West Liberty-Salem seniors were recognized for their academic achievements and future plans during Senior Awards Night, as members of the Class of 2026 were awarded more than $551,000 in scholarships, honors, and earned college credit opportunities. The 91-member graduating class received awards and scholarship support from dozens of local organizations, businesses, memorial funds, and statewide programs, with many students earning multiple scholarships to support their college, technical education, and career plans.
A significant portion of that total came through the class’s success in the College Credit Plus program, where students earned a combined 1,577 free college semester hours, equating to more than $551,000 in tuition savings based on the average cost of attending a four-year public university. Fifty-five seniors earned college credit while still in high school, averaging 28 semester hours each and saving nearly $10,000 per student toward future degrees.
Among the evening’s largest honors were five Governor’s Merit Scholarships worth $20,000 each, awarded to Geneva Estep, Dylan King, Emma Smith, Emery Longaberger, and Lyndee Harrison, totaling $100,000 in scholarship funding.
The largest individual scholarship of the night went to Cooper Titus, recipient of the Columbus Foundation Mary “Betsy” E. Rueb Memorial Scholarship valued at $26,000. Titus also earned several additional awards, including the Columbus Foundation Matthew Curtis Roach Memorial Scholarship, James Forsythe Milroy Foundation Scholarship, Masonic 15th District Scholarship, and Matthew Calland Memorial Scholarship.
Alayna Hackley was awarded the Champaign Logan Education Foundation Scholarship worth $16,000, while Brock Burgel received multiple scholarships, highlighted by the Springfield Foundation/John Dale Urbana Firefighter Scholarship valued at $3,469.
Additional major scholarship recipients included Ava Astorino and Lyndee Harrison, recipients of Grimes Foundation Scholarships worth $2,500 each, and Addison Hutton, recipient of the Rotary Club of Urbana Scholarship worth $2,000.
School officials said the awards and academic savings reflect both the hard work of the Class of 2026 and the strong investment made by the West Liberty-Salem community in its graduating seniors as they prepare for college, careers, technical education, and military service.
Full List of Scholarship and Award Recipients
- Brock Burgel
- “That Tiger” Award – $500
- Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- Headings Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500
- Springfield Foundation/John Dale Urbana Firefighter Scholarship – $3,469
- Sadie Paul
- “That Tiger” Award – $500
- Clara F. Beck Trust Scholarship – $2,000
- Geneva Estep
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Dylan King
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Emma Smith
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Emery Longaberger
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Lyndee Harrison
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000
- Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- Grimes Foundation Scholarship – $2,500
- Jillian Ripley Fund – $500
- Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000
- Ohio State University Alumni Club of Champaign County – $1,000
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Headings Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Alayna Hackley
- Champaign Logan Education Foundation Scholarship – $16,000
- Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000
- Cooper Titus
- Champaign County Cattlemen’s/TC Memorial – $1,500
- Columbus Foundation Matthew Curtis Roach Memorial – $2,000
- Columbus Foundation Mary “Betsy” E. Rueb Memorial – $26,000
- James Forsythe Milroy Foundation – $2,500
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- Masonic 15th District Scholarship – $1,500
- Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000
- Brevin Louden
- Meghan Vogel Scholarship – $1,000
- Ohio Daily Digital Athlete Spotlight – $500
- Quest Federal Credit Union Scholarship – $500
- Addison Hutton
- Rotary Club of Urbana Scholarship – $2,000
- Ella Vondenhuevel
- Bellefontaine Rotary Club Scholarship – $1,000
- Champaign County Cattlemen’s/TC Memorial – $1,500
- Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000
- Pioneer Trade/Technical Scholarship – $750
- Ohio Electric Cooperatives Trade Scholarship – $750
- West Liberty Business Association Scholarship – $500
- Kaylee Blair
- Beth Brown Memorial – $1,500
- James & Pat FitzRandolph/WL-S Educational Foundation – $500
- Lions Club of Rushsylvania Scholarship – $1,000
- Ohio Daily Digital Senior of the Month – $500
- Naomi Cole
- Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Levi Miller
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- James & Pat FitzRandolph/WL-S Educational Foundation – $500
- Logan County Electric Cooperative Scholarship – $2,500
- West Liberty Business Association Scholarship – $500
- Elijah Christison – Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Marisa Smith
- Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Headings Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000
- West Liberty Business Association Scholarship – $500
- Ava Astorino
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- Grimes Foundation Scholarship – $2,500
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500
- Caleb Larson
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Michael McGill Memorial – $500
- Gavyn Greenhill – Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Kaylee Powell
- Birt Family Scholarship – $1,000
- Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- Olivia Deere – Civista Bank Scholarship – $500
- Abbie Thoman
- Junior Achievement Scholarship – $1,000
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- West Liberty Business Association Scholarship – $500
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Breece Gullett
- Logan County Electric Cooperative Scholarship – $1,500
- Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000
- Addyson Mattox
- Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000
- Lance Campbell – Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500
- Lydia Schmidt – Raising Arrows Scholarship – $500
- Taylor Cook
- Lions Club of West Liberty Scholarship – $1,000
- West Liberty-Salem Boosters Scholarship – $500
- Tru Maxam – White Tiger Award – $500
