The Bluffton Junior High string orchestra and Bluffton sixth grade string orchestra both received Superior ratings at OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event at Parkway High School on Friday, May.
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The sixth grade orchestra performed in class "C" playing "Dragon Slayer," "Clog Dance" and "Main St. March."
The junior high orchestra performed in class "A" playing "Medieval Wars," "Lullaby to the Moon" and " For the Star of the County Down."
The orchestras are under the directions Rachael E. Lewis.
Vivian Nofziger and Kimberly Dove are the recipients of the 2016 Barbara Fleming Memorial Nursing Scholarship sponsored by Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio, Bluffton and Pandora (MHCO).
Nofziger is a 2014 graduate of Pandora-Gilboa High School and is a student at Huntington (Indiana) University where she is working toward a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. She is the daughter of Vance and Crista Nofziger of Pandora.
Deborah Bish from Ada, shown with the Bluffton Community Market manager, Mike Love, was the Shopping Spree winner at the Market on May 7.
The Bluffton Lions Club sponsored the shopping spree as a way to gain proceeds for their scholarship program. Winnings from this spree and other projects conducted by the Lions Club make it able to again give six scholarships for seniors in the area schools of Bluffton, Pandora-Gilboa and Cory-Rawson.
These scholarship winners will be announced at the school’s annual awards session this week.
There’s American Idol and then there’s Bluffton Eighth Grade Idol.
And the final round of the Bluffton contest was Friday with a packed house of middle school students cheering on their friends as four final contestants competed.
PHOTOS OF ALL CONTESTANTS AT BOTTOM OF STORY
Courtney McLaughlin came out on top with her performance of “Set Fire to the Rain,” by Adele.
Other finalists were Sean Casemier who performed “See You Tonight,” by Scottie Mccreery.
Damien Amsler performed “Come as You Are,” by Nirvana.
Dr. Oliver Lugibihl, a Pandora native with many Bluffton connections, is the 2015 Bluffton Lions Club Citizen of the Year.
His award was presented on April 19 during a Lions banquet at First Mennonite Church.
Better known as “Ollie,” and known for his considerate bedside manner, Dr. Lugibihl served the Bluffton-Pandora area for over 40 years before retiring from in 2004.
A former Bluffton elementary student, Mia Pannabecker, moved with her family to New Zealand this past fall. Her older brother is Seth, and older sister is Kate.
Beth and Ray Raeburn recently arranged for a time for Mia to Skype with her former class at Bluffton elementary. The photo shows Mia Skyping.
Mia's parents, Tim and Jo Pannabecker, wrote on Facebook: "We woke Mia soon after 6 a.m., so she would be ready at 6:20 a.m.. Was great to hear Mia talking with her former teacher and classmates."
