Education

Southern State Community College recognized the graduating class of 2024 during its 48th annual commencement ceremony held May 3 in the college’s Patriot Center.

The following has been compiled from as assortment of news releases:

Wilmington College is offering area children with disabilities an opportunity to attend a summer Therapeutic Riding Camp that is designed to provide them with both a recreational and therapeutic experience. Last year’s inaugural camp was a great success.

On Monday, May 6, Southern State Community College hosted the second annual end-of-year celebration for students, faculty and staff involved in the Ohio Code Scholar (OCS) project. This event occurred in the Patriot Center on the Hillsboro campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and culminated the program’s work in southern Ohio, supporting OCS.

On May 1, Southern State’s Computer Science Department, led by associate professor Dr. Joshua Montgomery, organized a STEM MiniDome Celebration Day at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus for students.

Zaylee Arrington, a freshman at McClain High School in Greenfield, is a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders to be held June 26-28, just outside Boston on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus.

The Hillsboro FFA team of Addy Knauff, Alex McClarren, Chris Sowders, Gavin Brown and Corbin Winkle recently competed in the Highland County practice Envirothon. The contest consists of four parts including forestry, wildlife, aquatics and soils. In each area there is a 25-question test which has general knowledge questions and some questions about specific plants or animals in the area. There are also questions where students must use a Biltmore Stick to measure diameter and height of trees, and some where students must identify animals based off of fur or tracks. The team placed secondat the Highland County practice. The team moved onto the area contest and placed seventh out of 33 teams. Pictured (l-r) are Knauff, Sowders, Brown, Winkle and McClarren.

Wilmington College’s prominence among the Ohio FFA’s top leadership in recent years continues as Anna S. Moeller was elected president of the state organization April 3 at the 96th Ohio FFA State Convention. She continues the college’s major presence at the FFA’s state level, as WC senior Aubrey Schwartz served as state president in 2022-23.

Pictured is the McClain FFA Agricultural Issues Forum Team (l-r) Toree Wareikis, Olivia Stegbauer, Brooke Baldwin, Maguire Ross, Avery Murphy, Addison Goddard and Reese Roble. The Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event connects students with industry professionals as they research, present and understand complicated issues in the agricultural world. Students are required to make a portfolio, answer questions regarding their agricultural presentation and present to local professionals their topic. Members of the team placed second in the state qualifying them to compete at The Big E, located in West Springfield, Massachusetts later this year.

In partnership with EF Study Abroad, Southern State will be traveling to the British Isles — England, Ireland and Wales — May 16-26. Among the travelers are five students who have been awarded the inaugural study abroad scholarship from the Sara M. Barrere Memorial Trust Scholarship Fund, made possible through the college’s foundation.