Hiland seniors honored at scholarship banquet
Dave Coil, trustee for the Holmes County Education Foundation, presented six of the eight HCEF scholarships to seniors during Hiland High School’s senior scholarship award banquet on Saturday, May 15.
The graduating senior class of 2021 has undergone some unique and difficult times on their way to graduation. However, on Saturday, May 15 at Carlisle Inn in Walnut Creek, Hiland High School seniors were afforded a chance to regain a little sense of normalcy when they attended the annual Hiland High School honors and scholarship banquet.
Seniors who have dedicated themselves to working hard in the world of academia were rewarded for their diligence and effort through more than three-dozen scholarships that were handed out, courtesy of area businesses and organizations. In addition, eight students were honored with Holmes County Education Foundation scholarships.
While the crowd in attendance was whittled down for precautionary reasons with the ongoing pandemic regulations, the seniors were honored, and most were in attendance to receive their scholarships.
“This group has been through so much,” East Holmes superintendent Erik Beun said. “No one could predict what they have had to endure, and they have shown a great deal of perseverance, and we are excited we could be together to really celebrate their accomplishments.”
Beun said the district is grateful to all of the area businesses and organizations that continue to faithfully provide these scholarships for students planning to forge ahead into higher education.
HCEF trustee Dave Coil filled in for longtime HCEF executive director Darla Stitzlein, who was unable to make the proceedings this year. Coil presented the HCEF scholarship winners, and he said this evening represents the next step in what will undoubtedly be the beginning of their adult lives.
“It is the start of what is hopefully some great opportunities for them moving forward,” Coil said. “The community and the school district have supported our kids so well throughout their careers here, and now they are taking their next step toward what will hopefully be a great career in whatever field they choose to pursue.”
Coil said these scholarships help provide needed funds for the ever-growing expense of higher education.
In addition, Coil praised Stitzlein, who is retiring from her role, for her endless work in creating the many HCEF scholarships made available to students.
“Darla has done a great job of managing this for 20-plus years,” Coil said. “Replacing her will be a challenge because she knows the community so well. She recognizes how blessed we are as a community and how incredible our kids are. She has led us to where we are today, which has given us a great foundation, both literally and figuratively.”
Hiland principal C.J. Spreng served as emcee of the evening, and he said seeing these highly successful students receiving not just the recognition they so richly deserve but also the financial aid from the community is always a joy to experience, both for the students and for those involved with the educational system.
He said each graduating group is always special and brings their own sense of uniqueness and character, but all are well deserving of the honors bestowed upon them. That said, 2020-21 was certainly a different year from the past.
“Given everything that this group has had to work through the past two years, their character really shined through,” Spreng said. “Their willingness to accept things they may not have liked or agreed with helped them grow. They have seen their high school careers through to the end with very positive attitudes, and it speaks volumes as to who they are.”
While the seniors may head their own way to attend college, Spreng said many of them opt to eventually return home to make East Holmes the place where they choose to work and raise a family.
Seeing that take place is something Spreng said allows events like this scholarship night to continue on, as they eventually become the people who spearhead the giving cycle.
“Seeing them come back to our community only builds our culture even more,” Spreng said. “We have people who know what this community and school district are about and have that same giving attitude, and that continues to grow our school and grow our community and create great opportunities for our kids. We always love seeing our kids return and invest back into the community.”