Submitted photo Recognized at United’s honors banquet: (front) Kylie Youst, Kaylee Shinn, April Clark, Allison Zepernick, Giuseppe Sabatino, Nicholas Rhodes, (second row) Wade McCoy, Hunter Ferry, Daniel Frase, Paige Eichler, Katie Conner, Frankie Heffinger, Alyssa Inman, Austen Keshock, Anthony Phillips, (third row) Matthew Courtney, Cassandra Aldish, Olivia Rieck, Jacey Menough, Casey Donaldson, (back) Megan Drake, Cailen Brown, Taylor Hippely, Loren Swords, Laurel Stewart, Landon Baker, Jacob Pytash, Jacob Scott King, Anthony DiBaggio, Rhys Ward and Samantha May.

HANOVERTON — The 46th annual Honors Banquet was held at United High School May. The featured speaker was Ben Sell MIDN, USN, a 2015 graduate of United High. After high school he joined the military and studied naval meteorology at the Oceanographic School at Keesler Air Force Base and went on to become an optimum ship routing officer for the Fleet Weather Center in Norfolk, Virginia. He continues to move through the ranks in the United States Navy.

Lance Hostetler, Superintendent, presented the top ten students for the Class of 2019.

The valedictorians are Samantha May and Allison Zepernick; the salutatorian is Kylie Youst.

Others of the top 10 in order are Jacob Scott King, Wade McCoy, Jacey Menough, Olivia Miller, Anthony DiBaggio, Guiseppe Sabatino and Nicholas Rhodes.

Dr. William Young, High School Principal, introduced members of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. Senior members are Cassandra Aldish, Alexander Birtalan, Rachel Bowen, April Clark, Matthew Courtney, Megan Drake, Hunter Ferry, Daniel Frase, Alyssa Inman, Jacob Scott King, Heather Lake, Samantha May, Wade McCoy, Jacey Menough, Olivia Miller, Nathan Pytash, Olivia Rieck, Kaylie Shinn, Daniel Smith, Loren Swords, Morgan Todd, Rhys Ward, Kylie Youst and Allison Zepernick. Junior members are Alexis Blake, Tyler Blake, Garrett Coffee, Logan Cooper, Abigail Crawford, Emilyann Dustman, Nichole Galbreath, Brant Hahlen, Gavin Hildreth, Lauren Hippely, Olivia Hippely, Kristen Hoy, Zachary Jewell, Tyler Lippiatt, Lydia Martin, Ethan McDevitt, Alyssandra Moore, Tamra Moore, Raider Morgan, Katlyn Phillips, Callie Pittman, Lauren Randall, Jenna Reiter, Audrey Rummel, Marissa Scott, Morgan Urmson, Breann Warner, Hallie Wasik, and Tessa Young.

Samantha Muniz then presented students who had earned inclusion on the 3.5 Distinguished Honor Roll during 2 of the first 3 grading periods of the year.

Scholarships, for seniors planning to further their education, are a major feature of the program. Samantha Muniz started the evening off by presenting two United Little Eagles Scholarships for $500 to Austen Keshock and Kaylie Shinn. Austen is the son of Dan and Angie Keshock of Lisbon and plans to study government at Kent State. Kaylie is the daughter of Jennifer Shinn of Salem and Jason Shinn. She will study biology at The Ohio State University in Mansfield.

Muniz then presented the Paul Gipp Memorial Scholarship to Megan Drake. Megan is the daughter of Todd and Darlynne Drake of Salem and will study agriculture education at The Ohio State University – ATI.

Robert McCulloch of the Pearce Foundation presented their scholarship for $5,000, renewable for one year, to Megan Drake.

Susan Hawk presented a West Township Ruritan scholarship for $300 to Kathryn Connor. Kathryn is the daughter of Curt and Heather Conner of East Rochester and will study art at the University of Akron.

Danielle Matos presented two $1,000 scholarships in memory of her brother, Robert Garrett, to Anthony DiBaggio and Rhys Ward. Anthony is the son of Edward and Janet DiBaggio of Salem and he will study business at The Ohio State University in Mansfield. Rhys is the daughter of Mike and Denise Ward of Salem and plans to study veterinary technology at Columbus State Community College.

