Start High School
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2017
HOLIDAY INN FRENCH QUARTER, DEPOT CONFERENCE CENTER
March 18, 2017 6:00 p.m.
MENU FOR THE EVENING Chicken Marsala, Key West Blend Vegetables, Au Gratin Potatoes Tossed Garden Salad, Rolls and Butter Coffee, Hot/Iced Tea and Lemonade Sheet cake and Ice Cream
PROGRAM FOR THE EVENING 6:15-7:00pm
Cocktails (Cash bar)
7:00-7:45pm Dinner 8:00pm Welcome – Gail Lair Schwind, Hall of Fame Association Class of 1974 Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Greetings Edward Perozek, Hall of Fame Association Principal, Roy C. Start High School Recognize past inductees Gail Lair Schwind & group photo Check Presentation “Class of ’66 First Class Gold Legacy Scholarship”
Kathleen Skowronek Weber, Hall of Fame Association Timothy McDonald Carol Bill McDonald Co-chairs, Class of ’66 50-Year Reunion
Start Hall of Fame Don Weber, Hall of Fame Association Scholarship Presentation Class of 1966 Hall of Fame Class of 2010
Amber Hessler, Class of 2017 Jenelle Streeter, Class of 2017 Austen Pawlaczk, Class of 2017
Inductions
Lannie Katzman, Emcee Start High School Faculty, 1969-1999 Speech - Debate - Journalism - Publications - Theatre Hall of Fame Class of 2004
Victoria Brown, Class of 2004 James Jacob, Class of 1990 Debbie Lewis-Koltoniak, Class of 1974 Debbie Schroeder, Class of 1965 Dave Wisniewski, Class of 1974 Paul Zilinski, Class of 1975 Kathryn Zuercher-Myers, Class of 1966
Alma Mater Mike Schmitz, Hall of Fame Association Class of 1987 Congratulations & Toast 9:30-11:30 pm
Closing Remarks Dancing and socializing Start High Jazz Band, Rob Stierman, Director
Edward T. Perozek Principal Welcome to the 16th Annual Roy C. Start High School Hall of Fame Induction! Being at Start High school for eight years, five of those as Principal, I have been elated to be a part of such a dedicated organization. Start High School opened in 1962, making this its 54th year. However, it has only been since 1998 that the Start High School Hall of Fame came together as an organization from a committee of friends. This committee is based on character, integrity, and motivation to honor individuals that hold those same standards. The Hall of Fame committee deserves special recognition for its hard work and dedication over the years to Start High School. This evening we are honoring men and women that have contributed to making a positive impact on the lives of the Start community. We celebrate the accomplishments of former graduates, teachers, administrators, volunteers and friends that made a positive difference in the lives of the people associated with Start High School, and their local communities. Start High School has an excellent reputation and tradition of excellence. As we honor these individuals tonight, we show that they are a big part of continuing this positive impact within the community. We appreciate their discipline, focus, use of talents, and their dedication to the institution within their daily lives. We are honored to be in your presence tonight, and we thank you for your loyalty, kindness, and positive representation of Start High School
Nancy Heffner Collins Class of 1965 Hall of Fame Class of 2003 On behalf of the Roy C. Start High School Hall of Fame Association Committee, welcome to the 2017 induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame is a fine old Toledo tradition which recognizes the good work of Start High students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Some of the most interesting parts of the program you are holding in your hands are the biographies of the 2017 inductees. You will find people with a wide range of vocations (coach, teacher, graphic designer, bartender, website designer, small business owner, artist) and an even wider range of fascinating avocations (drag boat racing, sea life rescue, class website designer, reunion planner, Big Sister, museum docent, youth sports supporter). Tonight, they will be inducted into an accomplished and diverse group of Hall of Fame members whose lives have enriched Start High School, their professions, and their communities. The most important activity tonight is to award scholarships to deserving Start High graduates to help ease the financial burden of post high school education and training. It is increasingly important that we invest in young people to help them to become educated, responsible, aware, empathetic, and devoted to their community, nation, and world. The 2017 scholarship winners you will meet tonight are an amazing group of students who have accomplished much in their high school careers and can be expected to accomplish even more in the years to come. We know you will be as inspired as we were by their vision and hopes for the future. Take a moment tonight to talk to these talented young people and their proud families. You will be glad you did. Tonight, the Class of 1966 will be awarding its first annual “Class of ’66 First Class Gold Legacy Scholarship”. As the first freshman class to walk the halls of the original Roy C. Start High School in 1962, they are also the first class to establish a fund within the Hall of Fame for a named scholarship. We hope they will inspire other classes to establish their own scholarships help even more Start graduates. Tonight’s event is brought to you by the Hall of Fame Committee, which is comprised of former students, inductees, teachers, administrators, and often their spouses. Consider becoming a member of the committee. It is not hard only one dinner meeting a month with congenial friends that gives back more much than you give. You may email your interest to Theresa Morris at coconut09@yaho.com or Don Weber at dakweber@bex.net. Also, we urge you to join the open Facebook group “Start High Hall of Fame”, at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/104317768302/ ! Have fun tonight! This is an all-class reunion where you can celebrate truly amazing fellow Start graduates and where you can meet the inspiring new graduates whose future you are helping making possible. Thank you for supporting the work of the Start High Hall of Fame Association!
