There are graduations in Logan County, and then there’s the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center (OHP) graduation, which gets bigger every year. That was certainly true during their convocation ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, as it took almost 15 minutes for the 322 graduating seniors to file into the Bellefontaine High School gym.
Having to once more move the event inside due to inclement weather, over 1,000 people filled the gym to bursting, requiring overflow seating in the auditorium.
Dr. Rick Smith, school superintendent, greeted the crowd with a reminder that OHP celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2024.
“This school year marked a significant milestone in the history of Ohio Hi-Point, which was established in 1974,” Smith began, and reminded the audience of “the visionaries who laid the foundation for our school and the educators dreaming of someday leading us to today.”
Next, Tonya Ramey, high school director, introduced the night’s emcees: seniors Laila Lynch, graphic media arts, and Travis Brooks, welding. They then asked the American Legion Post 173 of Bellefontaine to present the colors. Afterward, Jason Cobb, culinary arts instructor, and Bryan Knurek, English instructor, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Wednesday night’s speakers were seniors Hayley Deitsch, Health Careers Academy, Benjamin Logan High School; Carson Instine, HVAC, West Liberty-Salem; Elias Abrego, engineering, Bellefontaine.
Deitsch spoke about the class’s most heartbreaking moment—the death of classmate Chloe Hodge.
“The counselors and school staff made sure we all knew we had people to talk to and a box of tissues nearby,” Deitsch said. “I wanted to remind them just how grateful we are for that.”
In honor of Chloe’s memory, a rose in her favorite color—lilac—was gifted to each graduate. In addition, her seat was decorated for her and her family.
To offer a better understanding of this year’s theme—“Celebrating today, shaping our tomorrows and somedays”—Instine performed “Someday (Maggie’s)” by Zachary Lane Bryan.
Finally, Abrego, who was later named OHP’s Top Senior Student, shared his own thoughts about their time at OHP.
“Career technical education isn’t just about learning from a book,” Abrego admitted. “It’s about learning by showing up, putting on the gear, getting our hands dirty, and mastering a trade.”
\In closing, he encouraged the class to “turn sparks into welds, designs into beauty, engines into motion and ideas into action.”
The Class of 2025’s accomplishments included over 94,000 work-based learning hours earning more than $702,000, a 92 percent passage rate on their final assignments, 819 credentials to offer the workforce and 371 college credits. In addition, 52 seniors competed at state competitions.
In giving back to their communities, the class clocked 4,319 volunteer hours in at least 65 different activities. They donated 95 units of blood, potentially saving 285 lives. And they collected medical supplies for those in need along the Amazon River.
Each senior committed to being employed, enrolled or enlisted by the time they graduated. As a result, 61 percent of the class chose to immediately enter the workforce, 35 percent are moving on to higher education having received over $1.4 million in scholarships, and the last 4 percent—12 students—are now entering the military.
For the 37th year, Lou Vito with WPKO presented certificates to the graduates.
After announcing Abrego as the 2025 Top Senior Student at OHP, Ramey shared her final words with the class.
“It is my sincerest hope that you have a prosperous life, a healthy and peaceful one, filled with good relationships and enough resources to be a blessing to others,” Ramey said. “You have left an imprint on those gathered around you tonight. We are better because you were here.”