Self Reliant

On Wednesday night the R.K. Thompson finalist were treated to a great dinner honoring this area's most self-reliant high school seniors. This is the 48th year for the R.K.Thompson program which provides cash awards for the High School Seniors in Van Wert County who best exhibit the trait of self-reliance. This award is designed to seek out and honor the Senior's who "Do the best with what they have" whether he/she is a scholar, an athlete, a student leader or a youth who must seek employment to help their family meet expenses. Merriam-Webster describes self-reliant as "having confidence in and exercising one's own powers or judgement".

I have always felt that the R.K. Thompson award finalist were students who you can count on to do anything you ask of them and knowing that they will do it above and beyond what you have asked them to do. They may or may not have had struggles but they do rely on their own resources rather than others. It was said last night about one of the Vantage students, Nathan O'Neill, that if you see his hand out, it is because he is helping someone else.

Vantage Career Center was honored to have three of the ten finalist. They are Josh England (Lincolnview), Hayley Kuhlman (Van Wert) and Nathan O'Neill (Lincolnview). I am so proud of each of these three finalist and all that they have done in their two years at Vantage. I believe anyone reading this would be proud to have these students as their sons or daughter. They are outstanding in every way. They are excellent students, pleasant personalities, hard workers and more than willing to volunteer whenever asked.

Thank you Hayley, Josh and Nathan. I hope you realize what an awesome accomplishment this is and that the entire Vantage community is so proud of you. In a few short weeks, you will be moving on with the rest of your lives. We wish you the best and we want you to know that you will be missed. Thanks for everything!