MOUNT VERNON — Each year, the Exchange Club of Mount Vernon/Knox County honors students who have overcome hardship and adversity to get “back on track” to earn their high school diplomas. The guidance counselors at each high school and the career center nominate one student apiece for the annual Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Awards.
At Friday’s award presentation, Ginny Williams of the Exchange Club applauded all the students who were nominated. “You don’t have to have a 4.0,” she said. “You don’t have to excel in sports to be recognized by us. You just need to demonstrate hard work and perseverance and overcome obstacles. These students have prevailed in spite of physical handicaps, family hardships or other circumstances which have made getting an education difficult for them. They are all winners.”
Williams said the selection committee had a hard time picking an overall winner, but finally chose East Knox senior Nicole Montoya as the 2008 ACE Award recipient. Montoya, who was nominated by guidance counselor Karen Smith, will receive $1,000 to help defray expenses at a college of her choice, where she plans to study nursing. Montoya is also eligible to advance in the awards process; the regional ACE winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and the national winner gets $10,000.
Montoya and each of the following nominees also received a check for $100 and an American flag from the Healing Field.
Nominated by guidance counselor Nancy Hull, Centerburg’s David Osborne plans to study engineering at Ohio University.
Randy Endsley, Danville High School guidance counselor, chose Ira Chapman for the award. Chapman plans to either join the military or attend Otterbein College and major in broadcasting, psychology or sign language.
Fredericktown’s Samantha Bowen plans to attend the Sullivan School in Kentucky to study culinary arts. Her guidance counselor is Lisa Fike.
Nichole Cooper was the Knox County Career Center student nominated by counselor Kathy Brown. Cooper plans to study floral design at the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster.
Mount Vernon’s nominee, Kailey Bradley, was unable to attend the awards ceremony.
