece of advice to her classmates. 'Don't listen to advice,' she said. 'I know it may sound dumb to say that, but how can anyone but you know what you are going through or how you feeling at any given moment in your life.' Shevchik said everyone has to figure things out for themselves. 'Of course, if you need help along the way, there will be family, friends and teachers to give you some guidance or whatever else you may need,' she said. 'The most important thing is that you have the courage and determination to try and find an answer for yourself.' Shevchik thanked the family and friends who supported her, especially her grandfather, who she said instilled a love for learning in her, and whose birthday aligned with graduation. 'I am so glad I get to share this special day with you,' she said. Class of 2025 President Ana Wheelock said it was an honor to stand in front of her classmates. 'Our senior year took a turn that none of us saw coming,' she said. 'We found ourselves back at Huron Elementary, a place that once felt so huge when we were little, and now, just felt a little too small to us.' Wheelock and the other class of 2025 officers presented a stone emblem engraved with the Lakeside logo. 'This emblem will be built into the ground at the site of our new school [as] a symbol of our legacy and a foundation for our future generations,' Wheelock said. Lakeside High School Principal Doug Wetherholt said he could not be more proud of the class of 2025. 'I see more than just caps and gowns,' he said. 'I see stories, some filled with achievement, others shaped by struggles, but all bound together by perseverance.' Wetherholt said the class of 2025 endured more in its four years in high school than many people endure in a lifetime. 'I want to tell you a truth, something honest, and a little bit uncomfortable,' he said. 'The world owes you nothing, not a job, not a break, not even respect. I say that not to discourage you, but to empower you.' Wetherholt said each senior has proven they are strong enough to go out and get what they want. 'There are countless opportunities waiting for you,' he said. 'If you want success, earn it.' District Superintendent Lisa Newsome said the class of 2025 lifted themselves up and did not let the roof collapse stop them. 'You didn't just survive this year,' she said 'You grew. We showed resilience, and maybe, most importantly, this class proved that storms don't stop us, they shape us.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flags placed at veterans graves in Edgewood Cemetery
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — More than 40 high school football players from Edgewood and Lakeside high schools got up early to place American flags at the graves of veterans. The Ashtabula American Legion coordinated the event, and numerous veterans assisted in the operation that began just after 9 a.m. Sunday. A veteran led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the athletes quickly found veterans' graves and added the flags. The week prior to Memorial Day is usually very busy in area cemeteries, as families fix up graves of relatives, and cemetery workers mow lawns from Conneaut to Orwell and Geneva to Andover. Veterans also explained the sacrifice soldiers had made in the wars fought by area veterans over the country's history, including several that participated in the Revolutionary War.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lakeside students throw color at fellow students, to fight cancer
ASHTABULA — A large cloud of colored powder rose in the air Thursday afternoon following the Lakeside High School Colors of Cancer event, which took place at the elementary school campus. More than 175 students ran or walked a loop of the property while other students threw colored powder at them. The event is in its tenth year, and raises about $2,000 a year to fight cancer through the UH Conneaut Seidman Cancer Center. The event was started by Lakeside High School teacher Lisa Raffa 11 years ago, in honor of her father, who died of cancer. The event also honors the students' friends and family who have battled or are battling the disease. Students from all the elementary schools gathered along the loop to cheer on the high school students for the first time.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kent State Ashtabula graduates spring class
ASHTABULA — Amanda Good shared an amazing story of resiliency detailing her life through recovery to Kent State Ashtabula graduation Thursday evening during commencement exercises in the school's gymnasium. Good, a 2008 graduate of Lakeside High School, represented the class and shared how chemical dependency delayed college for her on several occasions, but also put her on a road to help others. 'I am in remission for multiple substance abuse disorders,' she said. She said she is proud to be a part of the first class of Kent State Ashtabula students to earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree, and plans to continue to work as a licensed chemical dependency counselor and social work assistant in addition to her roles as mother, aunt, sister and daughter. 'Who you were, who you are and who you will become are three different people,' she said. Gina Carlucci, of Conneaut, was busy taking selfies during the procession but was ready for the big night. '[I am] nervous but excited to be here with my friends,' she said. Jason Tirotta, manager of strategic communications and marketing for KSU regional campuses, said the planning for a graduation usually begins right after the last one is complete. He said there were about 100 graduates this spring, with 62 walking across the stage. He said 62 was the largest number of students participating in graduation since the coronavirus pandemic. Tirotta said the management staff does a great job of coordinating all the people participating and making sure everyone knows where to be. Kent State University Ashtabula Dean and Chief Administrative Officer R. William Ayers IV greeted students and their families. He thanked families for all the sacrifices they made to help students to the culmination of this phase of their education. He also thanked the students for all of their input into the lives of others while at the Kent campus as they juggled work and family obligations. Ayers also thanked Andrew Luoma, a long-time member of the school's IT department, for his work. Heather Tulino was honored with the Community Service Award for her creation of a non-profit organization entitled Adam's Angels, which assists the homeless. She was unable to attend because she was also receiving a lifetime achievement award for her work at the Cleveland Clinic. Staci Hall was honored with the Roger T. Beitler Distinguished Former Student award. Hall worked for the past 10 years in the charitable food network in a variety of ways. She said she hopes students use all they learn as they go out into their future endeavors.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
17th annual Ryan Clark Scholarship and Community Service Award Banquet held at Lakeside High School
EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – The 17th annual Ryan Clark Scholarship and Community Service Award Banquet was held Wednesday night at Lakeside High School. The scholarship was founded in 2010 to honor Ryan Clark who was killed in the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. Clark was raised in Augusta and graduated from Lakeside High School in 2002. Ryan's mom, Letitie Clark, says Ryan was passionate about giving back to his community and it's inspiring to see students have the same passion so many years later. 'It's a joy that we can give back to our community no matter what the reason, we can always help someone, and he would be thrilled to know that his legacy is continuing to help.' said Clark. Savannah Finley won the award in 2015 and is now a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She graduated from Lakeside High School and told me she was honored to be the guest speaker at the banquet. 'Ryan Clark's legacy just really instilled something in me, and it kept me motivated all these years later and I just want to carry forward that legacy.' Finley said. The recipients of the award this year made history being an all-girls recipient list. There were four scholarships given out and McKenzie Hill, Senior at The Academy of Richmond County, won the highest scholarship award of $2,000. She says she is still choosing which college to attend but is honored to have been given this award. 'It means quite a lot, to Mrs. Clark, just being able to honor her son and his legacy and to give back to the community and know that I have done my part thus far to give back to my community and exemplify some of what Ryan has done for our community and other, so, it means a lot.' said Hill. The hope is for Ryan's legacy to be remembered through community service many years later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
