001Dr. Lash. Good evening everyone and thank you for attending this evening's um student success celebration committee meeting. My name is Summer Hall and I'm honored to serve as your chair of this committee. joining. Thank I'm sorry. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this incredible achievement of the Akran public school students. I'd like to begin by introducing our co-chair board member Carmea Kelly and committee member Phil McGomery. Currently at this time our student board member could not make it. Um, so we'll just move on. The purpose of the student success celebration committee is simple but powerful. We exist to collect, curate, and publicly share student success stories that reflect the positive impact of Akran public schools. Each month, we will highlight students in the following areas: academic excellence, athletic achievements, arts and creativity. service
002and leadership, personal triumphs. Through this work, we strengthen pride in Akran public schools at every level, elementary, middle, and high school. This committee was established through a board resolution adopted on May 27th, 2025. brought forward by board member and former co-chair new vice president Dr. Molinar. Tonight we move for purpose to celebration. To begin, I now will turn it over to board member Phil McGomery. >> Uh thank you. Uh at this time I would like to invite uh Holt Wikman to please come forward. >> [clears throat] >> Nope. Right at the podium. So, hold, thanks for coming in tonight. I have a few quick questions for you to let us know here in the audience. Tell us what school you attend, what grade you're in, and what is your favorite subject. >> Um, I go
003to Windmir CLC. I'm in the third grade, and I love math. >> Awesome. will hold. On behalf of the Akran public school student success celebration committee, we are proud to recognize your determination, discipline, and perseverance both academically and athletically. Training six days a week and earning a novice state championship title reflects extraordinary commitment and resilience. What makes that achievement even more impressive is that you have balanced this demanding schedule while earning honoral distinction. Balancing rigorous academics with intense athletic training is no small feat. Your success shows grit, focus, and a strong work ethic on the mat and in the classroom. As a result of these accomplishments, we are pleased to present you with this certificate. Congratulations, Hol. Please keep striving for excellence in all that you do. Let's give Hol a round of applause. [applause]
004Congratulations. And at this time, I'm going to turn it over to our committee co-chair, Carmea Kelly. >> Thank you, member McGomery, and also thank all of you for being here with us this evening. On behalf of the Akan Public School Student Success Celebration Committee, we are honored to recognize an extraordinary achievement by a Firestone CLC scholar. Your recent appearance on the Kelly Clarkston show is a remarkable accomplishment and a moment of pride for your family, your school, and this entire school district. Being featured on a national stage reflects so much confidence and excellence and bravery. At this time, we would all like to invite everyone to watch a short video clip. Who are people you looked up to? >> Oh gosh. Well, I mean, I was in a performing arts uh program in my high
005school, I would say. You know, uh he's no longer here, but um uh Mr. Thomas, you know, he he uh you know, was was integral to my development and allowing for me to, you know, express myself as a designer, also as a performer. Uh going then to uh North Carolina School of the Arts, that whole environment was amazing. I mean, the students as well as the the professors, I mean, it was an environment of great nurturing and uh and that's where I did the most growth as a designer. And then I went to NYU for graduate school. You know, >> it's such a lesson to keep arts the all the arts in schools. Like I think those programs get cut. They're the first to go and >> like we're two people that literally thrive. The
006only reason I made certain grades is so I could participate in the arts. >> Right. Right. >> Um well, Paul is an inspiration for up and cominging costume designers. In fact, backstage we have one of his biggest fans. Uh like Paul, he is from Akran, Ohio, which is incredible. And his goal is to work in fashion. He's even helped with costumes for his high school theater productions. Here's the thing. He doesn't actually know Paul is here. He thinks he's here to I know. I love the gasp. Thank you. Yeah. He's here to talk about his love of fashion and wicked. Uh so you're going to surprise him with me, right? Okay. We're going to ask you to leave. [laughter] Um you got to hide. Um and we're going to see what's up when we surprise
007him after the break. So you don't want to miss this. The fashion [applause and cheering] of Wicked has inspired a whole generation of aspiring designers, including my next guest. He's a senior in high school in Akran, Ohio. Please welcome Troy, everybody. [cheering] [applause] I didn't grow up with anybody looking this cool, man. I was like, so Have you always been into fashion? What got you into it? >> Yes, Kelly. Oh my gosh. I've always been a creative, but um K through 8th grade, I was formerly educated, so we were all in uniforms. It was very morbid living. Um but >> it does take away the personality. Yeah. But it does even the ground for kids that were poor, which you know, I was that kid. Troy was in mourning during his K through 8th grade,
008but it was what it was. And then I graduated from 8th grade and I had the opportunity to go to public high school, Firestone High School. The best go Falcons. Love the birds. >> Do it. Okay. >> And I had the opportunity to do what I wanted. I had the freedom to be that creative that was always there. Um, the hallway was my runway. I was in my Akran fashion week walking the halls with 1,200 different faces, 1,200 different personalities, 1,200 different vibes that had to know my name. >> Shut up. No one looks like this in high school. >> Thank you. Oh, thank you. I try. >> I feel like I would have passed you in high school. Well, even now, and just look at myself defeated. Um >> well and and and you
009know I want people to look at me and be like you know I aspire to be of some level of you know adjacent to that. >> Yeah. Like you found yourself in your like the that you can express yourself in that way. It's not everybody has that gift. >> Yes. And I've always been a creative and people and people see that and people take note. Prom season ho season winter formal season staff and student alike. Troy does this color look good on me? Troy does this texture look good on me? Does this >> show Troy? You're a bit of an overachiever, though. So, so, and there's a lot more involved than just fashion, >> right? >> Yeah. 100%. So, um, at Firestone High School, I am our senior class president. I'm our black student union
010class, uh, black student union president, excuse me. I am the president of our collegiic level symphonic choir. I'm a varsity one-year track runner. I'm a varsity three-year bowler. I'm a part of our national honor society. A national honor society. [laughter] >> I'm lovely. [applause] >> Hey, you know what, Troy? I showed up. I showed up. >> I graduated. I >> Kelly Kelly and And you know, some people didn't. OKAY. IT IS A BLESSING. It is a blessing nonetheless. >> I was the kid that was involved in a lot, but that was a lot, man. That was >> Well, you know, it it comes naturally. Um and I love what I do. I like to I like to stay busy. Um I'm not a person that likes to sit in boredom. Um so, you're creative. I
011I do I do what >> what comes naturally. >> Yeah. What comes natural. Good song. Okay. So, wait. We're talking about Wicked right now and Cynthy here. So, there's there's someone in particular who inspires you from >> Oh my gosh. The costume designer for Wicked, Paul Tazwell. Not only are we from the same exact place, #acran Ohio. >> Um, but he just recently won an Oscar for costumeuming designing. [cheering] >> It's incredible. The film looks incredible. >> Um, but he is he is a staple of my life. I've realized that Paul sees fashion through a lens that is so much similar to mine. He is very individual. He is he understands that fashion is a language and clothes say so much without saying a thing. So um he he really sits close to my heart.
012I love Wicked and I love the costumeuming in Wicked. There's so much intentionality in the smallest pieces from the textures to the cuts to the colors um and to the theme. He communicates the theme so well. Whether it's from his work in A Raisin in the Sun or Hamilton or The Color Purple, he always hits the nail on the head for me. Oh, that's incredible. We have um a surprise for you, Troy. >> What's the surprise? >> Oh my god. >> There's someone who wants to meet Troy. So, let's just have Paul come on out. >> Oh, [music] [cheering] [music] that is so wonderful. It's so crazy. OH. OH, >> he's open. He's open. >> Oh, [cheering] all of your wisdom so very much. Thank you so very much. Thank you. >> I'm going to
013wait for y'all to sit. I'm% 100%. >> I was like, I want to be a polite host. You I'm sorry. You want a costume change, SIR? >> I I DID. I DID. I did. I did. This is my lingua franca collaboration. Yes. I'm starting a line with them. So >> Oh, that's incredible. I was like, "Wait a minute. He did that for you." I was like, "He just casually had a quick change." Um Um What I mean, okay, you've seen what Troy can do. What do you think? >> Amazing. I'm I'm blown away. I mean, just the way that you present yourself uh and how you communicate. I mean, that was you're you're far from where I I was. I mean, you know, you're you're so much farther ahead than I was when I was
014your age. um just as far as being okay in your own skin and that's a huge part of how to take up space in this business one but then also in life. Uh and I really admire that. So that's amazing. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, Paul, you have something else you want to say to Troy? >> I do. There's a surprise for tonight. Uh a couple of tickets >> for Death Becomes Her. >> Yes. >> On Broadway. Those are some fabulous costumes. >> One of my favorite Broadway shows. >> Yes. >> My soul is in rejoicing right now. >> I just >> I'm so jealous. I haven't been able to see it yet. And I even have friends. I get so I've heard it's incredible. The costumes I've heard are incredible. Well, don't let
015me beat you to it. >> I know. Um so wait, you can see Wicked Y'all for good in theaters now. [music] What an incredible moment. Beyond this appearance, your leadership in your leadership and presence within your school community, excuse me. Um, exemplifies the qualities we strive to develop for all of our scholars. Innitative perseverance and excellence is what we hope to achieve for all of our students. At this time, we invite you to share a few of your reflections on your experience and your plans after high school. It is with great honor to introduce Mr. Trevor Wise. [applause] >> Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm a taller person. Um, first of all, thanks for being here, guys. I mean, you could be anywhere doing anything, but you're here celebrating your kids, celebrating APS, which is a
016huge staple. Um, you guys, thanks for coming to work. Appreciate you guys. I mean, you run my school district, the best school district in the world, because I'm in it. It is what it is. Um, one huge reflection from that experience that I share with a lot of people is that I would be remiss, and I know this is a public school district. I'm sorry, but I would be remiss if I didn't thank God. Um, I am a walking representation that if you can just dream it, you've already took the first step. If you can manifest it in your life, if you can see you want to be it and you can try to work towards it, you can do whatever you want. Because there was no way two or three years ago you were
017telling freshman Troy that he was going to be sitting next to Kelly Clarkson, next to Paul Tazwell on her show. Not because he's handling the mics, not because he's doing her makeup, but because she invited him to be there. The only reason, the only common denominator between every fraction in my life, between every challenge that I've come through is God. Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift is sure to make room for him and put him in spaces in front of great men." I don't know how great it gets 17 years old sitting next to Kelly Clarkson and Paul Tazwell and they invited you there. So, I I just thank God. Um, and I challenge, you know, the the families behind me and the kids behind me. Um, and even the board members in front of
018me, don't lose that dream. No matter what age you are, no matter what race you are, no matter what label they can tie to you or scandal they can tie to you, you can be so much more than you ever dreamed and then anybody can ever expect from you. You just got to work for it and you got to dream it. And again, like I said, that's the first step. So, thank you so very much. I appreciate you guys so very much. [applause] >> Troy, at this time, I would like to thank you for sharing your remarks and again, congratulations on this outstanding achievement. >> Forward. Thank you, Troy, for all of everything that you've done, that you're doing, and where you're going. Um, you're an outstanding person and student, and keep doing you. Keep
019being you, and you'll see the big picture at the end. So, congratulations and enjoy that moment. Sit in that moment because that was all you on screen as you are here. So, you don't change for anyone. you keep your same um positive attitude and you're just exciting and I just want to say keep living and keep doing. Okay, congratulations. Um Holtz, we didn't get a picture of you. Um could you come up so we can get a picture of you, please? >> Thank you. and keep working hard and keep doing your best in school because your your parents are super proud of you. We saw the tears and the smiles and the joy. So, keep making mom happy. All right. I am now pleased to introduce um Mrs. Popa, instructional leader, Popa, um campus principal
020of NT STEM High School. >> Good evening everyone. Uh thank you on behalf of the Akran public school student success celebration committee. We are honored to recognize an exceptional team achievement in computer science. This team with us tonight has guided by instructor Sam Applebee who could not be with us this evening. They earned first place and also a third place honors in this year's congressional app challenge for US Representative Amelia Sykes of Ohio's 13th Congressional District. This prestigious competition highlights innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Earning dual honors reflects not only strong technical skills, but creativity, perseverance, and teamwork. As a result of this achievement, we are proud to honor each of you this evening. And in just a moment, after we play their short submission video, uh we will call them up to honor each
021one of them. Welcome to Eagle Express, our digital solution for managing beatbox, the schoolwide currency used in our PBIS initiative. I'm Caxi McGru >> and I'm Bastion Noak. >> And I'm Luke Hankman. >> And together we made Eagle Express. Before Eagle Express, beats were printed on paper and handed out by teachers. That system had a lot of problems. Distribution was inconsistent. Students lost their bucks and some even try to forge them. Eagle Express replaces that system with a secure web-based wallet. Students log in using their ID to check their balance and view every transaction they've earned. >> The app pulls data from Google Sheets where each student has their own tab. It shows their total beat bucks and a full history of when and why they earned them. >> When students redeem a prize, they
