OTTAWA — Four Putnam County high school seniors received Edward A. and Ettie M. Rieman $1,000 scholarships during a luncheon Friday at the Red Pig Inn.
Jordan Drummelsmith of Miller City-New Cleveland High School, Bailey Eickholt of Kalida High School, Presley Hovest of Pandora-Gilboa High School and Bradley Schmitz were not only chosen for academic excellence but for character as well, said Jerry Rieman.
“We look at academic achievement, citizenship, patriotism and church involvement,” he said. “We’re looking for well-rounded individuals who have done something in their community.
Drummelsmith was president of his FFA chapter, vice president of student council and won best in show for his artwork during the Putnam County Fair two years in a row. He is attending University of Toledo in the fall, majoring in statistics.
Eickholt tutored children in math and Spanish, volunteered to aid in flood clean-up and helped raise funds for a charity that helps children in Ecuador attend school. She will be attending Wright State University to pursue a nursing degree.
“I really like giving back to my community,” she said.
Hovest earned a State Tested Nurse Aide license when she was 16, she said. She worked with Putnam County elderly after receiving her license and went to Haiti for a medical mission trip for a week. She is attending University of Akron in the fall to pursue a major in nursing.
Schmitz is a saxophone player who is a member of the All-County Honor Band and the OMEA district concert and jazz bands. He is a Boy Scouts of America member and earned Eagle Scout rank by helping renovate Glandorf school. He will pursue a computer science degree at Miami University in the fall.
Edward Rieman lived in Putnam County his entire life. He was superintendent for Miller City-New Cleveland schools and served a term as county commissioner.
“I remember a time when they wanted to separate people with disabilities from the classroom,” Bill Rieman said. “Dad didn’t like that idea and fought against it.”
His father believed the disabled students should remain in the classroom with the other students and receive that same education, Bill Rieman explained.
Ettie Rieman was also a Putnam County native. She was an officer of the Putnam County Historical Society and helped write a book compiling stories from locals who experienced the Blizzard of 1978.
Bill Rieman said his family has given out around 60 scholarships in memory of his parents since 2002.
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