The Bellmont High School auditorium was the site of an event that many anticipated for months. The eight-page scholarship application (with two required letters of recommendation and six-semester transcripts) was due mid-January, and seniors learned of their rewards three months later. With $100,000+ in Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF) and community awards presented, Coni Mayer, ACCF executive director, reported that there were 135 awards presented from 67 ACCF named funds presented to 57 Bellmont seniors.
It might be noted that most students were recognized with two awards while others were called forward more times. Why? Many factors are reviewed that may include or eliminate a candidate from a particular review committee. The eligibility requirements as determined by the donor(s) are often what makes a student more likely to be a recipient than another. Not limited to these professional careers, but healthcare, engineering, science, and education are often recognized majors, also a student’s middle school attendance (for example: St. Joe School), or the college they plan to attend. These and other details are frequently the ‘filter’ for their review committees. Certainly, the students’ thorough and neat completion of the application, their responses to the narratives, community service, school involvement, work ethic, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are all closely reviewed factors. We have experienced that typos and grammar problems are noted for tie-breakers.
One might be curious of the events leading up to the awards event. The ACCF manages over 140 scholarship funds. Deb Cook, ACCF Scholarship administrator, reports that when working with the scholarships just for Bellmont students, 40+ committees were assigned the task to review and report to her their recommendations. The ACCF Board of Directors has the final approval for these recommendations.
After corralling the individual committees, Deb Cook organizes the hundreds of individual certificate packets. Attached to each personalized certificate, the student finds information that describes how to activate the award, where to send the thank you note, and an article that describes the reason the scholarship fund was established. This takes an immense amount of time and organization. But the steps are not yet completed.
The high school program is next in these steps leading up to this event. The announcements are listed so students called forward have time to collect their certificate, thank the donor, get a PR picture taken, and return to their seat before being called forward again. Working closely with each guidance department is a key factor in making sure these events are succinct and orderly. The ACCF extends a sincere thank you to the NA staff, Sarah Omlor, Sean Faurote, Michelle Blackburn and Tory Fuelling for their infinite cooperation with the ACCF.
The first-time awards presented this year at North Adams were the Mandy J. Arnold Scholarship and Ebony Ann Fawcett Scholarship. :
Bellmont High School Class of 2023 Scholarship Awards
Total Local Scholarships: $100, 975
ACCF Lilly Finalist:
Katelyn Bieberich
Rachel Bleke
Adams County Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship:
Bryce Rickord
Adams Health Network Healthcare Scholarship
Trent Geimer
Madeline Wilder
American Legion Post #43 Scholarship:
Rachel Bleke
Emelia Faurote
Sydney Keane
Hope Wellman
Craig and Sue ANDERSON Scholarship:
Amira Brewer
Mandy J. ARNOLD Scholarship:
Makenzie Moran
Mike BAKER Memorial Scholarship:
Austin Christner
BARKLEY-PETTIBONE Memorial Scholarship:
Piper Baker
BIRD/WALTHER Scholarship:
Leyna Macke
John and Kay BOCH Memorial Scholarship:
Claire Nelson
Amanda Renninger
Mackenna Saalfrank
Odessy Schmidt
Trevor Smith
Autumn Thomas
Mia Vrablic
Haleigh Wesley
BRESSLER Family Scholarship:
Gage Bressler
Ellie Johnson
Alena E. BROCK Marketing Scholarship:
Vincent O’Neal
BRUNE Family Engineering Scholarship:
Ian Webb
Earl and Alta May CASTON Memorial Scholarship:
Piper Baker
Katelyn Bieberich
Taylor Braun
Lexi Eguia
Ellie Johnson
Henry Kukelhan
Kyle McBride
Benjamin Miller
Julius Miller
Karah Myers
Vincent O’Neal
Lauren Ross
Olivia Selking
Cameryn Stetler
CTJ Memorial Scholarship (Connor BRITE, Trevor ORTIZ, Jordan FUELLING):
McKenna Coffey
Sydnee Farmer
Donald Kitson
Jack DAILEY Memorial Scholarship:
Kyle McBride
