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‘Brainy Bunch’ Heads to UT in the Fall |
| By
Kimyette Finley |
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Jun 12, 2002 |
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In high school, they were at the top of their class. Now several of them will become members of UT’s incoming freshman class.
Nineteen valedictorians from the Toledo area have chosen to further their education at UT. The group can be seen this month on WTOL-TV Ch. 11 in a commercial, “The Brainy Bunch,” a spin on “The Brady Bunch.” In addition, the 19 incoming UT students are featured in this year’s “Best of Class” spot, sponsored by UT, WTOL and the Ohio Lottery. The commercial, which features nearly 200 high school valedictorians from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, was filmed on campus in May. UT President Dan Johnson and Bill Horman of WTOL also are featured in the "Best of Class" commercial.
Kacee Cunningham, a 2002 graduate of Hilltop High School and one of the 19 valedictorians coming to UT, said the University was one of her top choices. “I am a post-secondary student, so they transferred almost all of my credits,” she explained.
Cunningham also said UT’s positive vibe attracted her. “I toured other campuses, and they were really rude and made it seem like I was wasting their time. Other universities and colleges took weeks and months to call back. When I met with my adviser at UT, she was very caring.” Cunningham plans on studying early childhood education.
Brittany Bernath, 2002 valedictorian of Stryker High School, also will attend UT in the fall. “I had some friends who went there and I visited them a few times and it was nice campus. I also heard there was a good business school,” she said.
UT may be a top choice for high-achieving students, but according to Martino Harmon, interim director of undergraduate admission, there is no specific outreach geared toward valedictorians. “The University mission calls for us to reach out to all students regardless of their ability level. We have special recruitment strategies for high-achieving students, such as special mailings or phone calls about the Honors Program, so we may be reaching them in that way,” he said.
“These students probably had numerous offers from various colleges. I think with tuition costs rising at state universities all over Ohio, it causes students to take a look at something in their own backyard,” Harmon said. “It allows us to showcase the University in terms of our programs, and our campus is second to none. Our application volume is not only up from students all over the state, but in the local area. In Toledo Public Schools, application volumes are up about 15 percent. In other Lucas County schools and non-Toledo public, it’s up in the 20 percent and over range.”
In addition to Cunningham and Bernath, area valedictorians scheduled to attend UT this fall are:
• Candace Barnes from Scott High School;
• Lindsay Burnett from Archbold High School;
• Jason Creighton from Graham Fayette High School;
• Rebecca Dorosz from Pettisville High School;
• Kristin Eisel from Notre Dame Academy;
• Meredith Elliott from Ada High School;
• Abigail Fries from Monroeville High School;
• Nicole Gerschutz from Ottawa-Glandorf High School;
• Aaron Miller from Toledo Christian High School;
• Lucas Miller from Upper Sandusky High School;
• Jennifer Quinlan from Notre Dame Academy;
• Anissa Russeau from Airport High School;
• Brian Schroeder from Kalida High School;
• Joshua Steen from Liberty Center High School;
• Rachael Sullivan from Notre Dame Academy;
• Megan Tewers from Northwood High School; and
• Nikki Zgela from Patrick Henry High School.
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