Defined by excellence. Supported by tradition. SUMMER 2018 CONGRATULATIONS Athletic & Student Assistance Funds to the Class of » Full story on page 7 ESTABLISHED 2018! » Full story on page 4 PHOTO CREDIT: YARKO KUK, VILLAGE VOICE OF OTTAWA HILLS foundationnews OHSF CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT he Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation has transformed students’ lives George Lathrop Tthrough athletics, the arts, extracurricular clubs, and excellence in education. Because of your support, the Foundation is making a positive SECRETARY impact on the lives of our students. Dee Talmage TREASURER This year, we have seen the establishment of the Mindel Family Athletic Scott Estes Fund and the Irene A. Aubin Student Assistance Fund, to join our other named funds: The STEM Fund, the Eleanor Seifried Fund for the Performing EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Arts, and the Talmage Family Fund. These funds provide the vehicle for Erica (Gatchel) Silk (‘89) the Foundation to make a lasting impact on our students. 2018 Graduate BOARD OF TRUSTEES Will Rand, who was impacted by Foundation grants to Agora and the Jackie (Hylant) Berenzweig (‘93) R. L. Berry (‘76) Choraliers, noted, “We are forever grateful for those that raised us up Paul Bishop to be more than we could ever dream of becoming.” Maara Fink Brad Johnson As we look ahead, the Foundation will continue to grow in the impact Kevin Miller it is making on our school and its commitment to students’ success. Phillip Mintun A commitment to the Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation is a commitment Jeremy Nixon Judd Silverman (‘74) to an institution that continues to prove its value and impact — keeping Mark Wagoner (‘90) Ottawa Hills among the most premier school districts in the nation. Andrew Westmeyer (‘87) Thank you for your commitment to Ottawa Hills Schools. The mission of the Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation is to permanently enhance and extend the unique experience of excellence that defines Ottawa Hills Schools. SUPPORTING THE OHS FOUNDATION IS EASY! George Lathrop Erica Silk (‘89) President Director of Development Visit the Foundation’s website at Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation and Alumni Relations ohschoolsfoundation.org to contribute online or use the attached giving envelope. 2 OHHS Partners with LOCAL BUSINESSES to Offer New Class PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION IS ONE OF THE MANY NEW COURSES OFFERED TO STUDENTS. ttawa Hills partnered with local businesses Owens- OIllinois, Welltower, Hylant, ProMedica Physicians Cardiology, Great Lakes Marketing, and the Coast Guard to provide real-world experiences for OH seniors. The course is a project-based learning experience personalized to each student, incorporating business education and technical communication skills for early workplace awareness and success. Senior Abby Hauck notes about her experience with Welltower, “The lessons I learned the past few months REPRESENTATIVES FROM WELLTOWER WITH SENIORS (L TO R) LAUREN STEVENS, ANNALIESE ERICKSON, AND ABBY HAUCK. are lessons that I would have never learned otherwise. I am confident that I am more than prepared to embark on my professional journey in and after college.” Students “The lessons I learned made on-site visits to our partners to explore career paths, the past few months are industry issues, and post-secondary education and growth lessons that I would have possibilities. The course was a huge success and will continue never learned otherwise.” to be part of OHHS’s curricular offerings. REPRESENTATIVES FROM OWENS-ILLINOIS WITH STUDENTS JACK YARK, TIMOTHY REITER, ALEX SAUL, NOLAN FREEMAN, AND BRIETA DIESSEN. 3 alumninews LARRY & DEBBY MINDEL GIVE BACK TO OH ATHLETICS After graduating from OHHS, opportunity included owning one Larry attended the University of of the oldest and most respected Michigan where he found his love coffee roasting companies on for academics and majored in the West Coast and two restaurant English Literature. After graduating companies, one of which, he newly established Mindel in 1959, he moved to New York Il Fornaio, went public in 1987. TFamily Athletic Fund provides to work for his dad at an instant His restaurants spanned the entire resources to enrich the lives of coffee manufacturing company. West Coast and Nevada. student-athletes as they strive to At age 21, Larry’s father sent him be champions in the classroom to California to manage a difficult Though he lives thousands of and in athletic competition. business situation. He had been miles from Ohio, the ties with his Athletics at Ottawa Hills promotes given three months to turn things classmates and OHHS remain character traits of personal around and prove himself, and he strong. Larry and his wife, Debby, development and success later in did just that. “The key to success,” are hosting the 63rd reunion of life. This epitomizes the experience Larry stated, “is really, really, really his high school class of 1955 this of