Start Heritage and Highlights Roy C. Start first opened its doors on September 5, 1962 to 1,525 West Toledo students. There were no seniors that year. It was built to meet the demands of the high student enrollment in the Toledo Public Schools. E.L. Bowsher opened the same year and they were the last high schools that were opened. Start’s enrollment came from students originally in the Woodward and DeVilbiss districts. Throughout the years, enrollments ranged from a high of 2,348 in 1973 to a low of 1,508 in 1963. Transition has sometimes been a factor in Start’s enrollment numbers. In the 1991-1992 year, both Macomber and DeVilbiss closed resulting in some redistricting within TPS. Some of those students enrolled at Start, thus raising its numbers. Today charter schools, funding challenges and budget crunches threaten to affect student enrollment in all Toledo public schools. Start now graduates approximately 300 seniors each year. In the early 1900s, Start’s campus, which extends from Laskey Road to the DuPont Plant, was homesteaded and farmed by William Worden. The school was named after Roy C. Start, 1877-1956, who also served as Mayor of Toledo from 1936-1939. Mr. Start was active in religious, civic and fraternal activities for the betterment of West Toledo. His leadership enabled the city to obtain its water supply from Lake Erie instead of the Maumee River. He was active in persuading the City of Toledo to purchase Bowman Park, which contains nearly 100 acres and extends from Tremainsville Road to Jackman Road. The park now houses Rich Arbinger Field at Bowman Park. Financing for the school came from a twenty million dollar bond issue that passed in 1959 and became effective in 1960. Contracts were awarded on October 31, 1960 and work on the school began November 9, 1960. Construction was completed on July 1, 1962. Richards, Bauer and Moorhead was the lead architectural firm with other contracts being awarded to the Lathrop Company, William Ferrel, Inc., Roger Electrical Service, Inc., Miller Company and Thomas Excavating Company. The building housed forty-five academic classrooms, nine science laboratories, six business education work rooms, a library, a little theatre, an eleven hundred seat auditorium, a gymnasium, a large multi-purpose room, a six hundred seat cafeteria and administration suites.
The Spartan stadium was dedicated on September 12, 1969. Later, the Tom Inman all-weather track was added and in 1988, lights were added to the stadium. Night games were finally a reality at Start. A vocational skill center was dedicated on October 26, 1976 offering a full program of job training services. The programs have changed over the years to keep students competitive in the job market. Classes that have been offered in the “skill center” have included Small Business Entrepreneurship, General Marketing, Fashion Marketing, Electrical Construction, Automotive Technology and Business Office Education. Start is considered a comprehensive high school offering students approximately 250 different courses. Students can also choose to take classes at other TPS schools if the course is not offered at Start. Current students can also take college classes free of charge at local colleges as a part of the Secondary Options Program. Start’s Spirit Rock, now relocated to the west side of the former school driveway, was the first in Toledo. It was secured by Dan Simrell and a parent used a special truck hoist to transport it from the Nona France Quarry area. No, it hasn’t shrunk… half of it remains buried underground. Anyone care to guess how many coats of paint are on the rock? Start also has its Spartan Frog from the City of Toledo, “It’s Reigning Frogs” campaign. It was designed by Start Alumna, Kimberly Stelmaszak, with assistance from Start Alumnus, Justin Kruczkowski. The frog was sponsored by Start’s community partner, Toledo Children’s Hospital. Toledo Public Schools asked voters to approve a 4.9 mil bond issue to reconstruct Start High School. It has now traded space with the West Toledo YMCA and still shares space with the organization. The development included careful maneuvering of property lines to benefit all concerned. The official groundbreaking of the new Start High School took place on October 14, 2005 and construction was completed in the fall, 2007. Classes were held in the new building for the first time in January of 2008. While our old home is a memory, our traditions of quality education, caring teachers, dedicated volunteers, close friends and great events will continue no matter what building we call home.
Victoria ‘Vicki’ Brown Class of 2004 Everyone knows this about Victoria ‘Vicki’ Brown: she LOVES volleyball! Vicki was a standout player for Start High School and built a career in volleyball. Her most recent achievement is being named the 10th Head Volleyball Coach at the University of San Francisco in May 2016, starting a new chapter in her great volleyball career. Raised in Toledo, Vicki is a 2004 Start graduate, having attended DeVeaux Junior High and Old Orchard Elementary schools. At Start, Vicki was a two-time All-District and All-City League Player in both volleyball and basketball. She also was an All Ohio Honorable Mention player in volleyball. Vicki also sang in the Start Choir and participated in other school groups and activities. Vicki played for the Toledo and St John’s Volleyball Clubs, giving her the opportunity to travel the country playing in national and regional tournaments. Vicki earned a full scholarship to play volleyball at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She was a four-year player and a three-year starter. By then, Vicki was a 6’ 2” middle blocker with quickness and superior athleticism. Playing high above the net and making powerful kills, Vicki was a thrill to watch for both home and away crowds. She was a top 10 hitter in the always strong Big Ten Conference her junior and senior years. During her college career, Vicki was a 2-time All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention, a Dayton Flyer Classic All-Tournament Team member, a 3-time State Farm Illini Classic MVP, a Member of the Illini 1000 Kill Club, a Marquette Kickoff Tournament MVP, and, a 3-timer on the UNC Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team. She was also selected in 2007 to the United States National Training Team, training and playing with the best volleyball players in the country. Vicki graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Communications in 2008. After college, she jumped at the opportunity to play professional volleyball overseas. During four seasons, she played for the ‘Klagenfurt Kangaroos’ in Austria, ‘Juncos Valencia’ in Puerto Rico and ‘Haro’ and ‘Oxidoc’ in Spain. She visited several countries in Europe and the Caribbean playing both with and against some of the best players in the world. Vicki returned home to begin her coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Toledo Lady Rockets. She also was a head coach for the Toledo Volleyball Club 14s and 15s squads. She then became an assistant coach at Illinois State University where she was a valuable asset, helping the Redbirds become one of the best defensive teams in the tough Missouri Valley Conference. In 2014, Vicki went to the West Coast as the 1st Assistant Coach at the University of California, Davis. In March of 2016, Vicki moved one hour south to be the recruiting coordinator and Assistant Volleyball Coach at the University of San Francisco. Two months later, following a national search, Vicki was selected to lead the USF Dons’ volleyball programs. Vicki brings many things to the Dons: a keen, innovative volleyball mind; broad national and international volleyball experience; a strong background of great volleyball coaches and mentors. Add to this an infectious smile, enthusiasm for the game, and a great work ethic. In short, Vicki has been blessed by the Lord to do great things in the sport of volleyball. In Toledo, Vicki is a member of Peace Tabernacle Family Worship Center. She has been a Sunday School teacher, sang in and directed the choir, and has spoken to youth groups in the city. She enjoys cooking (when she can find the time) and has become quite the movie buff. Vicki’s parents, Elder Kelvin Brown and Pastor Francine Brown, siblings Donnie Ham, Anita Birchfield and Saundra Brown. Family and friends all over the country congratulate her for her great accomplishments and success. WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOU, VICKI!
