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30 Area Valedictorians Choose to Attend UT |
| By
Kimyette Finley |
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May 28, 2004 |
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| More than 200 area high school valedictorians were on campus recently to tape "Best of the Class" commercials to air on WTOL-TV Ch. 11. |
The University of Toledo’s fall 2004 freshman class will feature 30 valedictorians from area high schools.
The UT-bound students spent a day on campus last week taping “Best of the Class” commercials that spotlight the area’s top high school graduates. The spots, sponsored by UT, WTOL-TV Ch. 11 and the Ohio Lottery, will feature more than 200 high school valedictorians from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
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| Jerry Anderson of WTOL, left, and UT President Dan Johnson appear in some of the "Best of the Class" spots. |
“We’ve been doing this project for over 20 years. It’s intended to be a celebration of their academic accomplishments,” said Steve Israel, director of operations at WTOL. The commercials will air on the station throughout June.
Martino Harmon, director of high school relations for Undergraduate Admission, said in addition to the regular recruitment activities, which include high school visits, college fairs, and phone calls from UT territory managers and students, there could be a variety of reasons why more valedictorians chose the University this year. “Our scholarship program committed to award students at the top level of the applicant pool. Although we had an abundance of great students who applied for admission by the scholarship deadline, our awarding process ensured that students at the top levels received offers that they qualified for. The commitment was based on the direction of the UT strategic plan, which is geared at attracting and retaining more prepared students.”
In addition, Harmon pointed out potential factors such as the Post-Secondary Options Program, which enables students to take classes at UT while still in high school; some of the high-achieving students who plan to attend UT might have participated in this program. Also, there has been a stronger effort to get students from the Toledo area to attend campus visit programs, and the University also offers college-planning sessions at the high schools that feature UT territory managers as guest speakers. Harmon added the expense of a higher education could be a factor. “More students may be opting to stay closer to home this year because of the rising cost of education. Through communications from admissions and TV and radio advertising, UT has been able to get the quality message to them more.”
Nate Patrick of Liberty-Benton High School in Findlay, Ohio, said he decided to attend school here because “UT has a good pharmacy program. And the cost had a lot to do with it.”
Matt Henschen of McComb High School, also near Findlay, Ohio, said he chose UT for a variety of reasons, including the people he talked to during a campus tour. “Everyone was very nice and seemed to enjoy being here. They didn’t seem to have any regrets. Plus, the engineering program at UT by far was one of the best in the state.”
Christina Steinmetz of Seneca East High School in Attica, Ohio, said she chose UT because “… when I visited here, I thought this should be home rather than some of the other schools. This felt right. There are lots of activities in a big school.”
In addition to Henschen, Patrick and Steinmetz, other valedictorians scheduled to attend UT are:
• Jennifer Babcock, Libbey High School;
• Craig Barker, McComb High School;
• Cara Bennett, Upper Sandusky High School;
• Samantha Blair, Vanlue High School;
• Melissa Crites, Fairview High School;
• Katherine Egbert, Genoa High School;
• Dana Fought, Ottawa-Glandorf High School;
• Kristen Harden, McComb High School;
• Leah Heitmeyer, Pandora-Gilboa High School;
• Jason Kahle, Kalida High School;
• Billy Kupka, Fremont Ross High School;
• Megan Lavoy, Mason High School;
• Amy Leopold, Ottawa-Glandorf High School;
• Matthew Longfield, Mason High School;
• Phillip Magnone, Lake High School;
• Samantha McClain, Mason High School;
• Brian Meyer, Leipsic High School;
• Kristen Monarch, St. Ursula Academy;
• Connie Neyhart, Emmanuel Baptist Christian School;
• Devin Niese, Leipsic High School;
• Courtney Nissen, Genoa High School;
• Beverly Schlatter, Defiance Senior High School;
• Neil Schnipke, Kalida High School;
• Emily Schroeder, Ottawa-Glandorf High School;
• Dustin Sheeks, McComb High School;
• Kyle Short, Gorham Fayette High School; and
• Sharon Stookey, Emmanuel Baptist Christian School.
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