The Roy and Jean Watson Memorial Scholarship for $250 was presented by their daughter, Sue Antram, to Samantha May. Samantha is the daughter of Dewey and Beverly May of Salem and will attend the University of Mount Union to study nursing.

Vinson Ward presented the Sandy Valley Masonic Lodge scholarships of $500 to Hunter Ferry and Laurel Stewart. Hunter is the son of Joanne Ferry and Rick Ferry. He will attend the New Castle School of Trades to study automotive technology. Laurel is the daughter of Robin Stewart of Hanoverton and Terry Stewart. She will attend Kent State University-Salem to study early childhood education.

Ms. Gina Unger of the Columbiana County Business and Professional Women’s Club presented a $1,000 Scholarship to Rhys Ward.

Nome Baker presented 5 Band Booster Book Scholarships of $100 to April Clark, Casey Donaldson, Jacob Scott King, Rhys Ward and Kylie Youst. April is the daughter of Thomas and Jennifer Clark of Kensington and will attend Kent State – Salem and major in early childhood education. Casey is the daughter of Rob and Dawn Donaldson of Salem and will study animation at Columbus College of Art and Design. Jacob is the son of Ruth Ann King of Minerva and the late Brian King. He will attend Carnegie Mellon University to study computer science. Kylie is the daughter of Sarah Muirhead of Salem and Jason Youst. She will study to become a park ranger at Kent State University.

In the absence of Keith Martig, Muniz presented the Darren Fisher Memorial Scholarship to Daniel Frase. Daniel is the son of Curtis and Bobbi Frase of Kensington. He will study exercise science at Malone University.

She also announced a scholarship from the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation. Megan Drake received a $10,000 Scholarship.

Sarah Jones of the United Youth Soccer Association presented three $500 scholarships to Jacey Menough, Anthony Phillips and Allison Zepernick. Jacey is the daughter of Dan and Carey Ann Menough of Salem. She will study to be an ultrasound technician at Kent State University. Anthony is the son of John and Kathy Phillips of Hanoverton and will study at Theil College to become a certified public accountant. Allison is the daughter of John and Melissa Zepernick of Kensington and will study accounting at Youngstown State University.

Tom Young and Ron Rinto presented the United Community Scholarship Foundation Academic awards. $1,500 was presented to Samantha May. Allison Zepernick received a Bryan Taylor scholarship of $2,000. $1,000 awards were presented to Kylie Youst, Jacob Scott King, Nicholas Rhodes, Anthony DiBaggio, Nathan Pytash, Alyssa Inman, and Kaylie Shinn. Nicholas is the son of Jason and Denise Rhodes of Salem and will study sports management at Ohio University. Nathan is the son of Ron and Jamie Pytash of Salem and will attend Bowling Green State University to study business administration. Alyssa is the daughter of Tara Schonauer of Minerva and will attend The Ohio State University in Mansfield to study exercise science. Two Fine and Performing Arts scholarship were awarded to Casey Donaldson and Olivia Rieck. Olivia is the daughter of Anthony and Amy Rieck and will attend Kent State University to study theater set design. Hunter Ferry then received the Gibson Memorial Vocational Scholarship of $1,000. There were also two $1,000 scholarships donated by Coastal Pets awarded to Megan Drake and Rhys Ward. Their presentation continued with awarding $500 ‘We Believe in You’ Scholarships to Matthew Courtney, Jacob King, Daniel Frase, Cassandra Aldish, Wade McCoy and Laurel Stewart and $250 awards to April Clark, Paige Eichler, Frankie Heffinger and Loren Swords. Matthew Courtney is the son of Kevin and Nikki Courtney of Hanoverton and will attend Ohio University to study business management. Cassandra is the daughter of Samantha Aldish of Lisbon and will study business management at Kent State University-Salem. Wade is the son of Wade and Jewelene McCoy of Hanoverton and will study geology at Bowling Green State University. Paige is the daughter of Gary and Cassandra Eichler of Salem and will study at Kent State University – Salem. Frankie is the daughter of Jeff and Connie Heffinger and will study American Sign Language at Kent State University – Salem. Loren is the daughter of James and Jennifer Swords of Lisbon. She will attend the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to study emergency services administration. Finally, Mr Ron Rinto presented two $1,000 Conrad Rinto Memorial Scholarships, in memory of his late father, to Nathan Pytash and Matthew Courtney.