Jim Jacob Class of 1990 During high school, Jim Jacob was part of the Start baseball dynasty; the teams that won the City League Championships in 1988 and 1989. He was a pitcher who was named to the first team All-City team in 1990. He is proud to have played a small part during that special time of Start athletic history. Jim attended Start High School from 1987-1990, where he also played basketball one year. Prior to Start, he attended Whittier Elementary and DeVeaux Jr. High. In January of 2010, Jim opened his own pizza shop, J-Cups Pizza. He had a long history in the business, starting as a pizza-maker and eventually becoming a manager and supervisor. But he felt he could make a better product. When he opened J-Cups that vision was realized. Since opening J-Cups, one of Jim’s major focuses has been on helping the community in any way possible. J-Cups Pizza participated in “A Slice of Hope,” which was a national event for pizzerias to raise funds and awareness for cancer. Whether it is a small church event or a large school event, J-Cups has always been there to help in any possible way. But the “Slice of Hope” isn’t Jim’s only charitable contribution. Since opening in 2010, J-Cups has donated over $25,000 worth of products, gift cards, and money to area schools and organizations. In January, 2017, J-Cups played a major role in the Toledo Firefighters Week of Feast by providing meals to 10 area fire stations. In both 2015 & 2016, J-Cups Pizza received the Lucas County Health Department’s top honor, the “Top Spot” award. J-Cups was the only pizza company to win this award both years. In 1994, Jim married fellow 1990 graduate, Jolien (Watson) Jacob. They have two children, Dustin, 20, and Brooke, 18, who both are attending the University of Cincinnati. Watching his kids playing sports and succeeding in the classroom has provided some of the proudest moments in Jim’s and Jolien’s life. Over the years, Jim has been active in coaching youth sports. He has coached youth basketball and softball, as well as some baseball. Jim says that the feeling you get from teaching and working with young athletes outweighs any success he himself had as an athlete. Jim is very proud to be a Start High School graduate. He enjoyed his four years at Start and believes many of the people he was involved with, such as the many great teachers, coaches, fellow students, teammates, family, and his wife, Jolien, have helped shape his life.
Debi Lewis Koltoniak Class of 1974 Debi Lewis Koltoniak has enjoyed a 40-year career as a graphic designer, creative director, and business partner. Debi credits her success in life to a loving and supportive family and home environment, sound educational foundation, and lifelong friendships. She holds her teachers at Start High School in high regard for their skills as educators as well as their willingness to encourage involvement in activities, discipline, and a desire for learning academic and life skills. In high school, Debi was known for her fun-loving nature and involvement in a variety of extracurricular activities including student council and several social clubs. Her creative and artistic talents found fertile ground in her high school art classes. Debi earned an Associate in Specialized Technology degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, graduating in September, 1977 with dean’s list honors. She returned to Toledo in 1977 to begin her career. Debi worked as a graphic designer in several advertising agencies plus freelancing before joining Hoeck Associates in 1988, where she served as vice president and creative director for 20 years. During the financial downturn in late 2008, the agency that she had been with for 20 years closed its doors forcing Debi to readjust her career plans. In 2009, Debi, along with her business partner, founded a design and marketing firm they named Creative Oxygen. Through the years, Debi has held several leadership positions including board member for the Advertising Club of Toledo; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Toledo Ski Club and the Michigan Alpine Competition Council. She served as a Big Sister for 12 years, and president of the Toledo Ski Club for three consecutive years. Despite a busy professional career, Debi has carved out time to pursue her favorite pastime — alpine skiing and ski racing. An avid skier, Debi met her husband Nick in 1985 while they were on a weekend trip with the Toledo Ski Club. Debi and Nick have been married for 30 years, and they have two cats, Bodie and Mickie, who keep them amused on a daily basis. They have owned a condo in Telluride, Colorado for 20 years, and enjoy skiing in that breathtaking environment. Their life, though, is filled with travel, snow skiing, and perpetual remodeling of their Old West End home.
