People

By Benji Bergstrand

Earlier this year Bluffton Family YMCA, 215 Snider Rd., named their gymnasium in honor of the late Dr. Terry Chappell who worked with others to help found Bluffton’s recreation center (formerly Bluffton Family Recreation) and who also spent decades promoting exercise and healthy living through his Bluffton medical practice. 

Dr. Chappell has a deep connection to basketball in general and the Bluffton YMCA gymnasium in particular. 

The Bluffton High School Academic Team is the runner-up at the Bath Invitational on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025.

Team members are (L_R) Roselove Jebsen, Daphne Johnston, Asa Clingerman, Zoe Shank, and Maizie Digby.  

The team performed 5-1 in the tournament, losing only one match to Bath High School, the tournament champion.

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PHOTOS provided by Bluffton Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops

By Victoria Goddard

On Saturday March 8, St. John's UCC--home of Bluffton's Food Pantry--was the scene of organized chaos. Bluffton Boy Scouts and Cub Packs united to collect all the donated items around Bluffton, which they delivered and sorted at the Food Pantry. 

The Scouts and Cubs canvased Bluffton with door hangers the previous Saturday.  Picking up all the donated items is thought of as a giant Easter Egg hunt across all of Bluffton.

The activity included Bluffton Cub Scouts who are now a "Family Pack" for boys and girls. Girls in the photos are all Cub Scouts. When they are old enough to cross over to a Troop, they will have an all female Troop. 

Photos by Dennis Morrison

Youth in Bluffton have formed a Leo Club with the sponsorship of the Bluffton Lions Club, joining some 7,700 Leo chapters across the world. Creating “Leadership, Experience, Opportunity” is the goal of these Lion-affiliated clubs.

On Tuesday, March 4, the Leo Club was formally established with a charter night that included induction of 31 members and installation of these officers:

BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL LEO CLUB

Charter Officers

President Ava Smallcombe
Vice President Keith Burkholder
Secretary Claire Phillips
Treasurer Lillian Dagani
Directors Nora Matthews, Macy Schaadt, Avery Ulrey

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Provided by Bluffton High School

Bluffton High School is proud to announce that Zoe Shank has been selected as the Student of the Month for February 2025. Zoe is a senior with a 4.0 GPA and is the daughter of Phil and Sarah Shank of Bluffton.

A dedicated senior, Zoe is a multifaceted leader and scholar. She serves as the president of the Spanish Club and is an active member of the orchestra, academic team, National Honor Society and Campus Life. Shank’s leadership extends to her role as co-organizer of a weekly Bible study group, demonstrating her commitment to her peers and community.   READ MORE

Asa Clingerman, Bluffton High School senior, has been named a finalist in the 70th annual National Merit  Scholarship Program. The announcement was made this week with finalists being notified of this  designation. All Finalists will be considered for 6,870 National Merit Scholarship Awards to be offered in  spring 2025. 

Clingerman is the son of Gail and the late Forrest Clingerman.  

Over 1.3 million high school juniors from 21,000 high schools entered the contest by taking the 2023  Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists and Finalists  must have an outstanding academic record throughout their high school career. Scholars must also be  endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT or ACT scores to confirm their earlier  performance on the qualifying test to advance to the semi-finalist round, according to scholarship rules.  

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