President of the United FFA Chapter, Olivia Hippely, presented the FFA Scholarship of $300 to Megan Drake.

Brett Baker of the United Young Farmers then presented a $400 scholarship also to Megan Drake.

Four United PTO Scholarships of $500 each were presented by Ms. Julie Anderson and Alison Thompson to Hunter Ferry, Jacob Scott King, Rhys Ward and Allison Zepernick.

Tom and Sue Drotleff presented two $250 Drotleff-Ward STEM Scholarships to Daniel Frase and Jacey Menough. These scholarships can be renewed for three more years.

Two Alice Clewell Memorial Scholarships of $500 were presented by Judy Gamble and Julee Kelly to Matthew Courtney and Rhys Ward.

Rhys Ward and Loren Swords presented five $1,000 Scholarships in memory of Rhys’ brother, Gavin, to Matthew Courtney, Megan Drake, Taylor Hippely, Anthony Phillips and Allison Zepernick. Taylor is the daughter of Betsy Drake of Salem and Barry Hippely. She will attend The Ohio State University – ATI to study early childhood education.

Muniz then presented the United Eagle Awards, given by an anonymous donor. Three $1,000 awards were given to April Clark, Wade McCoy and Jacey Menough and six $500 awards were given to Cassandra Aldish, Anthony DiBaggio, Alyssa Inman, Austen Keshock, Laurel Stewart and Kylie Youst.

Continuing on, Muniz presented two $1,000 Scholarships from the Columbiana County School Employees Credit Union to Daniel Frase and Giuseppe Sabatino. Giuseppe is the son of Jon and Kim Sabatino and will attend Kent State University – Salem to study engineering.

She then presented the United Athletic Booster Scholarships to Landon Baker and Loren Swords Landon is the son of Randall and Ruth Baker of Salem and will attend Stark State College of Technology to become an electrician.

The United Key Club scholarship of $300 was presented to Cassandra Aldish.

Muniz then presented the United Education Association Scholarships, restricted to students going into education, to April Clark and Laurel Stewart. These scholarships are renewable for three more years. Two unrestricted scholarships were also presented to Wade McCoy and Rhys Ward.

Whiteleather, who usually takes care of all the following scholarships was unable to be present this year so Muniz presented them.

The first one is the United Ruriteen Club Scholarships: Muniz presented a ‘Build Your Dollar” Scholarship of $600 to Cassandra Aldish. She then presented three $500 scholarships to Cailen Brown, Anthony DiBaggio and Paige Eichler and a $250 one to Matthew Courtney. Cailen Brown is the daughter of Ben and Nancy Brown and will study at the University of Mount Union.

The Winona Ruritan Club presented four $700 scholarships to Casey Donaldson, Frankie Heffinger, Megan Stamp and Morgan Stamp. Megan and Morgan are the daughters of Christopher and Julie Stamp of Hanoverton. Megan will study zoology at Kent State University – Salem and Morgan will study business management at The Ohio State University – ATI.

The Guilford Lake Ruritan Club presented a $600 scholarship to Nicholas Rhodes and a $500 scholarship to Laurel Stewart.

Two $500 United Student Council Scholarships were presented to April Clark and Nathan Pytash. Eight $250 Student Council scholarships were presented to Austen Keshock, Kaylie Shinn, Alyssa Inman, Nicholas Rhodes, Kathryn Connor, Olivia Rieck, Anthony Phillips and Laurel Stewart.

The American Red Cross donated money for scholarships that were awarded to Cassie Aldish, Paige Eichler, Taylor Hippely and Wade McCoy.