Bellefontaine High School recently named its final Seniors of the Month for the school year.
Name: Oliver Moreland
Parents: Thomas and Rachel Moreland
Address: Bellefontaine
School activities and awards: Varsity Cross Country, Track & Field, Quiz Bowl, Musical, Choir, TEAMS Engineering Competition, National Honor Society, Robotics, 4 years of Honda Breakfast and Academic Boosters Awards, National Merit Scholar, and AP Scholar with Distinction.
If I were principal for a day: I’d give everyone a break day so they could get caught up on work and then go recruit people for quiz bowl and choir.
Favorite school memory: Cross country camp.
People who have been an inspiration to me: My parents and family, teachers, and my church.
Lately I’ve been reading: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr., Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein, and A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.
My advice to parents: Support your kids and encourage (but don’t force) them to do a lot of activities.
My biggest regret: I really have no regrets.
Next year: I will be attending Harvard University and studying computer science.
Name: Zoephia Rister
Parents: Sally Rister and Drew Sutherin
Address: Bellefontaine
School activities and awards: Cross Country, Swim, Track, National Honor Society, Chieftain Leaders, French Club, FCA, DARE, CBC Sportsmanship Award (Cross Country and Swim), CBC Honorable Mention (Swim), MVP Award in Cross Country, Most Improved and Coaches Awards in Swim, Honda Academic Achievement Awards in Algebra, Biology, and French, Academic Boosters Awards for Art and Physical Education, and Heart of a Chieftain Award (junior and senior year).
If I were principal for a day: There would be no E-hall passes, and we would have a movie/pajama day.
Favorite school memory: Going to districts my senior year in swim and orchestra competitions.
People who have been an inspiration to me: Mrs. Mitchell and my swim coach Sharon Lewis.
Lately I’ve been reading: You can find me always reading either a fantasy/dystopian or a murder mystery book. Currently, I’m reading Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
My advice to parents: Let your children try different things and try to get them involved in a sport or a club.
My biggest regret: Not trying to do band. I wish I would have at least tried it. I think doing the drums would be fun, but I didn’t really have time to fit it in.
Next year: I will be attending The Ohio State University and majoring in fine art with a minor in music.
Name: Trey Taylor
Parents: Quentin and LeAnnea Taylor
Address: Bellefontaine
School activities and awards: 4-year Varsity Tennis Letter Winner, Varsity Basketball Letter Winner, School Record Holder for Most Doubles Wins (Tennis) in a Season, Tied School Record for Most Team Wins in a Season in Tennis, Tennis District Qualifier, 2023 Tennis CBC Champion, 2023 Tennis First Team All-CBC, 2023 Second Team MVTCA, Yearbook, Chieftain Leaders Social Media Coordinator, Multiple Academic Awards, and Honor Roll Multiple Times.
If I were principal for a day: I would create a field day for us like we used to have back in elementary, intermediate, and middle school.
Favorite school memory: Breaking the most doubles wins in a season school record.
People who have been an inspiration to me: My parents, brother, and friends.
Lately I’ve been reading: Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff.
My advice to parents: Strict parents raise sneaky kids. It is absolutely necessary to have rules and boundaries, but let your kids experience life and make the most out of the short time they have in high school.
My biggest regret: I have no regrets throughout my time at Bellefontaine; I’ve just learned many lessons.
Next year: I will be attending the University of Cincinnati and studying advanced medical imaging technology.
Name: Lexi Buffkin
Parents: Kelly and Katie Buffkin, Jessica Coleman
Address: Bellefontaine
School activities and awards: Varsity Golf, Varsity Swim, National Honor Society, DARE, Interact, Student United Way, Teen Ambassador Board, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Choir, Musical, OMUN, Heart of a Chieftain, CBC Academic Honors, Academic Letter and Pin, and Clark State Associate’s Degree.
If I were principal for a day: I would make sure everyone had a mandatory nap period. Also, school would not start until 10 a.m.
Favorite school memory: This year’s musical. I have never stepped so far out of my comfort zone like I did this year in Bye Bye Birdie. It is something I will always remember and look back on.
People who have been an inspiration to me: My parents. They have shown me everything I know and gotten me through the tough times.
Lately I’ve been reading: My college textbooks to get me through finals.
My advice to parents: Don’t hold kids back from doing what they truly want to do. If they have their mind set for something, be there to support them rather than hold them back.
My biggest regret: Not getting as involved my freshman year as I am now. If I were not involved, I would have never found the friends that I have now.
Next year: I will be attending Wittenberg University to major in psychology and education. I will also play golf there.
