Rotary Club of Bellefontaine Celebrates Academic Excellence at 49th Annual Honors Night

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — The Rotary Club of Bellefontaine recognized outstanding academic achievement across Logan County during its 49th Annual Honors Night, held Monday evening at Bellefontaine High School.

More than 260 seniors from Indian Lake High School, Bellefontaine High School, Benjamin Logan High School, Riverside High School, Calvary Christian School, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, and West Liberty-Salem High School were honored during the ceremony. Students recognized at the event achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, based on seven semesters of coursework, including the first semester of the 2025–2026 school year.

The evening also included remarks about Rotary’s mission of service and recognition of student leadership.

The featured speaker was Robert Nicholson, CEO of Safe and Secure Healthcare, who encouraged students to think broadly about their future opportunities. Nicholson discussed a fourth option for students planning their future: entrepreneurship, in addition to the traditional “3 E’s” often discussed in schools—Enrollment, Enlistment, and Employment.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of eight Rotary scholarships, each valued at $1,000. This year’s scholarship recipients were selected from a competitive pool of 84 applicants, one of the largest applicant groups in the club’s history. Scholarship recipients will also be recognized again at their respective Senior Awards Nights.

2026 Rotary Scholarship Recipients include:

• Kora Fulkerson, Indian Lake
• Blacke Jackson, Indian Lake
• Madison Parker, Riverside
• Adison Postle, Bellefontaine
• Kayla Sellers, Bellefontaine
• Emma Strayer, Riverside
• Ella Vondenhuevel, West Liberty-Salem
• Greyson Wagoner, Benjamin Logan

Since 1963, the Rotary Club of Bellefontaine has been awarding scholarships to graduating seniors, continuing a long-standing commitment to supporting local students as they pursue their educational and career goals.

Rotary leaders guiding the organization include Board President Ted Dennis, President-Elect Nita Wilkinson, Vice President Becky Hoffman, Secretary Tammy Gump, Treasurer Bill Boy, and Immediate Past President Andrea Merrin.

With participation from seven schools and career programs, the 49th Annual Honors Night once again highlighted the strong academic talent, leadership, and community commitment of Logan County students.