Riverside High School has recognized two exceptional students as its September Seniors of the Month, Hayden McCully and Gillian Knight.
Hayden McCully, the son of Randy and Staci McCully, is a standout student involved in golf, basketball, baseball, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Business Professionals of America, Student Council, Pirate Advisory Committee, and LifeSmarts.
His awards include:
- Honda Breakfast Award x4 (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus)
- TRC Golf Honorable Mention x2
- BPA Chapter Officer x2
- FCA Chapter Officer
- 2024 State BPA competitor
- 2025 State and National BPA competitor
- 2025 National LifeSmarts Qualifier
If he were principal for a day, Hayden said he would host a wiffle ball tournament for the whole school.
His favorite school memory is traveling to Chicago with his LifeSmarts team.
He credits his parents, grandparents, Coach Phelps, Mrs. Wyan, Ms. Dunham, Mr. Bodenmiller, Mrs. Mann, and Dr. Mann as inspirations.
Hayden has been reading the Bible and advises parents to always support their children.
His biggest regret is not spending more time with friends before they graduated, and his most embarrassing moment was shooting 56 in his first golf match of junior year.
Next year, he plans to attend college, major in accounting, and hopes to continue playing golf.
Gillian Knight, the daughter of Stephanie and Brian Knight, is highly active in a wide range of school and extracurricular programs, including marching band, concert band, pep band, winter drumline, advanced art, art teacher’s aid, indoor-winter track & field, track & field, volleyball and basketball (during freshman and sophomore years), morning announcements, student council, Interact, Pirate Advisory Committee, yearbook committee, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Business Professionals of America (Donut Committee, Car Wash Committee, Community Service Committee), Ohio Model United Nations, and two 4-H clubs.
Her awards and recognitions include:
- Honda Breakfast Award (Instrumental Music)
- Faculty recognition for maintaining a GPA of 3.8 or higher (Evening of Excellence)
- 2025 Yearbook Cover Winner
- Logan County Honors Band
- Logan County Solo and Ensemble for Band and Choir
- 2025 Director’s Award for Band
- Artwork displayed at Logan County Art Show all four years, including 2025 Best in Class award
- Artwork displayed at the Bellefontaine Courthouse all four years
- BPA Officer
- Industry Certified in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
- Ohio Model United Nations Team Captain
- Marching Band President and Drum Captain
- Student Council Officer, Senior Class Officer
- 2021 National Make-It-With-Wool Ohio State Representative
- State-level 4-H sewing awards for 12 consecutive years
- National Honors Society 2025 Chapter President
- 2025 State and National BPA competitor
- 2025 RYLA participant
- 4-H Club President 2025–2026
If she were principal for a day, Gillian would call in a substitute for herself.
Her favorite school memory is flipping upside down and playing a solo on her tenor drums for the first time as a sophomore.
She credits her parents, grandparents, Kelly Kauffman and Eric Kauffman, Miss Taylor, Mr. McGill, Mrs. Lentz, and Mr. Huber as inspirations.
Gillian has been reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, along with sheet music, and advises parents to “remember who you are, who’s yours, and make wise choices.”
She says she has no regrets and considers her sixth-grade through freshman-year experiences as her most embarrassing moments.
Next year, she will attend college and pursue studies in the creative arts.