Debbie Schroeder Class of 1965 Debbie was nominated by a team of 1965 class members for her tireless efforts to reconnect class members through the class website and reunions in Ohio and Florida. Her personal warmth and unerring ability to relate to others enabled her to succeed at an astonishingly wide range of jobs in retail and restaurant businesses, which established her current role as unofficial class historian and hostess. Debbie was a typical 1960’s era teenager at Start High School, participating in the Les Beaux Art Club, Pep Club, Knitting Club, and dancing Spartanettes. She particularly treasures memories of the “Y” dances, Shenanigans, Senior Class trip to New York City, Senior Banquet, and Senior Skip Day at Cedar Point. She says: “I only started having fun at Start the last couple of months of our senior year. I wish the rest of my high school experience had been the same!” After graduation, Debbie served on the class reunion committees, specializing in finding lost classmates, first with phone books and later electronically. Recognizing the importance of renewing old friendships and the power of the internet, she spent several years and two failed attempts before finding the optimal platform for a class website. The Class of 1965 responded enthusiastically, leading many vacationing and snowbird Spartans to SW Florida where Debbie graciously organized mini-reunions. Tenaciously, she has located information on every deceased class member of the Class of 1965 and graciously assisted the Class of 1966 in completing their records. One of her most gratifying experiences was locating pictures and relating memories of a classmate to the son who never knew him. Many of Debbie’s outside interests center on the water. She worked on her cousin’s professional drag boat race team, traveling all over the country for races. She developed her talent for photography by documenting her travels. After her 1986 move to SW Florida, she documented the considerable local beauty there. One of her proudest achievements was the publication of her photos in racing programs and national sports magazines. She has volunteered in dolphin, whale and sea turtle rehabilitation as well as rescuing pelicans and other sea birds who are entangled in fishing line. She also helped hearing impaired clients with TDY communication at the local Service Center, and participated in the “Blessing Bags” Project that supplies homeless with personal care items. Her latest project is the “Look Good, Feel Better” initiative at the local American Cancer Society. She says “I will use my background in skin care and make up artistry to help cancer patients to look their best and feel better about themselves while they are fighting the battle of their lives.” Debbie has always worked; starting as soon as she could see over the counter at Mrs. Snyder’s Pies, her family’s bakery on Lewis Avenue. After graduation, she held many different sales and retail jobs, first in Toledo and later in Florida. Her favorite job, however, was being a bartender for over 25 years, where she felt as if she got paid to visit with people and make new friends. After retiring from bartending, Debbie started yet another career as an Accredited Skin Care Consultant, Beauty Advisor, and Makeup Artist for Clinique at Macy’s. But Debbie says her best job of all was raising her two boys, and now being grandma to two handsome grandsons.
Dave Wisniewski Class of 1974
Dave Wisniewski is an artist renowned near and far for his large-scale paintings of 19th century Wild West characters. He started painting at an early age at his mother’s side, as she was also an artist. In 1977, he found his first opportunity to be a professional artist as the “Store Artist” for Peaches Records and Tapes. Later, Dave opened a co-owned shop providing airbrushing and sign painting to the Toledo area. Unfortunately, Dave had been diagnosed with diabetes his junior year at Start High School, and in 1987, as fate would have it, he was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, only to find his eyesight failing him. Laser treatments and surgeries held off total blindness, but within a month of his diagnosis, he was legally blind. After extensive rehabilitation, low vision evaluations, adaptive and aptitude testing through the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, the redesign of Dave’s future was at hand. His counselor asked, “Mr. Wisniewski, now that you have completed and satisfied our courses, what is it that you think you would like to do with your life?” Dave sat for a moment and replied, “Well sir, am I not still an artist?” With the blessings and assistance of the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, Dave enrolled at the University of Toledo to achieve a formal education in art. The professors and instructors were essential in helping Dave find a way to use his remaining eyesight to continue creating Art. In 1998, he completed his Bachelor of Art degree, with a major in painting, graduating Summa Cum Laude. The following year Dave’s mother suddenly died. Just a week later his father was notified that a sofa his mother had purchased was ready for pick-up. Still dazed by her untimely death, Dave and his father mournfully arrived at the furniture store. During the transaction, the sales clerk painfully reflected on how Dave’s mother boasted Dave as a “wonderful artist.” The clerk recommended a local art gallery nearby with which she was familiar. Dave took a painting of a cowboy to that gallery and it was sold before it was ever hung on the gallery wall. So the “Cowboy Artist” was born and invited to display his work thereafter. In an International Fine Art Exhibition at in New York, the Agora Gallery wrote of Dave’s work: Dave Wisniewski’s portraits of Western Americana display all the grit and savvy of lawmen and cowpunchers from those bygone days. Rustlers, gunslingers, and sheriffs stare deadpan, eyes as sharp as a hawk peering from the shadows of wide brim hats. Each portrait shows Wisniewski exploring the personalities who inhabited this rough-and-tumble time period. His style is, both, realistic and whimsical, highly textured, large in scale, and created in rich oils. Dave Wisniewski paints a devilishly fun series of works, one that explores and celebrates this rich slice of American history and have brought the local artist national attention. Dave sees best from 12 to 18 inches away from the surface of the canvas. If he wants to get a feel of how someone with typical vision might view his work, he stands in the back of his studio with binoculars. Otherwise, he uses a mirror and looks at it with his back turned. “It reverses it, so it’s like you’ve never seen it before. You can see if something is disproportionate or if there’s a problem you didn’t see because of eye fatigue,” he said. “You have to bring it to life, and you put yourself in it. It’s almost like getting to know someone. As you sit down at a table with a complete stranger, you might ask a question. You might imagine how someone is looking at you. It comes to life on its own.” Dave started dating his wife, Sally Sperling, while attending Start High School. They will be celebrating their 39th anniversary June 3rd. They have two children and two grandchildren. Dave enjoys playing drums, camping and traveling. Reflecting on his school days at Roy C. Start, Dave believes his art classes were nothing less than instrumental in his artist development. Carol Rice and Betty Conlin provided hours of enjoyment and freedom in experimental exercise for image cultivation. Dave recalls drawing strictly from the imagination while listening to record albums, which was such a wonderful environment in which to hone one’s creative skills. This profound sketching and doodling spilled over into his other classes which may account for his poor grades. Dave also enjoyed the classes with Paul McDaniel and the theatre department, and assisted in scene construction and lighting. Dave also recalls taking an exam regarding the novel, “The Scarlet Letter”, wherein he answered the questions by drawing little pictures in the blanks. Mr. Epstein escorted him directly to the ‘office.’ Having re-read the book more recently, Dave maintains that it is still a miserable book!
