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LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2014 graduate, Olajuwan Smith(GO CDC’s Network Administrator), (center), with all of the teachers who taught him in the past 12 years at Ashtabula Area City schools.
It’s not often that a superintendent receives an e-mail from a student. However, on May 29th, as Ashtabula Area City Schools Superintendent Patrick Colucci was putting the finishing touches on his commencement ceremony speech, an e-mail from LHS graduating senior, Olajuwan Smith, stopped him and caused him to throw away what he’d spent hours writing.“I’m going through my emails and see this message from Olajuwan Smith,” Colucci said. “I’m reading this beautifully written letter and thought, ‘This is what I need to read.’” Not only did Colucci read Olajuwan’s words at the LHS graduation ceremony, he forwarded it to all district employees. From there, Smith’s letter took on a life of its own. “Olajuwan was my student in second grade,” said teacher Nancy Amidon. “He was as wonderful then as he is now.” Amidon knew others shared the same thoughts. She went on to organize a “meeting” with Olajuwan and his former teachers and administrators. “I simply sent a district email asking everyone who was mentioned in the letter to meet at the elementary campus,” she said. “In all 25 educators who impacted the life of Olajuwan gathered to say thank you to him.” Smith’s response surprised no one, “The teachers of Ashtabula City Schools owe me nothing. It is I who owe them.”Smith will be attending The University of Akron in the fall. He plans on majoring in Computer Engineering.
Jamar Bruner is defended by Dominque Knox during the Ball Till You Fall at G.O. Community Development Corporation.
Lorenz Sistrunk drives by Demonte Orr during the Ball Till You Fall at G.O. Community Development Corporation.
ASHTABULA — The energy level was high on a recent evening as basketball players arrived at G.O. Community Development Corporation basketball courts for eight hours of intense hooping. Ball Till You Fall drew between 55 and 60 boys, and men, for a night of basketball, food and fun, said Isaiah Salters, community center coordinator. The energy level waned a bit toward the end of the night when only 15 players remained to complete the eight hours of hoops at 5 a.m. Salters said.“The crowd got a little thin toward the end,” Salters said.“We had maybe 10 people sign up on line but I knew more would show up,” Salters said.“I think it is nice…I think it is stupendous,” said Alex Torres, 22, who was pushing his team up and down the floor late Friday evening.“I love to play basketball,” he said.“It kind of just turned in to an open gym,” Salters said of the night of basketball that included a lot of fast breaks and not a great deal of defense. Players ranged in age from 15 to adults seeking to show their skills and have a unique evening out of the house.“We fed them. They appreciated that,” Salters of the event said that it was free of charge for the entire night.“It was great,” Salters said of the event. Several events are the planning for area girls, Salters said. He said the organization is planning to conduct a basketball night for girls, and women, and conduct a “pampering night” as well. Salters said a basketball event for younger boys is also in the planning stages.
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