Speaker: Academic standouts had 'grit, perseverance'

A speaker told students in attendance to have "grit and perseverance" to keep them on the path of their goals Wednesday morning during the 36th annual Tiffin City Schools Academic Letter Breakfast. Brenda Luhring, superintendent of the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center, served as the event's keynote speaker. Luhring is a TCS grad and earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Otterbein University, and her master's degree in school administration and her superintendent's license from Ashland University. "It is an amazing feat you've made it here in your educational career at Tiffin," Luhring said to the seniors in attendance. "You had to take the hardest courses and come out on top to be here," she continued. Luhring has been in education for over 30 years. She said she did not take a regular path from high school to get to where she is today. "Good plans sometimes change," she said. Luhring planned to attend the Ohio State University to pursue a career as a fourth grade teacher. Once at OSU, she realized the school wasn't for her. Coming home, she attended Heidelberg University. Luhring's plan then took a detour following her brother having an accident, as she helped take care of him. She would later attend OSU again and, once again, realized the school wasn't a good fit for her. She did find a good fit in Otterbein, she said, and after seven years she earned a degree in education. "My path was one I had not intended," she said. "It took grit and perseverance," she said. "I stumbled and fell flat many times, but I had the drive to get back up and keep going." Luhring said she wouldn't let her hardships be an excuse for why she couldn't do something, but an explanation as to why it took her longer than normal. "I had something to prove not only to myself, but to all the nay-sayers out there," Luhring said. "It is okay to press pause and take stock of where you are and if the path you're on is the right one for you. It is okay to stop for a while when things are moving too fast, but don't stay there." "Enjoy your journey, it is yours to create," she said. During her speech, Luhring described what the NCOESC does as the educational provider of services to over 50 districts in over seven counties across the state. The NCOESC is located in the former Kroger building, 928 W. Market St. The center employs more than 300 individuals in over 40 professions. It also is a state specialist in curriculum and provides technology for the City of Tiffin for its fire and police departments. "It is Tiffin's best kept secret," Luhring said. The event has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COIVD-19 pandemic. "It is nice to get back to recognizing the great things our students do," Columbian High School Principal Forrest Trisler said. More than 150 students at the breakfast at Camden Falls Reception & Conference Center were awarded academic letters, with many students receiving the award for a second or third year. The award is given to students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. They included: Sophomores: Dylan Beard, Brooke Blodgett, Kenna Bowles, William Bremyer, Alexander Bupp, Alec Burns, Corbin Craft, Corinne Croy, Jaydin Depinet, Ashley Edmond, Preston Elchert, Miranda Fanning, Anberlin Fogle, Kelsie Fry, Brady Gooding, Michaela Griffin, Alyissa Hartson, Jessica Herron, Caden Heyman, brooke Johnston, Julia Keefe, Lucas Kisabeth, Addison Kreais, Ava Laird, Samantha LeGrant, Lily Luzader, Immanuel Mamphey, Madison McBride, Ana Morrison, Kaden Obringer, Salah Price, Alexis Quickle, Aubreyonna Rhodes, Kale Riley, Caleigh Routzahn, Coen Steinmetz, Jack Taylor, Grant Terry, Landen Thornsberry, Riley Wagner, Alyssandra Ward, Georgia Yandura, Colman Ziegler. Juniors: Katherine Albright, William Beaston, Landon Biecheler, Neveah Campbell, Chloe Caro, Gracie Chester, Mayr Chotkevys, Mackenzie Davis, Decker DeVore, Lyra Dicken, Faith Egbert, Victoria Emmons, Aricka Fisher, Paiton Goeller, Nicholas Hausman, Margaret Joyce, MaKaylee Kidwell, Lindsey Koslosky, Alison Kramer, Isabella Leopold, Isabel Martin, Lillian McCain, Courtney McGinnis, Emma McIntyre, Max Ray, Katey Reinhart, Mariella Reis, Anna Reuter, Lydia Ridner, Samuel Roszman, Mitchell Scheiber, Connor Schrenk, Maddox Simcoe, Emma SImonds, Alexis Smith, Selena Steinhauser, Abbigail Sturgill, Owen Szablewski, Kelsie Weingart. Seniors: Aurora Albert, John Bailey, Mallory Bender, Isabella Blust, Felix Bogart, Annalyce Bowles, Cadence Brown, Bryce Burns, Luciano Busdecker, Audrey Buskirk, Emma Charlton, Garrett Chester, Lydia Cole, Andrew Collins, Brody Conley, Braden Crosby, Allison Damm, Leslie Daniel, Landin Daum, Caroline Dye, Andrew Engle, Dylan Everetts, Carter Fittro, Cameron Gaietto, Kennedy Garlock, Kiersten Garlock, Camryn Gibson, Addison Goeller, Katelyn Hardina, Quinn Hernandez, Lauryn Herrera, Rose Hoffman, Whitney Johnston, Cole Jordan, Chance Kilen, Gunther Kissell, Lauren Koslosky, Kennedy Lachner, Brianna Landers, Jenna Levans, Sophie Mack, Connar McCain, Carson Mellott, Bret Minnick, Jaden Myers, Cole Newlove, Mia Peacock, Olivia Raubenolt, Treyvon Reaves, Braden Riesen, Hayden Riley, Nicholas Robinson, Adam Schermer, Eric Schmidutz, Andrew Shawberry, Trey Shuey, Briean Siesel, Savana Simcoe, Cameron Smith, Carson Steinmetz, Brayden Tucker, Drew Vasko, Jacob Weingart, Haley Welter, Madison Wise, Tyler Yandura.