Paul Zielinski Class of 1975 Paul Zielinski and his students were a familiar sight at Washington Local schools, trooping down the hall with wading boots, gloves, buckets, and nets. Their mission: to obtain water samples to be used at the University of Toledo to monitor water quality. A noted educator and scientist, Paul was best known for his work in the environmental sciences and his particular interest in the water quality of the Maumee River Basin and Western Lake Erie Region. He was one of the first teachers to work with the late Dr. Peter Fraleigh, a professor of Aquatic Ecology at the University of Toledo, on the Toledo Area Water Quality Project. Test results from area waterway samples collected by Paul and his students would be presented at the annual Water Quality Symposium. Paul’s experience at Start High School helped foster his lifelong love of education and learning. While at Start, he is remembered by friends and teachers as an intense student, committed to academic excellence. He was a member of the National Honor Society and worked on the Shield yearbook. He continued his fierce devotion to academics while at the University of Toledo, earning a Bachelor of Science in both chemistry and biology while working in the lab at Mercy Hospital to finance his education. He later earned a Master of Education from the University of Toledo. Paul’s career spanned 30 years in the Science Department of the Washington Local School District, where he taught Biology, Honors Biology, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry and Environmental Science. Paul was passionate about science education, incorporating hands-on labs with his students and conducting what he referred to as “real science.” To say that he left an indelible impression on the thousands of students he taught over his career would be an understatement. Many could remember him 10, 15, or 20 years after they had taken one of his classes. His teaching style of mixing talent, intelligence and a thoroughly outrageous sense of humor, could not be replicated. He conducted contests to see which student could grow the largest plant in a hydroponic solution. Indeed, his biology room could resemble “The Little Shop of Horrors,” with the huge plants draped over scaffolding. Among the many honors and awards Paul received were the Maumee Bay Watershed Award several years in a row, the Longevity Award for his Water Quality Team’s participation in the County Water Quality Symposium held at U.T., the United States Presidential Award for outstanding achievement in environmental services (1991), and the Governor’s Award for Youth Science Opportunities (20042005), In 2009, Paul was nominated for the Teacher’s Association of Washington Local Schools (TAWLS) Outstanding Teacher Award by his peers. Paul’s passion for science recalls a quote by the Greek historian Plutarch: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” You may fill a person’s mind with knowledge but that leads nowhere if a passion for learning and living is not ignited. Paul had the passion and desire to ignite it in others. Paul was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, always willing to help and mentor anyone who asked. He enjoyed trap and skeet shooting at Toledo Trap and Skeet and ran the Junior Rifle Program at Adams Conservation Club. He was a parishioner of St. Clement Catholic Church. Paul died January 4, 2004 at age 56 after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Marianne, daughters, Carolyn and Laura, and family members. On June 6, 2014, the Whitmer Science Library was dedicated and renamed the Zielinski Science Resource Center. The Paul Zielinski Memorial Science Scholarship (now known as the Paul Zielinski & Jim Terry Memorial Science Scholarship) has been established in his memory.
Katherine Zuercher-Myers Class of 1966 Kathie Myers’s family includes four generations of teachers; three music teachers, a science and math teacher, two Spanish (and English) teachers, and now, a high school administrator. So, having originally planned to become a pharmacist, she discovered that she never really wanted to leave school! She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Education from the University of Toledo, where she also found confidence in her ability to be a campus leader and an honor student. She was a member of several honor societies and President of both Delta Delta Delta Sorority, which awarded her second place in their national leadership award, and Peppers Women’s Honorary. She was also Editor in Chief of the 1970 Blockhouse, UT’s yearbook. She graduated in 1970 with a major in Spanish and minors in English and History and Government. Her love of Spanish came from Miss Bumgardner and Mrs. Flanner and she was inspired and encouraged by Mr. Conley and Mr. St. John to develop leadership skills while at UT. Kathie taught Spanish at Arbor Hills Junior High in Sylvania for fourteen years, using her yearbook experience to co-edit a yearbook for the school. She taught all levels of Spanish at Southview High School: levels 1 through Advanced Placement. She was World Languages Department Chair from 1986 until her retirement in 2011. Kathie enjoyed interacting with her students through organizations and was advisor to Spanish Club and to Southview’s Student Senate from 1988 through 1997. One of her greatest joys was working with outstanding student leaders and encouraging less confident students to learn to be leaders. During those years, Southview significantly expanded social service projects that taught students to help their community. She helped the student senators to organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive, a Red Cross Blood Drive, a Christmas auction to benefit academic programs, and several social events for the entire school. She also was involved in orienting upper-class students new to Southview through Student Senate by helping them find their way with members of Student Government as temporary mentors. Surprisingly, during her 41 years with Sylvania Schools, she taught many sons and daughters of the Class of ’66. The Lucas County Educational Services Center awards “I Make a Difference” designations to two teachers from each school every year. The teachers are nominated by the valedictorian and the salutatorian of each high school. Kathie was humbled to receive this award three times. She was also very involved in Eighth Grade Open House, helping to design the evening so that prospective students and parents could discover the amazing courses and activities that Southview offered their students, whatever their interests and talents were. To that end, she compiled and published Academic Accolades, which recounted all the academic, arts, and leadership awards that Southview students won beyond the doors of the school during each academic year. She served with two other teachers to launch a humanities research class, which reflected her interest in the arts that were inspired at UT. Kathie also was on the steering committee for the school improvement plan, using her interest in publicity and communication with the community. Beyond being a public school teacher, Kathie was in charge of education at Reformation Lutheran Church, was a member of church council, taught Sunday School at two churches, and assisted with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. After retiring from Sylvania Schools, she taught part-time for two years at St. Ursula Academy, until she was offered a training program to become a docent at Toledo Museum of Art. And she’s still teaching - but now it’s visual literacy and on a volunteer basis. She has been married to Joe Myers (one of the Sylvania music teachers) for 44 years. Kathie and Joe are classical music fans. They both participate in choirs and enjoy attending Toledo Symphony concerts as well as Toledo and UT Opera performances. They have two grown children. Thomas is an assistant principal at a large high school in suburban Atlanta. Rebecca is an administrator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. And, by the way, they were both students in Kathie’s Spanish 3 class at Southview!
