The Bellefontaine High School Class of 2023 celebrated their many successes at Friday night’s commencement at AcuSport Stadium.
As the 181 graduates depart BHS, keynote speaker Spencer Reames urged them to find their passion in their career path.
The longtime educator, who graduated from BHS in 1964, said he discovered his passion while he was a teen at Bellefontaine High School.
Reames reflected on how his chemistry teacher at BHS spurred his desire to become a teacher. With the 2022-23 school year just drawing to a close, Reames marked his 55th year of teaching science at Benjamin Logan High School.
The featured speaker also encouraged the graduates to look to longtime Bellefontaine City Schools teacher Phil Forsythe as an example. Forsythe was recognized earlier this month serving as an educator at BCS for 50 years.
“Teaching is not a job for Phil; it’s his passion,” Reames said.
The BLHS teacher then detailed how his son, Aaron, followed his passion. Aaron Reames works for a large biotech company that identifies functional cures for life-threatening diseases.
The company’s research has gained worldwide notoriety in the last few years by helping patients overcome diabetes and Hepatitis C.
“Find your passion. You’ll never work a day in your life,” Reames said. “Embrace your passion, then develop that passion”
This year’s valedictorian is Kirsten Hand, a daughter of Andrew and Jennifer Hand.
Hand had a 4.66 grade point average. She spent her junior year taking classes at The Ohio State University and then studied at Ohio Northern University this school year.
Hand has completed 60 percent of her college courses and will continue to pursue a degree in accounting at ONU.
The salutatorian is Mason DeLong, a son of Gregory and Michelle DeLong. DeLong maintained a 4.52 grade point average.
He will study aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati.
Rounding out the top 10 graduates are: Kayla Watkins, Mekenzie Flora, Montanna Buck, Landon Kelley, Donald LaRoche, Braelyn Wilcoxon, Ally Barker and Sophie Adelsberger.
Buck, along with Carter Snapp, earned their associate’s degrees from Clark State.
Four grads who enlisted were spotlighted as well. They include Parker Osborn, Brendon Burkholder, Henry Cushman and Troy Smith.
BHS Principal Jason Brown emceed the commencement.
“I’m proud of the senior class,” he said. “They were rising tides for us throughout the year. They helped us set a high standard at BHS. They set the tone for classes that will follow them.”
Members of the BHS Class of 2023 include: Sophia Elle Adelsberger, Zhatavious Marheece Alexander, Haley Madison Anderson, Lauren Taylor Anderson, Drake Anthony Argabright, Jose Alex Argueta-Mejia, Sullivan Wayne Ashcraft, Zain Shelden Bailey, Corbin Traphan Baker, Ally Nicole Barker, Grace Nichole Barrett, Robert William Baum III, Paiden Nicole Beair, Joseph Thomas Boop, Brooke Lee Briggs, Kahne Corbin Brugler, Montanna Skye Buck, Brendon Lee Burkholder, Jordan Mackenzie Butler, Alexander Landon Caudill, Ian Thomas Christen, Richard Armstrong Clapp, Trysten Roseann Clerico, Jordan Warner Clifton, Seth Alexzander Close, Keyon Kristopher William Collier, Demetrius Marcel Collins, Summer Peggy Lyn Conner, Katelyn Riley Crabill, Blake Anthony Cramer, Henry Adam Cushman, Zoey Alicen Nicole Daugherty, McKenize Marie