SHS ALUMNI NEWS
Creating Alumni Connections + Building Alumni Relationships
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In This Issue - Summer, 2018
SHS Grad Named National Assistant Principal of the Year
SCS Receives $1.2 Million Literacy Grant
Track & Field Student-Athletes Have Exceptional Showing at State Meet
SHS Named “Best High School” & Earns Silver Award in Annual U.S. News Ranking
Mustang Express Places 2nd at OSU Showchoir Invitational
SHS Class of 1968 Prepares for 50th Reunion Celebration
‘Purple Star’ Awarded to SHS for Support of Military Families
New Varsity Boys & Girls Basketball Head Coaches Are Named
SHS Grad Earns Spot on Billboard's 2018 List of Top Branding Power Players
Music Department Raising Funds for New Grand Piano
Save the Date - Distinguished Alumni Event (Tuesday, April 16, 2019)
Congrats to the Class of 2018 - SHS Commencement and Top 5%
SHS Baseball Team Makes Another Run in State Tournament
SCS Recognized as “Best Community for Music Education” for 5th Straight Year
Team Strongsville Tailgate - Friday, August 24th (5-7pm)
Nominate a Deserving Mustang for the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Send Us Your Alumni Update!
SHS GRADUATE NAMED NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to SHS graduate (Class of ‘03) Erica (Snook) Page who was recently named ‘2018 NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year.’ This award annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students.
Mrs. Page is in her sixth year as an assistant principal at Pelion High School, in Pelion, SC. She attributes her success to inspiration from her own eighth grade teacher, and asserts that “every administrative decision I make comes from believing in students and putting them first.” As her principal Bryan Hearn describes, “Ms. Page’s values, beliefs, and attitudes are evidenced by her high expectations for students, faculty, and staff. Her contagious ‘all in for all students’ attitude echoes through the building.”
For more details on Mrs. Page and this prestigious award, click HERE.
SCS RECEIVES $1.2 MILLION LITERACY GRANT FROM OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has awarded Strongsville City Schools $1.2 million in grant funds as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant. More than $33 million was awarded by ODE to 46 school districts and consortiums of districts to improve the language and literacy development of students.
Over the next three years, this grant money will provide Strongsville City Schools with three (3) Kindergarten - 5th Grade literacy coaches, as well as the Lexia Learning Program to provide research-based reading intervention support for each of the five (5) elementary schools in our District.
TRACK & FIELD STUDENT-ATHLETES HAVE EXCEPTIONAL SHOWING AT STATE MEET
Congratulations to the SHS boys and girls track & field teams as they competed in the recent State Meet in Columbus:
The BOYS TEAM finished in 27th place overall, with the following individual results:
4x200m Relay: Jack Malczewski (JR), Mitch Hoerig (SR), Taylor Griffin (JR), Joe Gillette (JR) 17th in state
400m Dash: Riley Anderson (JR) 6th in state
800m Run: Jack Mott (JR) 9th in state
Long Jump: Joe Gillette (JR) 14th in state
4x400m Relay: Jack Malczewski (JR), Mitch Hoerig (SR), Jack Mott (JR), Riley Anderson (JR) 4th in state
The GIRLS TEAM finished in 16th place overall, with the following individual results:
100m Hurdles: McKenzie Greene (SR) 9th in state
100m Dash: Karson Kobb (SO) 18th in state
Pole Vault: Erin Sievers (JR) 4th in state
High Jump: Emilia Lesniak (JR) 3rd in state
200m Dash: Karson Kobb (SO) 18th in state
Discus: Drew Robinson (SR) 4th in state
4x100m Relay: Lorissa Schwab (SO), Drew Robinson (SR), Erin Sievers (JR), Karson Kobb (SO) 11th in state
SHS NAMED A 2018 ‘BEST HIGH SCHOOL’ & EARNS ‘SILVER’ STATUS IN ANNUAL U.S. NEWS NATIONAL RANKINGS
Strongsville High School has been named a 2018 U.S. News “Best High School” and awarded silver status in this annual nationwide ranking. U.S. News reviewed 20,000+ public high schools across the United States. Of the 313 Ohio schools earning a place on the list of ranked institutions, Strongsville was one of 111 schools earning silver status. U.S. News ranks Strongsville #95 in the state of Ohio.