Amber Hessler Class of 2017 Start High School Hall of Fame 2017 Scholarship Honoree Amber has been in the DECA program at Start High School for the last two years. She competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference last year in Nashville, Tennessee, and is working towards going to this year’s conference in Anaheim, California. She also joined Student Body Government her senior year, helping plan various school events as well as a donation drive. Following graduation, Amber plans to pursue a degree in education at either Bowling Green State University or Eastern Michigan University with a goal of eventually teaching Social Studies at the high school level.
Jenelle Streeter Class of 2017 Start High School Hall of Fame 2017 Scholarship Honoree Jenelle has been active in the Start High school community all four years of her high school career. In affiliation with Start High School, Jenelle has been an active member in orchestra, choir, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is even the 2017 Class President. While working in retail and playing varsity sports at Start, Jenelle has maintained a 3.34 GPA and has consistently stayed on the honor roll. Jenelle also plays varsity softball, is a cheerleader and previously was part of the volleyball team. She plans to attend Eastern Michigan University or Akron University and hopes to play college softball while studying nursing. Jenelle would like to thank her mother, Jennifer Segura, for everything and helping make her dreams a success.
Justen Pawlaczk Class of 2017 Start High School Hall of Fame 2017 Scholarship Honoree Ever since freshman year Austen has been involved with the Start baseball organization, playing on the varsity team both his junior and senior years. He has been very involved with helping the team to get funding by volunteering at the concession stand during basketball games and through events like recycling drives to help benefit not just the team, but the planet as well by reusing our waste. Austen is a member of National Honor Society and does volunteer work within the school and in the community to display scholarship and merit. He has carried a 3.8 GPA throughout his four years at Start and has been on the honor roll during every quarter of high school. He has taken advanced math, all-honors math and is currently taking AP calculus. Austen values his science classes and plans to translate his love for science and math into a degree in chemical engineering at a university yet to be decided. Austen would like to thank his mother and father for supporting and pushing him to strive and be the best he can be in his studies and his future plans.
Past Start High School Hall of Fame Scholarship Recipients Tori Thompson Rebecca Vail Janelle Braxton Dale Martin Rachel Nordhoff Alexa Sanders Luke Kwiatkowski Zachary Papadakis Andrell Hall Sarah Scisson Joey Mravec Tessa Elliott Tyler Seybold Jamie Luster Liquisha Parks Daesha Ware Alacia Jones Kiersten Losh Kayla Repass Armond Wimberley Brooke Aey Hunter Amburn Josephine Greenwalt Taylor Kuron Justin Doughty Demaris Jackson
Class of 2005 Class of 2006 Class of 2007 Class of 2007 Class of 2008 Class of 2008 Class of 2009 Class of 2009 Class of 2010 Class of 2010 Class of 2011 Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2014 Class of 2014 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2016
The Ohio State University Baldwin-Wallace College University of Toledo Case Western Reserve Kent State University Miami University University of Toledo University of Toledo Bowling Green State University The Ohio State University Siena Heights University University of Toledo Bowling Green State University The Ohio State University University of Toledo University of Toledo University of Toledo University of Toledo The Ohio State University The Ohio State University Paul Mitchell, The School Bowling Green State University University of Toledo University of Toledo University of Findlay University of Toledo
Start Principals Christian R. Thomson 1962-1972 Darrel K. Clay 1972-1982 Wilbur L. Booth 1982-1990 Rebecca Johnson 1990-1991 John Patroulis 1991-1996 Rebecca Johnson 1996-1999 Jeffrey Kurtz 1999-2000 Michael Kedzierski 2000-2003 Dr. Ray Russell 2003-2007 Elizabeth Wray 2007-2012 Edward T. Perozek 2012-present
How to nominate your favorite Spartan for the next Start High School Hall of Fame to be held on March 24, 2018: Please use the nomination form included with this program or contact Theresa Morris at (419) 944-8559. We hope to see you next year here at the Holiday Inn French Quarter.
How to contribute to the Start High School Hall of Fame Scholarship: If you are interested in volunteering for Start High School Hall of Fame, please contact Theresa Morris at (419) 944-8559. The Start Hall of Fame is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please make your check payable to the Start High School Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund, and send it to: Start High School Hall of Fame, PO Box 6859, Toledo, OH 43612-6859.
Please consider memorial tributes and planned giving to the Start High School Hall of Fame. Clurie Arnett, Louise Arnett, Jeff Black, Frank Kralik, Shirley Flanner, Sophia Gust, Robert Haddad, Dorothy Hall, Ed Lair, Sis Lair, James Lewis, Howard Mabel, George Miley, Judy Oehlers, Mitcho Pappas, and Gary Shaw. It is through their memory we are able to continue helping our Start students.
Thank you for making this evening a success. Please let these individuals and organizations know you appreciate their support.