Davenport, Courtney Rain Davis, Collin Parker Deitsch, Mason Greg DeLong, Faith Raegan Denkewalter, Damian Aries Dick, Devin Wayne Dickey, Jr., Matthew David Drake, Katelyn Christine Esh, Emma Patricia Fails, Mekenzie Ann Flora, Gabriel Scott Foreman, Aundrea Nichole Foulk, Zane Alexander Gamble, Devin Kaine George, Griffin Taylor Graham, Daniel Eiken Grumbling, Kirsten Leigh Hand, Jacob Ryan Harber, Lucas Allen Harrington, Kaytlyn Elizabeth Nicole Harvey, Peyton Elle Suzanne Hayduk, Eric Darnell Henry, Jr., Morgan Elizabeth Henry, James William Holt, Jr., Caedyn Landryck Hood, Hilary Ann Horn, Trinity LeAnne Noelle Horn, Zachary Logan Horvath, Alexander James Houser, Maggie May Rose Howard, Aubrey Marie Hudson, Devin Joshua Huffman, Brandon Michael Hunsicker, Thomas Joseph Hunsicker, Nicholas Alexander Hunter, Maryssa Sheyanne Hurley, Jack William Erwin Hutchins, Austin Daryl Jackson, Watkins Tristen Beau Jacobs, Morgan Jo Johns, Jazander Jakobe Edison Johnson, Leyla Renee’ Johnson, Trenton Matthew Curtis Johnson, Karlee Ginette Kabua, Kayleigh Jolee Karg, Darric Austin Wayne Kaufman‚ Landon Fischer Kelley, Sierra Lynn Kenner, Brianna Joe Kiefer, Brianna Mari Kindle, Spencer Aaron Lane, Donald John LaRoche, Carter Alan LeVan, Gabriel Brendon Lewis Levering, Allison Renee Love, Kristina Louise Lytle, Terran A Maier, Aliya Diana McCary, Blake Jamison McDonald, Karlei Ann Mechling, Corleone Martel Medina, Nova W. Merrin, Lexis Grace Meyers, Aidan Robert Mifsud, Courtney Rakell Miller, Scott Michael Millis, Austin Eligha Moore, Matthew Dylan Mott, Jah’Kyren Tyree Mundy, Ethan Marshall Murphy, Curtis Gilbert Myers, Julia Mesquita Nelson, Brianna Carole Niswonger, Auston Gabriel Oaks, James William Howard Oliver, Parker Aidan Osborn, Keagon Fredrick Overton-Story, Lily Paige Palmer, Alexa Dawn Parker, Elizabeth Carol Parker, Vansh Vaibhavkumar Patel, Jesse Scott Peepels, Reece Cameron Peepels, Jasmine Nicole Pellman, Rileigh Ann Petty, Andrew Nickolas Phillips, Noah Ryan Phillips, Maliah Edu Pierce, Ana Daniela Pino, Rangel Mayson Grant Plikerd, Areanna Diane Poe, Mikala Jade Poll, Tierani Rayne Priest, Anushervon Qoziev, Unique Faith Quattlebaum, Laken Marie Radde, Jordan Esai Ramos, Robert Allen Michael Jay Randall, Ashwin Clifton Shiva, Rathor Kaden Parker, Reames Alexis Jade Reed, Lane Ryan Reeves, Abigail Liberty Riblet, Kayden Erin Rice, Christopher James Ritzma, Savannah Grace Robbins, Joslyn Olivia Robinson, Latoya Ann Rogan, Marley Savannah Ropp, Aaron Joseph Roy, Marcus Aries Schaefer, Ava Victoria Schaffer, Ayden Isaac Scott, Audrie Mae Sellars, Alayna Renee Shaeffer, Declan Cole Shannon, Dakota Allen Shell, Braden Randy Shirk, Lillian Joy Shultz, Mary-Kate Elizabeth Slayback, Trenton Michael Smedley, Raeon Ray Smith, Troy Xavier Smith, William Stanley Smith, Carter Benjamin Snapp, Jaxon James Sopher, Kylan Rae Stone, Austin Ray Sumler, Emma Jane Swisher, Travis Donald Taylor, Ashley Corrine Thomas, Grace Carolyn Thomas, William Logan Timberlake, Olivia Grace Ullom, Krista Nicole VanBuskirk, Destinee Marie Van Hoose, Draven Lester VanSchoyck, Max Edward Varner, Allison Elaine Wallace, Nathan Edward Wallace, Kayla Ann Watkins, Braelyn Makenna Wilcoxon, Jillian Ann Williams, Logan Paul Williams, Madison Desirae Williams, Gavin Samuel Wilson, Maurel James Wilson and Delmary Zayas Colon.