PIQUA — The Upper Valley Career Center will conduct its convocation for the 2016 graduates on Thursday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at Hobart Arena, Troy. A total of 360 students representing 14 associate schools and open-enrolled students from Miami, Champaign and Darke counties will be honored by the school district for successful completion of their high school academics and career and technical program certifications.
Board of Education President Maria Brewer and Dr. Nancy Luce, superintendent, will welcome graduates, guests and present Awards of Appreciation to John Bertsch, CEO/Owner Detailed Machining, and Beverly Smith, Tech Prep Consultant, Edison State Community College. Executive Director Jason Haak will preside assisted by Administrators Eric Bowser, Michelle Brunson, Joe Davis, Roger Voisard, Timothy Cordonnier and Matt Meyer. Career and Technical program instructors will present certificates to each students.
Student address
Student Senate President Julie May will deliver the student address. She is is the daughter of Randy and Kathy May and an Interactive Media student from Fort Loramie High School. She serves as vice president of the Business Professionals of America Chapter, is an active 4-H member, serves on the Shelby County Junior Fair Board and plays varsity Softball at Fort Loramie. May will pursue a BA in Digital Media Advertising at Bowling Green University this fall.
Top scholar
Madeline Ponchillia, Piqua, is the Upper Valley Career Center 2016 Top Scholar. She is the daughter of Scott and Ginger Ponchillia also of Piqua. Ponchillia is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and served as a Student Athletic Trainer for football and basketball at Piqua High School. She has been a Top 100 at Piqua High School three out of four years as well as a state competitor in SkillsUSA. Ponchillia earned an STNA through the Medical Technologies program at Upper Valley and will be attending the Kettering College of Medical Arts this fall to become a Ceretified Registered Nurse Anesthesist.
Shelby County graduates include: