Amber Boop, Bluffton High School junior, is the February artist of the month.
"This piece is called Rat House and it's a piece I really love," she told the Icon. "When drawing it the personalities of the rats emerged and evolved. Each of them has a unique personality and story. I loved being able to develop them and their little world.
Amber says that she enjoys art because she enjoys developing a world with her hands.
"I can shape this world however I wish," she said. "I can make it as beautiful, practical, and amusing as I want.
Two Bluffton High School graduates participated in fall and winter commencements.
Haley Baker graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, with a Bachelor of Science: Psychology.
Heather Kahle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (baccalaureate nursing) from Ohio University's College of Health Sciences and Professions.
Several Bluffton High School graduates were named to area college dean’s lists. Those students follow:
Ohio University
Ali Moser in the College of Arts and Sciences
Rhett Donaldson in the College of Arts and Sciences
Ben Theis in the College of Business
Abigail Pennington in the College of Fine Arts
Kevin Childs in the College of Health Sciences and Professions
Darby Prichard in the University College
University of Findlay
Brandy Duling
Kenneth Lovett
Sarah Siders
Daniel White
15 Minutes with Jesse Montel
Interviewed by Derek Swartzlander Icon: You graduated from Bluffton in 2019. What have you been doing since then?
I’ve been attending Ohio Northern University studying for a degree in computer science.
What are your goals after you graduate?
Hopefully to get a job as a computer programmer.
What is your number one pet peeve?
Probably when people chew with their mouth open.
LeeAnn White of Bluffton is the winner of the Bluffton Icon Super Bowl contest. She predicted a Tampa Bay win by 13 points, which was the widest point spread among all entries.
She wins a 14-inch, 1-item Padrone's Pizza. Coincidentially, the Ada winner, Howard Fenton also picked Tampa Bay by 13.
Here's some contest stats:
16 contestants picked Tampa Bay to win
32 contestants picked Kansas City to win
Contestants entered from Bluffton, Ada, Lima, California, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Bill Ramseyer didn’t have to go to the Super Bowl to get a game ball. The Super Bowl came to him, in a manner of speaking.
The Bluffton High School and Bluffton College student athlete, and once again Bluffton resident, Ramseyer was presented a Super Bowl football directly from Wilson’s Sporting Goods in Ada. All Super Bowl footballs are created by Wilson’s in Ada.
