School notes: Port Clinton, Edison, Clyde, Perkins, Sandusky Elks Club

Want to see your student or teacher featured on the Schools page? Email news and photos to reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, or call 419-609-5849 for more information. PORT CLINTON Port Clinton High School senior Ashton Fisher was named a semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship program. A letter of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, was presented to Ashton by principal Gary Steyer. Ashton is the son of Dawn and Dean Fisher. He joins Huron High School senior Bryce Putman as a National Merit semifinalist this school year. To become a scholarship semifinalist, Putnam and Fisher were among the highest scorers in Ohio on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test he took last school year. They represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. Besides his academic achievements, Fisher is involved in numerous school activities including the tennis team. He plays the violin in the high school orchestra and alto saxophone in band. Other clubs and organizations include National Honor Society and drama club. Fisher is involved in Boy Scouts, currently working on Eagle Scout status and is the senior patrol leader for Troop 360. Next year, he plans to study architecture at college. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 16,000 semifinalists were chosen in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the completion for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million, that will be offered next spring. "To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of competition. About 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title." PERKINS TWP. For the second year in a row, Firelands Federal Credit Union contributed to Perkins High School's robotics team, which received a $3,000 donation. Firelands Federal Credit Union makes monetary donations to area high school robotics teams each year to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related education. "At Firelands, we look to sponsor groups or activities that leave a lasting impact on our local communities and school robotics teams do just that," said Nicole Jones, Firelands Federal Credit Union's vice president of marketing. "Last year's STEM-related sponsorships for Norwalk, Bellevue, Perkins and Monroeville were so appreciated by the schools that we knew we had to further the support again this year." Since 2017, Perkins High School's robotics team has participated in an international high school competition where students build a custom robot to compete against over 170 teams in their district. In the few years that the team has been together, they have "grown significantly," and "not only with students but with the challenges as well," said James Gilchrist, Perkins High School robotics team mentor. This year, in addition to that competition, the robotics team has also competed against other institutions, including MIT and CalTech, to design and build a NASA satellite. The Perkins robotics team was the only high school in the country chosen to meet this challenge and placed 11th out of 13 from NASA's selected projects. It is expected that this satellite will launch in two to three years. On Nov. 3, Firelands Federal Credit Union staff met at Perkins High School to hear students speak about the team, share a preview of the robotics lab, demonstrate some of the past competition robots and preview their satellite concept and design. CLYDE McPherson Middle School recently chose its October students of the month. Sixth grade: Dane Aldrich and Chelsea Leibengood Seventh grade: Thomas Hartman and Laney Renfro Eighth grade: Michael Scruggs and Madelyn Good. MILAN On Oct. 30, Edison High School's speech and debate team competed in the Chagrin Falls virtual speech and debate tournament and their home Edison tournament on Nov. 6. There were 24 teams competing at the Chagrin Falls meet and 18 teams at the Edison tournament. Here are the results for both competitions: Chagrin Falls tournament Big Question debate: Jeff Esser, first place; Noah Proctor, second place and Kyle Grech, fourth place Policy debate: Brienna Marcy and Lorain Clawson, third place; Otto Berckmueller and Connor Betts, fifth place Edison tournament Big Question debate: Jeff Esser, first place; Everett Gfell, fourth place Policy debate: Noah Proctor and Sarah Gates; second place; Addyson Puraty and Ingrid Berckmueller, fourth place; Lillian Kreglow and Aidan Anderson, fifth place Oral Interpretation: Tori del Rey Wieber, third place; Madison Butler, fourth place Declamation: Lorain Clawson, fifth place Edison will next compete in a virtual tournament hosted by Mentor High School. ERIE COUNTY The Sandusky Elks Club recently selected the following "Teens of the Month" for October and November of the 2021-22 school year from Erie County high schools. From this year's monthly winners, Teens of the Year will be selected and scholarships will be awarded to each school. October Sandusky: Michael Franklin and Meadow Gilbert Perkins: Kelley Baker and Brett Phenicie Margaretta: Miah Miller Kenna Stimmel St. Mary Central Catholic: High Riley Woodruff and Jackson Dinsmore Huron: Raegan Roldan and Bryce Nevison November Sandusky: Mason Hayberger and Samantha Collins Perkins: Makaela Williams and Wyatt Dulaney Margaretta: Jayla Caponi and Devyne Eisenhauser St. Mary Central Catholic: Catherine Linden and Sevario Lynch Huron: Chloe Pfeiffer and Joseph Lenczyk