To celebrate all the academic achievements made by their students, West Greene High School holds their annual Academic Banquet towards the end of the school year, with their National Honor Society chapter organizing the event. Families, faculty members, and students gather to recognize the hard work and dedication that students display throughout the academic year. The banquet serves as one of the school’s annual traditions dedicated to celebrating academic excellence and student achievement.
West Greene’s NHS chapter is sponsored by Mrs. Melissa Ullom, who is approaching her 20th year of English education in the school district, all while recently becoming the high school librarian. Throughout her time at West Greene, Ullom has played an important role in the academic success of many students, both inside and outside of the classroom, me being one of them. She makes her classroom feel like a second home to her students, making sure that they feel heard both academically and just as a person, making her more than qualified to sponsor the schools’ NHS chapter.
To begin the banquet, Superintendent Eric Gaydos gave his opening remarks on how well the school year went for the district academically, making it very clear how proud he was of the hard work that students and educators put in during the year. The opening remarks were followed by a dinner that preceded the awards ceremony.
During the awards ceremony, students were recognized by the Challenge Program with a certificate and check in the following categories: Attendance, STEM, Community Service, Academic Improvement, and Academic Excellence. Additional awards that were distributed include the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, American Citizenship Awards, and AP Capstone Awards.
Before it was time to distribute scholarships to members of the senior class, there was one more award that the district needed to recognize: Educator of the Year. This year’s recipient of the honorable award was Mr. Jeffery Polander, who spent many years teaching 6th grade science, as well as 6th grade English. Polander left a profound mark on many students during his tenure in the district. Year after year, Polander invested a lot of his own time and effort into organizing a trip to Gettysburg for the 6th grade class, as well as serving his community as much as he could, all while being an exceptional educator.
Many senior students left the banquet with a little more money than they came with, as the hardworking group had many students be awarded scholarships for their impressive academics, their commitment to community service, and the grit that they display in athletics. These scholarships were distributed by several local businesses, organizations, and families to support graduating seniors as they prepare for college and future careers. The awards highlighted the strong support system that exists within the West Greene community.
As the banquet ended, students left with not only awards and scholarships, but also recognition for the countless hours of hard work they put into the school year. The evening served as a reminder of the strong academic community at West Greene and the educators who continue to support student success year after year.