Super Spartan William & Carolyn (Hess) Baker** Terry Perris Dr. Charles & Karen Shapiro** The Start High Class of 1966 William Straka** Albert & Deborah Vargo** Don & Kathie (Skowronek) Weber** Green Spartan John & Barbara (Hiss) Bruning** Nancy (Heffner) & Gene Collins Bob Conley Mel Harbaugh Michael & Mary Kedzierski Mel DeMars Jim & Judy Vitale
Spartan Members
Willy and Lois (Blanchard) Aey** Bud & Sharon (Gurecky) Alderman** James Arnovitz** Maryalice Barnaby Virginia Black, in memory of her son, Jeff Victoria Brown Steve Edwards** Gloria Enk John Frankenburg* Lannie Katzman Mark & Sandy Luetke Ron McCracken Tim & Carol (Bill) McDonald** Katherine (Zuercher) Myers** M. Kay Patterson** Paul Saggese & Patricia Toney** Sandi (Rakestraw) Thompson** Susie (Smith) Thompson** Mark Vonderembse** Garry & Kathy (Bauer) Webb** Dennis & Karen (Helm) Yard**
*In honor of Debbie Schroeder **In honor of Katherine Zuercher-Myers, & the “Class of ’66 First Class Gold Scholarship” fund. (Donors listed are as of the publication deadline of March 10, 2017)
Donations to the “Class of ‘66 First Class Gold Legacy Scholarship” Gifts totaling $4000 commemorating their 50-Year Reunion celebration Patrick Anway James Arnovitz William Baker Robert Beat Susan Bolton Toney Brad Brotje Timothy Bunner Alex Carnahan Delores (Dee) Carr Coistek Mary Pat Clement Krumlauf JoAnne Dahms Vernon Ellen Davies Daniels Michael Dennis John Dillon William Douthett James East Steven Edwards Brian Ellis, Esq. Paul Ewing Garald Farnham Susan Farrell Palmer Michael Griffith Mark Grotty Sharon Gurecky Alderman
Linda Hardy Dydo Barbara Hiss Bruning Kathy Horner Driscoll Diane Hyman Richard Hyman Olivia Kallile Summons Sharon Konz Furia Pat LaCourse Henry Barbara Lawrence Gross Mark & Sandy Luetke Catherine MacDonald Kobie Melody MacDonald Long Thomas Mack Richard Marok Frederick Marshall Rodney Marshall Lauri McCauley Harrington Timothy McDonald Barbara McKenty Biggs Stephen McKinley David McRitchie Robert Mead Richard Mengel Cheryl Meyer Miller
David Miller, M.D. Michael Miller Sandy Nelson Stover Laura Niles Wilhelm Linda Northrup Adams Marilyn Kay Patterson William Pratt Sandra Rakestraw Thompson Gary Redrup Dr. Charles Shapiro Patricia Toney David Vanell Arthur VanTuinen Albert Vargo Mark Vonderembse Jeffery Vosdoganes Garry Webb Donald & Kathleen Weber Raymond Weber David Welker Dennis Yard Jay Yourist Christopher Zervos Katherine Zuercher-Myers
2017 Start High School Hall of Fame Committee Heidi Aey, Wendy Aey Steinman, Rita Arnett Spitulski, Lois Blanchard Aey, Peggy Burns Cameron, Larry Calcamuggio, Zac Cameron, Nancy Heffner Collins, Gail Lair Schwind, Theresa Morris, Dan Peffley, Ed Perozek, Irma Petersen, Mike Schmitz, Jesse Squire, Pam Vaillant Hall, Don Weber, Kathie Skowronek Weber.
The Roy C. Start High School Hall of Fame Association was begun in 1998 to: • Honor Start High School graduates and individuals who have made major contributions to Start High School and their community • Raise scholarship money for Start High School graduates • Establish a comprehensive database of Start High School alumni, friends and former staff members • Provide an opportunity for networking and resources for people associated with Start High School
Start High School Hall of Fame Inducted Members 2000 Members Airron Richardson, Class of 1993 Bill Boddy, Class of 1979 Frank Kralik, Retired Faculty 1962-1998* Mel DeMars, Class of 1967 Thomas Inman, Retired Faculty 1962-1989 Kimberly Jamison-Carter, Class of 1980 2001 Members Al Peake, Class of 1967 Bob Caverly, Class of 1967 David Carter, Faculty 1972-1975 Darrell Moulton, Dedicated volunteer 30+ years Doug Whatmore, Class of 1987 Helene Sanzenbacher, Faculty 1962-1974* Laurie Ann Swyers, Class of 1970 Michael Maves, MD, MBA, Class of 1966 Spilios John D. Pappas, MD, Class of 1975 2002 Members Jason Bloomer, Class of 1993 Michael Harrington, Class of 1988 Martin Nagy, Class of 1967 Jim Vitale, Class of 1976 Howard Mabel, Retired Faculty 1968-1993 Ken Oehlers, Retired Faculty 1968-1995
2003 Members Mitcho Pappas, Retired Faculty 1962-1992 Aaron Williams, Class of 1991 Pam Vaillant Hall, Class of 1972 Mark Luetke, Class of 1966, Faculty 1970-1974 Allen Davis, Class of 1987 Walter “Chip” Carstensen, Class of 1968 Nancy Heffner Collins, Class of 1965 Tim Harrington, Class of 1978 Pete Benedict, Retired Faculty 1975-2002 2004 Members William Bradish, Class of 1971 JoAnn Halbig-Sanchez, Class of 1991 Jim Jagodzinski, Start Sideliner 1971-1988 Lannie Katzman, Retired Faculty 1969-1999 Donald Miller, Class of 1968 Joan Pomeroy, Retired Faculty 1968-1991 Christian Thomson, Principal 1962-1972* 2005 Members Bonnie Ammer, Class of 1965 Richard Arbinger, Faculty 1975-2009 Mike and Mark Kersey, Class of 1970 Jeff Kurtz, Class of 1971, Principal 1999-2000 Irma Petersen, Retired Faculty 1969-1997 Martha Pownall, Retired Faculty 1972-1989
Start High School Hall of Fame Inducted Members 2006 Members Ned Heidtman, Retired Faculty 1962-1976* Lori Lee Mackey Fain, Class of 1983 Jeff Hill, Class of 1975 Mary Hall Richardson Quigley, Retired Faculty 1978-1996 Ryan Williams, Class of 1997 James Vail, Jr., Dedicated Volunteer 20+ years
