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Danielle Cross is a 2025 Bluffton High-school Graduate who attended her last 4-H Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

Danielle and her horse Riley qualified back in June and competed this week on July 15-16, when they were awarded Sr. 16-18 Ohio State Champion for Poles, Keyhole, Stakes, and 4th place for Barrels.

Danielle attends Allen County Fair with her group Equine Country Club. She loves to mentor other kids and plans to come back as an advisor in the Future.

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CORRECTION: Neil Schmidt was a double-sport athlete at Purdue. His brother Pete went to Bowling Green State University.

By Fred Steiner
Bluffton Icon founder

Seems like several football season ago, I stood on a September Harmon Field Friday night sideline. 

During a timeout, the focus of the group surrounding me quite naturally turned to a peculiar discussion: Ranking the greatest Pirate football players to sink their cleats into the 100-yard-lawn where we stood.

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Miley Russell of Pandora–Gilboa High School will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the Lima Memorial Auxiliary.

Each year, the Lima Memorial Auxiliary and LMH School of Nursing Alumnae Association award scholarships to local students who plan to pursue a career in the medical field. Seven outstanding students will be recognized this year and awarded scholarships at the Lima Memorial Auxiliary Summer General Meeting on Wednesday, June 11. These outstanding students will ultimately make a difference in many lives through their chosen healthcare profession.

 

 

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MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton High School is proud to recognize June Essinger as the Student of the Month for May 2025. June is a senior with a 4.0 GPA and is the daughter of Dave and Alice Essinger of Bluffton. 

Throughout her high school career, June has distinguished herself scholastically, earning recognition as the Student of the Year in Organic Chemistry, Economics, Digital Art, Latin II, Science 9 and English 9. Her commitment to academics has been recognized through numerous scholarships from esteemed organizations, including the Lima Exchange Club, Lima Elks, American Association of University Women, Bluffton Lions Club, Charles River Biomedical Research, Blanchard Valley Health System Auxiliary, Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion. Additionally, she was named Lima Rotary Club Student of the Month and was the winner of the Lima Noon Optimist Club essay contest.

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The following Honor Roll has been announced by Bluffton High School for the 4th quarter of the 2024-2025 school year.

9th Grade – All A
Owen Armstrong, Mallory Blackburn, Avery Boehm, Peighton Bowers, Owen Brauen, Toby Clevidence, Julia Dawdy, Willow Derstine, Phoebe Edwards-Leeper, Camryn Fruchey, Lane Ginther, Chloe Hanefeld, Klaira Hohenbrink, Micah Lemley, Maelee Miller, Alexis Mummert, Alexander Nance, Ezra Nygaard, Elizabeth Phillips, Isabella Recker, Natalie Richards, Ethan Smith, Joe Spencer, Lilly Swartzmiller, Peyton Worcester

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CLICK gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace / PHOTOS by Amy Mortimer, Program cover by Zoe Shank

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The May 24 Bluffton High School commencement was a smorgasbord of emotions, entertainment, philosophy and festivity. Depending on your role–as a graduate, parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, teacher or mentor–the program brought tears, laughter and introspection.

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