022pick one from the list. The app quickly checks stock and their balance. Then, it creates a unique barcode to claim the reward. Teachers scan the barcode using the app's built-in scanner. Eagle Express verifies the code, deducts the points, logs the transactions, and updates the prize inventory automatically. >> Teachers can also award beak bucks through a Google form. Our custom script splits multiple student entries, logs each transaction, and updates the master sheet instantly. >> Eagle Express connects Google App Scripts, Sheets, and Forms into one smooth, automated system. It's fast, secure, and built to fit our school's needs. >> We learned how to build a live web interface, manage real-time data, and design a tool that works for both students and staff. >> In future updates, we plan to add secure login, mobile access, and smart analytics
023to help teachers better track participation and support student growth. We built this app to try to make a difference in our community, turning everyday challenges into creative solutions. And we hope to achieve that goal and also appease our peers. Thank you for touring Eagle Express. [applause] >> Oh, Miss Popa, I wanted to read what Congresswoman Ameilian Sykes said in her publication. She said, "I'm pleased to announce Caxton McCru, Bastian Noak, and Luke Hkelman from Akran's NIFT STEM High School as the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Ohio's 13th district. It is inspiring to see how these three students translated their interest in computer programming into an app that improves the education of other students. Thank you to every student who entered this competition. I'm excited to see what you create next. Thank you.
024So, at this time, I invite uh our school students being recognized this evening to please come forward um and please introduce yourself, tell the grade that you're in, and possibly your pathway that you're involved in at the high school. I'm Luke Henlleman. Um, I'm in 11th grade and I'm in the biotech pathway. Uh, [clears throat] I'm Caxi McGru. I'm also a junior and I'm in the cyber security pathway. >> My name is Bastian Noalk. Um, I'm also a junior and I am in the uh engineering pathway. >> [applause] >> Dr. Molinar, >> thank you. I have a question for any or all of the three of you, which is, do you know is your school using this app? Is this app available to other schools? Should we see this on the agenda coming up? Are
025is this for sale to us? [laughter] How is usage of the app going? >> Right now, we're >> Could you come up to the mic, please? >> Thank you. >> Uh well, right now we're like in test mode because um we like currently they're using like a physical system. So, we have to like transfer everything over to the digital system by probably like exchanging them. And so, we're testing it right now. it should be like available for our school like soon. And I mean the school I mean the program like in theory could be applied to other schools. It would just like you'd have to change the information cuz we use like student IDs for um like students and student names. So you'd have to change all that. But assuming like everything goes as planned.
026Uh yeah, I think it could happen. So, >> thank you. [applause] >> Thank you for your hard work and I would like to see this come to life. You know, we talk about our students doing different things and creating and um being innovative and by you taking the time to create this app, Mrs. Pope, I would encourage you to see if we're able to activate this. And if you know that this is everything you're saying it is, I can see this going in all of our schools, too. So, thank you. Um, just give another round of applause for this. [applause] Any questions or comments? No. Okay. All right. Well, thank you uh and uh congratulations and thank you, Mrs. popa for all that you do for our students. You know, we go way back from
027my brother was the first graduating class um from STEM. So, and you're still there working hard for our students. So, thank you so much for your dedication. [applause] Any remarks from anyone else or comments? Okay. This was a wonderful evening. Thank you everyone for coming out. Thank you to every student, educator, and family member who made tonight possible. Can I have the parents of these students please stand up and let's acknowledge their hard work cuz it's you that do the work, too. [applause] All of our students here in APS, you remind us of what success in Akran public schools look like. It looks like you. So, thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication. Our next student success celebration committee meeting will be held on February 18th. We look forward to highlighting
028even more outstanding student achievements. Congratulations again to our scholars and thank you for joining us this evening. The meeting is now adjourned. Have a good evening. >> [applause]