Bellefontaine High School graduated 199 students on Sunday. The ceremony took place at Dodd Stadium.
Speeches were given by Christine Galvin, BHS Principal, Emily Heydinger, Senior Class President, Joan Haushalter, School Board President, and David Kaufman, Commencement Speaker.
Jessica Smith and Gregory Jameson were named Valedictorians. Other members in the top 10 of the class included Patrick Boyle, Mark Hess, Arturo Mendez, Risa Ishii, Ian Fullerton, Erin Davis, Taylor Cayot, and Marisa McLaughlin.
The class motto is "Together we have experienced life, separately we will pursue our dreams, and forever will our memories remain." -Anonymous
Beth Harman, Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent, introduced the distinguished alumni: David L. Kaufman, Linda Gillespie Stuntz, and James M. Furman.
David Kaufman is President/Chief Operating Officer and Director of Motorists Insurance Company. He graduated in 1977 from Bellefontaine and 1981 from Ohio Wesleyan University. He played basketball at OWU and graduated cum laude. Kaufman is a credentialed actuary. He currently lives in Worthington, Ohio. He has been married for 28 years and has three daughters.
Linda Stuntz is a founding partner of the law firm Stuntz, Davis, & Staffier, P.C. She served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. She helped enact a multitude of acts, including the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Stuntz graduated from Bellefontaine in 1972, received a B.A. with honors in 1977 from Wittenberg University, and earned her law degree with honors in 1979 from Harvard. She practices law in Washington D.C.
James Furman graduated from Bellefontaine HS and The Ohio State University. He has received seven honorary doctoral degrees in law, humane letters, and education. Furman serves on a number of boards and commissions devoted to public and policy development. He has done extensive work in higher education planning since 1964. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife. He has two sons.
Students who received honors diplomas included: Marlee Bostick, Patrick Boyle, Nate Brisson, Kristen Brunner, Amber Burkhammer, Taylor Cayot, Josh Childs, Erin Davis, Sayre Donley, Aaron Dunn, Tiara Fleming, Ian Fullerton, Shelby Goldsmith, Mark Hess, Emily Heydinger, Risa Ishii, Gregory Jameson, Mary Langenfeld, John Boling Maurice, Marisa McLaughlin, Arturo Mendez, Leann Miller, Taylor Mitchell, Daulton Mosbarger, Nate Orndorf, Masyn Robinson, Josh Runion, Susan Salyer, Carlina Showalter, Haley Smith, Jessica Smith, Matt Spatz, Chris Stephens, Tommy Stolly, Tom Stoner, Bailey Tester, and Ashley Woten.
Students who received local scholarships included: Patrick Boyle, Nate Brisson, Kristen Brunner, Blake Butler, Taylor Cayot, Josh Childs, Haley Cooper, Cheryl Corbett, Erin Davis, Aaron Dunn, Emily Elizondo, Tiara Fleming, Ian Fullerton, Shelby Goldsmith, Paul Henline, Morgan Henry, Mark Hess, Emily Heydinger, Gregory Jameson, Katie Kerns, Stefanie Lambert, Mary Langenfeld, Connor McClure, Marisa McLaughlin, Leann Miller, Taylor Mitchell, Nate Orndorf, Tyler Ransbottom, Susan Salyer, Carlina Showalter, Jessica Smith, Matt Spatz, Chris Stephens, Tommy Stolly, Tom Stoner, Bailey Tester, Allison Turner, Jascey Vermillion, and Andrew Vicario.
Listen to Valedictorian Jessica Smith talk about how she made it to the top.
Listen to Valedictorian Gregory Jameson discuss how it feels to be named Valedictorian.
Listen to Commencement Speaker and Distinguished Alumnus David Kaufman tell about his speech.