Larry Mindel (’55) at Ottawa Hills. hard work, attention to detail, and summer. “I’m proud to be a ‘Green “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it great customer service.” Arrow,’ and thankful I was able weren’t for athletics,” he explained. to participate in sports at Ottawa “It was my lifesaver.” Hills,” Larry explained. “It taught me “I wouldn’t be where I am how to treat people, to be a leader, A basketball and football player today if it weren’t for athletics,” and the importance of putting in while at OHHS, Larry was a self- effort. And, it’s my pleasure to give described mediocre student, not Larry would take these strategies, something back to the school that finding his niche in the classroom and the gene of entrepreneurship has taught me so much both in as he did on the field and court. from his father with him in his and out of the classroom.” “I learned about having confidence future endeavors. One such and the importance of team from being an athlete,” Larry stated. THE MINDEL FAMILY IN HAWAII And, it was from the guidance of football coach Jocko Parsons and the gentle demeanor of basketball coach Wayne Stuart where Larry got an education outside of the classroom. He added, “I learned a great deal from the different approaches my coaches took when dealing with me and the athletes.” 4 Boys & Girls Golf Ottawa Hills golfers TOP-NOTCH Efforts competed at the OHSAA state tournament this past Propel Teams to State fall. The boys team finished 10th in the state. Caroline Dayton competed individually TOURNAMENTS at Ohio State’s Scarlet course, finishing 24th overall. Track Junior Michael Nichols qualified for the state tournament in the 100 and 200 meter dash. He ran the 200 meter dash in 22.31, shattering the record held since 2009 for the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC). Freshman Gabe Robinson Boys Tennis qualified for the state in the 800, finishing 10th overall in a school The Green Bears had an excellent tennis record time of 1:58.57. Junior Eliot season, making it to the Elite 8 of the state team Cummings qualified for the state tournament and winning the OH invitational, track meet in the long jump, making a long-standing tournament hosted by Ottawa the podium with an 8th place finish. Hills High School. Freshman Matthew McGee OHHS coach Rachel Wanner was went on to compete individually in the OHSAA named TAAC Coach of the Year. state tournament in May at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Boys Soccer The soccer team ended the season 20-1-2 and secured their 13th consecutive TACC title. The team played against the Knights of Cincinnati Summit County Country Day in a fierce battle for the state championship title but fell short with a 0-1 loss with a goal late in the second half. Boys Baseball The baseball team was named TAAC Co-Champions and made it to the Elite 8 in the state tournament. Boys Lacrosse THE MINDEL FAMILY IN HAWAII For the first time ever, and just the second year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has recognized lacrosse as a varsity sport, the boys lacrosse team competed in the state finals this past June. They played hard and fell short to Columbus St. Francis DeSales to take state runner-up honors. DONATE TO THE MINDEL FAMILY ATHLETIC FUND See Page 4 for more information on the newly named athletic fund, which will provide necessary resources to help OHLS students succeed in the classroom and on the athletic field. 5 campusnews STUDENTS MESMERIZE IN he rich tradition of Texcellent theater performances at Ottawa Les Mis Hills Schools continued as students showed their many talents in Les Miserables. Bravo to the 84 dedicated students in grades 6-12 who made up the cast and crew! Under the guidance of Darrin Broadway and Donna Wipfli and with the unwavering assistance of numerous parent volunteers, Les Mis delighted audiences with striking set design, beautifully crafted costumes, and powerful performances. The Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation was proud to be a presenting sponsor of this production. Ottawa Hills Quiz Bowl WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP or the eighth year in a row, the Ottawa Hills High School FQuiz Bowl team competed in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments championships held in Chicago in April. The team of Steven Randall, Will Koury, Mazin Omer, and Daniel Liu capped an incredible season, claiming the national championship in the ‘Very Small School’ division and runner-up in the ‘Small School’ division. Mazin Omer received the tournament’s all-star award. OHHS’s team of Santi Garcia-Mata, Rahul Bais, Urvish Patel, Sami Assi, and Hank Griffin had a great run in the tournament, but just missed out on the playoffs and finished well in the top half of the nation. Congratulations to all for a job well done! Elementary Students Raise Money to FIGHT CANCER with Relay Recess nder the leadership of the Ottawa Hills Elementary School Student UCouncil, OHES students held a recess on May 14 to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.