Students Honored for Contributions to Community

Students are often recognized for their academic and athletic achievements, but on Saturday active members of the community were thanked for their contributions.

Coburn United Methodist Church honored eight area high school students at the Muskingum Christian Athlete Leadership Award Breakfast.  Committee member Mike Fulmer said the students are nominated by a teacher, coach or athletic director.

"We get those nomination forms and review them based on their athletics, their academic achievement and their community involvement, and as long as we feel that they’ve achieved all of those, then they are selected to receive the award," said Fulmer.

Fulmer said the event is a spin-off of a Super Bowl breakfast put on by the church five years ago.  Gennie Kocoloski is a senior at Bishop Rosecrans High School, and she said her track coach nominated her for the award.

"It was a really nice honor," said Kocoloski.  "I respect him, and it’s nice that he gives that respect back to me.  It’s nice to know that someone is recognizing your accomplishments."

The guest speaker was Dr. Samuel Finck, a local surgeon who has trained with physicians for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cincinnati Bengals.