Cameryn Stetler
Jim DANIELS Memorial Scholarship:
Emelia Faurote
Bryce Rickord
Decatur Optimist Club Scholarship:
Analise Wilkinson
Decatur Dental Services Scholarship:
Lexi Eguia
Decatur Wrestling Club Scholarship:
Austin Christner
Henry Kukelhan
Franklyn and Evelyn DETTER Memorial Scholarship:
Regan Knous
Fern DIERKES Memorial Nursing Scholarship:
Raven Shaw
Richard EITING Nursing Scholarship:
Lauren Ross
K. Robert EHRMAN Memorial Scholarship:
Lucy Lichtle
Ashten Miller
Analise Wilkinson
Adams County FARM BUREAU Scholarship:
Rachel Bleke
Ebony Ann FAWCETT Scholarship:
Christopher Davis
Hubert and Leona FEASEL Memorial Scholarship:
Ella Coyne
Decatur FIRE DEPARTMENT Scholarship:
Trent Geimer
Courtney Juengel
FLEMING-WILLIAMSON Family Scholarship:
Ellen Scott
Todd GERKE Memorial Scholarship:
Sydney Keane
Donald Kitson
James “Butch” GILBERT Scholarship:
Ashten Miller
Rick GIROD Memorial Scholarship:
Lucy Lichtle
Dixie HARVEY-ARVEN Memorial Scholarship:
Nicole Busse
Mary Jo HOFFMAN Memorial Scholarship:
Ella Coyne
Christopher Davis
Alexis Evans
Trent Geimer
Brian Gerke
Addie Kintz
Regan Knous
Meghan HORMANN Music Scholarship:
Leyna Macke
Mia Vrablic
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT Scholarship:
Ashlyn Walker
Ruth KOOS Memorial Scholasrship:
Rachel Bonifas
Amanda Renninger
Mackenna Saalfrank
Haleigh Wesley
Allana Ake
Ashlyn Walker
Loren and Mildred KRUETZMAN Scholarship:
Rachel Bleke
Raven Shaw
Ashley Vasil
LILLY Endowment Community Scholarship:
Macie Morehouse
Michael LOSE Memorial Scholarship:
Rachel Bleke
Ellen Scott
Kenneth & Geraldine MCCONNELL Memorial Scholarship:
Ashley Vasil
McDonald’s Ray A. Kroc Youth Achievement Award:
Sydnee Farmer
MESHBERGER Brothers/LICA Scholarship:
Lucy Lichtle
Bryce Rickord
MICHAUD Family Memorial Scholarship:
Rachel Bonifas
Alexis Evans
Makenzie Moran
Autumn Thomas
Bryan MILLER Memorial Scholarship:
McKenna Coffey
Roseanne MILLER Memorial Scholarship:
Isabelle Lengerich
R.D. and Mayme MYERS Memorial Scholarship:
Allana Ake
Daniel NIBLICK Memorial Scholarships
Niblick Achievement Scholarship:
Nicole Busse
Zebediah Friedt
Addie Kintz
Claire Nelson
Niblick Business Scholarship:
Taylor Braun
Niblick Community Service Scholarship:
Brian Gerke
Mary NILSEN Soccer Scholarship:
Sydney Keane
Nut Tree Scholarship:
Sydney Keane
Judge Myles and Beulah PARRISH Memorial Scholarship:
Gage Bressler
Psi Iota Xi Scholarship:
Olivia Selking
Don RAY Memorial Scholarship:
Trevor Smith
Sandy SAILSBERY Memorial Scholarship:
Piper Baker
Amira Brewer
Karah Myers
Medford and Shirley SMITH Scholarship:
Zebediah Friedt
Benjamin Miller
Fredrick and Harriet SOLDNER Memorial Scholarship:
Cameryn Stetler
Elizabeth “Liz” SOUDER Memorial Scholarship:
Zebediah Friedt
ACCES Dr. SPRINGER Scholarhsip:
Odessy Schmidt
Mark STEVENS Memorial Baseball Scholarship:
Julius Miller
Sarah STEURY Memorial Scholarship:
Isabelle Lengerich
David and Betty TERVEER Memorial Basketball Scholarship:
Sydney Keane
Donald Kitson
Tri Kappa Sorority Scholarship:
Katelyn Bieberich
Emelia Faurote
Ellen Scott
Dean & Cindy WASS Scholarship:
Henry Kukelhan
Catherine WEIDLER Memorial Scholarship:
Lucy Lichtle
Emily WILDER Memorial Scholarship:
Courtney Juengel
WORTHMAN Grant Scholarship:
Katelyn Bieberich
Austin Christner
Elle Johnson
Henry Kukelhan
Kelly ZESER Memorial Scholarship:
Ella Coyne
Helen (Schroll) ZWICK Memorial Scholarship:
Karah Myers
President’s Education Award
Criteria: 3.5 GPA and 85th percentile in Reading or Math on SAT or ACT
Bieberich, Katelyn
Bleke, Rachel
Bressler, Gage
Brewer, Amira
Davis, Christopher
Doctor, Henry
Macke, Leyna
McBride, Kyle
Miller, Julius
Morehouse, Macie
Short, Noah
Stetler, Cameryn
Wilder, Madeline
Athletic Awards
Phyllis Hebble Award (outstanding female athlete): Sydney Keane
Al Lindahl Award (outstanding male athlete): Eli Laurent
Athletic Blanket winners:
The Bellmont Athletic Department also recognized those athletes who have earned 8 or more varsity letters during their high school careers.
Rachel Bleke – 8 letters
- 2 Basketball / 3 Cross Country / 3 Softball
Sydney Keane – 12 letters
- 4 Basketball / 4 Soccer / 4 Track
Eli Laurent – 8 letters
- 3 Baseball / 1 Basketball / 4 Soccer
Karah Myers – 8 letters
- 4 Swim / 4 Track
Ellen Scott – 10 letters
- 3 Basketball / 3 Cross Country / 4 Track
Ashlyn Walker – 8 letters
- 4 Soccer / 4 Track
Haleigh Wesley – 8 letters
- 4 Soccer /4 Track