The rankings compile and review school-specific data on enrollment, college readiness, student ethnicity, location, school type, and results of state assessments and Advanced Placement tests.
MUSTANG EXPRESS EARNS 2ND PLACE AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY SHOWCHOIR INVITATIONAL
Congratulations to Strongsville High School’s Mustang Express! The group recently earned 2nd place honors at the Ohio State University Showchoir Invitational. In addition, the following Mustang Express members were recognized with individual honors for the competition:
Shane Strohmenger - Best Male Vocalist
Mia DiSalvo - Best Female Vocalist
SHS Class of 1968 Prepares for 50th Reunion Celebration
The 50th reunion celebration for the Class of 1968 is being planned for this fall. Activities are scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 5-7, which also happens to be this year's Homecoming. If you know a member of the Class of 1968 who has not been contacted yet about this reunion, please send an email to Susan (Laub) Broderick at broderickual62@aol.com. We look forward to celebrating this 50th reunion in October!
STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL EARNS ‘PURPLE STAR’ DESIGNATION FOR SUPPORT OF MILITARY FAMILIES
Congratulations to Strongsville High School for earning ‘Purple Star’ designation. The high school has been recognized by the Ohio Department of Education for its commitment to and support of military families. SHS joins Whitney Elementary as the schools in our District earning this designation.
new varsity boys and girls basketball head coaches at SHS
John Lipowski has been named head varsity boys basketball coach for Strongsville High School. Lipowski has been a part of Strongsville’s basketball program since 1999, including coaching the 7th & 8th grade basketball teams at Albion Middle School, leading the Strongsville High School Freshman team, and guiding the Mustangs varsity basketball program for the final eight games of the 2017-18 regular season. Lipowski is a 1991 graduate of Strongsville High School and has been a science teacher in Strongsville Schools for 21 years, teaching at Allen, Zellers, and Kinsner elementary schools, and currently at Strongsville Middle School. For the full press release, click HERE.
Carl Walcher has been named head varsity girls basketball coach for Strongsville High School. Coach Walcher’s most recent position in his thirty two year coaching career has been the varsity assistant coach for the boys basketball team at Medina High School. He has held that position for five years. Prior to that, he was the head varsity girls basketball coach at Trinity High School and also spent time with the girls basketball programs at Normandy High School, Medina High School, and Valley Forge High School. Click HERE for the press release about Coach Walcher.
John Lipowski (SHS '91)
SHS Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
Carl Walcher
SHS Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach
SHS Grad Earns Spot on Billboard's 2018 List of Top Branding Power Players
Congratulations to Jules Ferree (SHS Class of '00) for being named to Billboard's 2018 list of Top Branding Power Players. Jules is one of 73 individuals to be recognized on this prestigious list for marketing accomplishments in the music industry. She is the Head of Brand Partnerships at SB Projects and has worked on branding deals with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and more. Most recently, Jules helped organize "Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief," including performances by Stevie Wonder, Usher, Blake Shelton, Dave Matthews, Demi Lovato, and Brad Paisley. To date, over $64 million has been raised for charities helping victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
To see the complete Billboard list of Top Branding Power Players, click HERE.
Music Department Raising Funds for New Grand Piano
The cornerstone of Strongsville High School’s music program, the Grand Piano, has been utilized for over 45 years. The Grand Piano accompanies 14 musical groups at SHS, as well as several local organizations utilizing the SHS Auditorium on a regular basis. Assisting more than 540 SHS music students per week, the Grand Piano is an important instrument is the SHS ‘fleet’ of instruments. The SCS Music Department is currently fundraising to purchase a new Grand Piano for our District. Click HERE for the online fundraising site, or click HERE for additional details on how to contribute.
