Lakewood City School District's academic superstars were in the spotlight at the 39th annual Celebration of Excellence academic awards ceremony held May 16 at the Civic Auditorium. The District honored 392 students in grades 6-12 for having achieved a 4.0 or higher GPA through three quarters this school year. Students received their medallions and congratulations from Superintendent Niedzwiecki, our five Board of Education members, and keynote speaker Vicki Morford Smigelski.
Twenty-two students were also awarded scholarships from the Rangers Education Foundation and the Lakewood Leadership Team. The District also recognized our National Merit Finalists Abigail Hirsch and Caleigh Naylon and Commended Scholar Joseph Daso.
Smigelski, a 1978 graduate of Lakewood High and Lakewood leader in community service, spoke about the impact Lakewood Schools has had on her family, including her late mother's long service as a teacher in the District and about the gift of giving back to her community. She encouraged the students to seek balance in their lives as they move forward and to stay true to themselves by not letting others define what success is for them.
A perennial highlight of Celebration of Excellence each year is hearing the high school accomplishments of the seniors honored and learning of their post-graduation plans.
The many interests of the district’s most academically talented seniors include fields such as engineering, education, environmental studies, pre-law, physical and music therapy and many others. Our honored students will study at a wide variety of colleges, many with significant scholarships. Our seniors will be heading to Ohio schools such as The Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Kent State University, Cleveland State, Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio University and schools across the nation such as DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Rhode Island College of Design, University of Pittsburgh, and Auburn University.
The evening also included entertainment by the Lakewood High Chamber Choir. It was a wonderful evening to celebrate the legacy of excellence that is representative of the Lakewood City Schools and its students. Congratulations to all!