Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award & Scholarship

2022 Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship Winner 

Nicolina Pezzone has been chosen as the 2022 Otis R. Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award winner and is the recipient of the accompanying four-year, $4,000 Scholarship.

Nicolina qualified as a candidate by achieving at least a 3.7 GPA in college preparatory courses, election into National Honor Society, and earning at least two Varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport.

Qualified candidates were required to submit a written essay on the value of academics and athletics and request three letters of recommendation from a teacher, a coach, and a teammate.

The five-person selection committee was composed of two college professors, two varsity coaches from the tri-county area, and a member-at-large, none of whom were employees of the city or school district.

Pezzone will graduate with a 3.9 GPA, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and completed the Advanced Placement course in Government. She earned four Varsity letters in softball.  She will receive the award and the first installment of the scholarship at the Senior Honors Assembly on May 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the Struthers Fieldhouse.

She will begin work on a degree in Communications/Business at the University of Charleston in September. Nicolina also received ALL-OHIO First Team honors.

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2021 HELDMAN SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Emilee Styranec has been chosen as the 2021 Otis R. Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship Winner. The daughter of Stephen and Wendy Styranec, Emilee qualified as a candidate by achieving a least a 3.7 GPA in college prep courses, election into National Honor Society, and earning at least two varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport.

Emilee will graduate as a valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and completed AP courses in biology, government, and politics. She also ear5ned four varsity letters in soccer and received All-County Honorable mention.

Citing her achieving a “5” on the AP Government exam and placing in the top tenth percentile nationally, Kevin Dailey of the social studies department, stressed Emilee’s “work ethic and leadership abilities. Her ability to manage her time and balance the demands of academic, athletic, and service commitments is inspiring.” Ron Bartholomew, varsity soccer coach, said Emilee “was my team captain, leader, and role model for my younger players,” because of “her strong traits of hard work, leadership, sportsmanship, and compassion.”

Teammate Julia Szenborn noted that Emilee “was never selfish and always lent a helping hand to see someone else improve. She is a true role model.”

Styranec will begin her studies in September at the University of Mount Union in pursuit of her goal to become a physician’s assistant and work in medical research.

2022 Update: Emilee was named to the Dean’s List for Spring Semester at Mount Union.

2019 HELDMAN SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Anthony Bennett has been chosen as the 2019 Otis R. Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award winner and is the recipient of the accompanying $8,000 Scholarship.

The son of Ms. Lisa Morris of Struthers, Mr. Bennett qualified as a candidate by achieving at least a 3.7 GPA in college preparatory courses, election into National Honor Society, and earning at least two Varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport.

Qualified candidates were required to submit a written essay on a pre-determined topic and request three letters of recommendation from a teacher, a coach, and a teammate.

The five-person selection committee was composed of two college professors, two varsity coaches from the tri-county area, and a member-at-large, none of whom were employees of the city or school district.

Bennett will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and completed the Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government and Politics, scoring a “5” on the AP Exam, performing in the top ten percentile of all students taking the course nationwide. He is also the Salutatorian of the 2019 Class.

Bennett will begin a major in physics at Miami University in September with a career goal to work at the National Aeronautical and Space Agency.

His AP History teacher, Kevin M. Dailey, recounts that Anthony’s “character and leadership was a constant inspiration to his peers and to his teacher.  Other students gravitated towards him to find new strategies and to review material.  With his talents, strengths, and self-motivation, he will certainly reach and surpass the goals he has set for his future.”

“Bennett is the definition of a student who has balanced the demands of both academics and athletics,” stresses Kevin A. Hausch, Head Coach of the SHS Cross Country teams.  “Anthony is a motivated young man who strives for excellence and who leads by example.”  In addition to serving as captain of the Varsity Cross Country Team, Bennett was also a member of the Varsity Bowling Team and the Varsity Track and Field Team.

Calling him “a great teammate and friend,” junior Jonathan Morris, a fellow member of the SHS Varsity Bowling Team, emphasized Anthony’s leadership skills.  “He would always fight to keep team morale afloat.  He was the last one to quit.  He was the guy we needed to achieve the feats and create the memories we did this past season.”

Anthony enrolled at Miami University in September 2019.

UPDATE: Anthony has completed his junior year and was selected for a summer internship at Miami.

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2018 HELDMAN SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Miss Aleya Mims was chosen as the first Otis Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award winner and is the recipient of the $8,000 Scholarship. 

 The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cedric Mims of Struthers, Miss Mims qualified as a candidate by achieving a 3.9 GPA, completing AP courses in Biology, Psychology, Government, and English 12, election into National Honor Society, and earning at least two Varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport. She also submitted a personal essay and requested three letters of recommendation from a teacher, a coach, and a teammate.

 “Through hard work, time, and perseverance,” says Floyd Cracraft, SHS Tennis Coach, “Aleya is already making a difference that shows off not only her high character but also her willingness to go above and beyond.  She worked hard to earn All-Conference honors and was a major contributor to two conference championships.”

 Calling her “a student any teacher would like to have in class,” Patrick Gaia of the Social Studies Department, stresses Aleya’s “strong work ethic and unquestionable personal character.  As a student, she is far ahead of her peers.”

 Teammate Colleen Davis, while reiterating Aleya’s “strong work ethic” and “a joy to be around,” emphasizes her leadership skills: “She is a natural-born leader and offers constant encouragement to everyone she is around.”

 SHS Guidance Counselor Sandra Ross praises the unique Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award, “This is an excellent way to provide incentive to underclassmen to keep working hard both in the classroom and in their chosen sport.”

 Dr. Elizabeth Heldman, trustee of the Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Fund, explains, “Although the Scholar-Athlete Award is new and unique, it is actually a recognition of  the old-fashioned, small-town, parental values and sacrifices that produce exceptional students.”

She will begin pre-med studies in September at the University of Mount Union in pursuit of her goal to become an orthopedic surgeon.

 UPDATE:

 May 2022—Miss Mims has successfully completed four years at the University of Mount Union and will graduate in May 2022. She was selected for a SCHOLAR DAY presentation held on April 26. The annual Student Celebration Honoring Our Latest Academic Research (SCHOLAR) Day showcases academic excellence and scholarly research by MU students. Her presentation was titled “Effects of Nematodes on the American Beech Tree.” She also was named to the Dean’s List for Spring Semester.