SAVE THE DATE - DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI EVENT (TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019)
Save the date for the next SHS Distinguished Alumni event in 2019. In partnership with the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce, another class of Distinguished Alumni will be inducted during a special luncheon on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Nomination forms are available HERE.
Congrats to the Class of 2018 - SHS Commencement and Top 5%
Congratulations to the Class of 2018! Strongsville celebrated its 120th Commencement on Sunday, June 3 honoring the many achievements of this class. Student Council President Maria Ong, Phi Beta Kappa recipient Suraj Srinivasan, and Senior Class President Joanne Munshower, all presented speeches to the graduates. This year’s entire ceremony can be viewed on the Strongsville City Schools channel on YouTube - click HERE.
Krista Albertins - University of Michigan (Political Science)
Angelina Baishnab - The Ohio State University (Biology)
Anna Brant - Ohio University (Biology)
Angela Brkic - University of Akron (Biomedical Science)
Andreea Ciobanu – Yale University (Spanish and Global Affairs)
Caroline Cyranek – The Ohio State University (Pharmaceutical Science)
Julia Estephan – Kent State University (Architecture)
Janie Eyerman – The Ohio State University (Undecided)
Christina Fogwell – University of Cincinnati (Music Education)
Emily Gorges – University of Pittsburgh (Bioengineering)
Jonathan Greaves - John Carroll University (Computer Science)
Salvatore Hargis – The Ohio State University (Engineering)
Jessica Hoy - The Ohio State University (Pharmaceutical Science)
Morgan Hyun - Case Western Reserve University (Genetics)
Griffin Kennedy – Ohio University (Bioscience)
George Kinney - The Ohio State University (Engineering)
Erika Lee - Boston University (Economics)
Ian McGreal – Case Western Reserve University (Undecided)
Joanne Munshower – The Ohio State University (Finance)
Satya Nayagam – Princeton University (Engineering)
Maria Ong - The Ohio State University (Engineering)
Shyam Polaconda - Case Western Reserve University (Neuroscience)
Hannah Schmidt - Century College (Biochemistry)
Suraj Srinivasan - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Engineering and Computer Science)
Andrea Wolford - The Ohio State University (Science Tech and Environmental Exploration)
Rosemary Zaleski – The Ohio State University (Biochemistry and Math)
SHS Class of 2018 - Top 5% Students
SHS BASEBALL TEAM makes another run in state tournament
Following last year's state runner-up finish, the Mustangs baseball team looked to capitalize on that experience and make some noise again in this year's postseason tournament. They earned their 2nd straight district championship by defeating St. Ignatius, 3-1. The team advanced to the 'Sweet 16' by defeating Amherst Steele 2-1 in extra innings. The Mustangs eliminated the number one team in the bracket and handed its ace pitcher his first loss, scoring the only 2 earned runs off of him for the entire season. Unfortunately, their postseason run ended with a 10-2 loss to Anthony Wayne in the regional finals. Congratulations Mustangs on another memorable season!
SCS Recognized as “Best Community for Music Education” for 5th Straight Year
Strongsville City Schools has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the fifth straight year the District has earned this distinction. Strongsville is one of 583 school districts nationwide to be recognized by NAMM, and one of just 13 school districts in Northeast Ohio to receive this prestigious award in 2018. Congratulations to all of our students, teachers, parents, and community members who support our District’s music programs!
TEAM STRONGSVILLE TAILGATE
Don’t miss the first football game of the season and celebrate with all of Strongsville during the 6th Annual Team Strongsville Tailgate on Friday, August 24th. Music, food, and fun begin at 5pm in the parking lot next to Pat Catan Stadium. The Mustangs then kick off their season at 7:00pm against Berea-Midpark.
Nominate a Deserving Mustang for the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame
SEND US YOUR ALUMNI UPDATE!
Strongsville High School
Email: shsalumninews@scsmustangs.org
Website: http://www.strongnet.org/Page/419
Location: 20025 Lunn Road, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: 440.572.7100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strongsvillecs
Twitter: @StrongsvilleHS