2012 Members Cynthia Kallile, Class of 1974 Susan Farrell Palmer, Class of 1966 Robin Johnson Cockerill, Class of 1987* Phyllis Nathanson, Retired Faculty* Thomas Pappas, Class of 1983 Dan Peffley, Class of 1990 Nancy “Nina” Wright, Class of 1972
2007 Members Robert Conley, Retired Faculty, 1963-1985 Brad James, Class of 1974 London Mitchell, Class of 1968 Michael Pappas, MD, Class of 1981 Wendy Aey Steinman, Class of 1990 Olivia Kallile Summons, Class of 1966
2013 Members Rebecca Banghoff, Class of 1980 Jeffrey Arthur Black, Class of 1965* George Brymer, Class of 1974 Bruce Jacobson, Retired Faculty Bill Lipner, Class of 1966 Tiffany Noel Taylor, Class of 1990 Kelley Shumaker Sauerzopf, Class of 1990 Linda Heinl Ziemke, Class of 1968
2008 Members Sharon Gurecky Alderman, Class of 1966 Janis Fought Brown, Class of 1968 Michael Kedzierski, Retired Faculty 1988-2003 Sandy Lewis Luetke, Class of 1972 George Miley, Retired Faculty 1973-1982* Michael O’Rourke, Class of 1973 2010 Members Craig Cotner, Class of 1966 Allen Lee Markowitz, MD, Class of 1964 Sally Nagel Rochotte, Class of 1972 Don Weber, Class of 1966 David Wendt, Sr, Class of 1966 Jamie Williams, Class of 1989 Rolanda Williams, Retired Faculty 1970-2003 2011 Members Steven Edwards, Class of 1966 Tavis Glassman, Class of 1990 Michael Majewski, Class of 1990 Theresa Morris, Class of 1989 Magda Pecsenye, Class of 1990 Terrence Perris, Class of 1965 Rick St. John, Retired Faculty 1963-1973
2014 Members Geoffrey Ammer, Class of 1968* Vicki Ellis, Class of 1969 Terri Gailer, Class of 1974 Thomas Kemp, Class of 1970 Robert King, Dedicated Volunteer, 1976-1990 Steve Randall, Class of 1987 Mark Vonderembse, Class of 1966 2015 Members James Birmingham, M.D., Class of 1990 Charles E Boyk, Esq., Class of 1976 Peggy Burns Cameron, Class of 1974 Mary Kedzierski, Faculty (1981-2008) David Kennedy, Class of 1973 Sgt. Edward Mack, TPD, Class of 1989 Ron Rowland, Class of 1973 Gary Shaw, Class of 1966* Jeff Stewart, Class of 1987 2016 Members Ken Carstensen, Class of 1970* Mel Harbaugh, Class of 1965 Keith B. Jordan, Sr., Class of 1991 Gail Lair Schwind, Class of 1974 Ronald McCracken, Class of 1969 Mary Mikesell Cianci, Class of 1973 Thomas Ross, Class of 1966 Dr. Charles Shapiro, Class of 1966 * Inducted posthumously
Date: _____________
ROY C. START HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM
Please read the Nomination procedures below for helpful information. When completing this form, please be specific and provide as much information as possible. Although you may nominate more than one person, please use a separate nomination form or sheet of paper for each nomination. I would like to nominate the following individual for the Start Hall of Fame: NOMINEE’S NAME_________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP _______________________________ PHONE(S)__________________________ EMAIL: ___________________________________________________________________________ Nominee graduate, attended or was associated with Start High School from: DATES ___________ TO ___________ Please complete the nomination information AND on a separate page, you must include your specific reasons for nominating your candidate. Please note, we cannot consider incomplete forms. Nominated by________________________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip_____________________________________ Phone(s)____________________________ Your Association with Start High School__________________________________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________________________________________________
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NOMINATION PROCEDURES/REQUIREMENTS All nominations, on appropriate forms, are due by August 31, 2017. Please mail them to: Start High School Hall of Fame Association, P.O. Box 6859, Toledo, OH 43612-6859 The nominated individual may be a Start graduate or person associated with Start High School, graduated or served as a volunteer for 5 years or more. This stipulation permits the inclusion of graduates, administrators, teachers, coaches and individuals in the community who have made significant contributions and accomplishments to Start High School and/or to the community. Graduates must have graduated at least 5 years prior to be eligible for election to the Hall of Fame. The individuals will be honored for their outstanding contributions and accomplishments. Nomination forms must be filled out completely. Please include additional documents that include a brief biography of the individual as well as information explaining why the nominee deserves to be inducted into the Start High Hall of Fame. Incomplete forms will not be considered. A limit of 10 individuals will be inducted at each ceremony. Inductees must be present at the Hall of Fame Banquet in order to be inducted into the Start HS Hall of Fame. Those who are elected to the Hall of Fame will be honored at the banquet. One posthumous award may be presented at each ceremony.
Alma Mater The Galaxies, oh Alma Mater, Shine in splendor down on thee. With love we bow our heads in honor, Faithfulness and Loyalty. Hold the shield of Valor higher, Proud the royal colors fly. In glory to the Alma Mater, Dwelling of the brave and bold. Glory to the Spartan heroes, Glory to the Green and Gold!