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Hall of Fame

 

Dr. Lois Wright Morton graduated in 1969.  While attending Edgewood Senior High School, she participated in the following activities:  Class Secretary 1969, National Honor Society, Yearbook Co-Editor, School plays, Recognition by American Daughters of the Revolution, Delegate to Buckeye Girls State, and Secretary for the Pierpont Presbyterian Church Youth Group.

 

After graduating from Edgewood, Dr. Lois Wright Morton earned a B. S., at Bowling Green State University, Ohio,earned a M.S. at Syracuse University, New York, and a Ph.D., at Cornell University, New York in Development Sociology, and Department of Rural Sociology.

 

Lois has taught at Syracuse, Cornell, and Iowa State Universities.  At Iowa State University, she taught and mentored hundreds of students, serving on 39 graduate student committees, and was recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award by Iowa State’s Department of Sociology.  During her career, she also directed several large projects:  the US Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Climate and Corn-Based Cropping Systems CAP (2011 – 2017), USDA’s Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative (2009 – 2012), Iowa Learning Farms (2010 – 2012) and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (2010 – 2011).

 

Dr. Wright Morton has written and received more than 40 grant and research awards worth more than $35 million. She has published over 100 journal articles including 27 papers on levees and flooding of agricultural land.  Lois has authored/co-authored 30 book chapters and seven books on managing social-ecological systems, water management and rural health issues. She has received national/international awards for her research including the Rural Sociological Society Excellence in Research (2014); the Freudenburg Award of Merit for National Resources (2017); Soil and Water Conservation President’s Leadership Award (2017); and 2016 USDA-NIFA Partnership Award for Muli-State Efforts for Climate Change, Mitigation, and Adaptation in Corn-Based Cropping Systems.

 

Lois is an internationally recognized expert.  Her research has taken her around the globe (e.g. Cuba, China, Hong Kong, Slovakia, Republic of Georgia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam).  She is currently a research partner with universities in Vietnam, studying Vietnamese agriculture, rural livelihoods, climate adaptation, as well as environmental and health legacies from dioxin contaminated herbicides (such as Agent Orange) used in the Vietnam War.  This field of research includes the persistence of these dioxins in the soil and water systems, and their effects in areas such as elevated congenital heart disease and birth defects among children of the farmers and fishers in the Mekong River Basin.

 

In addition to her work in Vietnam, Lois serves on the board of directors for Solutions from the Land, an official delegate to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change. This offers her the opportunity to provide advice and interventions to world leaders on agriculture, food and nutrition security, national resources and the environment, and rural livelihoods focusing on the process of policy and development and their impacts on farmers and foresters at all scales, especially smallholder farmers in developing countries.

Lois also works to better the communities she lives in. Asa 4-H leader in New York, she taught 17 teenagers how to raise sheep. She serves current/most recently on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ashtabula Scenic River Advisory Board, and Ashtabula County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Lois and her husband, Michael, (deceased) have six children and six grandchildren.

 

Upon retirement from teaching, Lois bought a farm in Pierpont where she raises blueberries organically (not certified), raspberries and flowers to sell at local markets.  She is active in the Pierpont community, serving on the Pierpont Revitalization Committee, and as a Pierpont Fund Advisor, an affiliate of Community Foundation of NW Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, awarding financial support for Pierpont infrastructure projects and Pierpont young people pursuing post-secondary education and technical skill certification.

 

 

Rebecca (Thiel) Tolson, PhD, CALT-QI graduated from Edgewood High School in 1986. While attending Edgewood High School, Rebecca participated in Choir, Spirit Club, and Swimming.

 

After graduating from Edgewood High School, Rebecca earned a B.S.E., Bachelor of Science in Education, Cleveland State University, Certification:  Elementary Grades 1 – 8, GPA: Major 3.48.  Earned a CALT, Certified Academic Language Therapist, Southern Methodist University Certification:  Academic Language Therapy GPA: 4.0. then continued to earn a M. Ed., Master of Education, Southern Methodist University GPA 4.0. and became a QI, Qualified Instructor, Southern Methodist University Certificate of Advanced Studies in Instruction and Administration GPA: 4.0., and a PhD, Doctor of Philosophy, Curriculum & Instruction, Akron University, GPA: 4.0.

 

Rebecca earned a full athletic scholarship to Cleveland State University’s Division One swim program.  She earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and went on to become a fifth-grade teacher.  It was there that she discovered her passion for struggling readers.  Rebecca furthered her education in specialized reading instruction with a focus on teaching students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia.  In 2020, she earned her doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Akron.

 

Rebecca has served on the non-profit board of the International Dyslexia Association, Northern Ohio Branch for over twenty years, volunteering her time and talents to the mission of literacy for all students. Rebecca travels locally and nationally giving presentations, providing training to teachers, and facilitating dyslexia simulations.  In 2023, she was a guest speaker on four podcasts and two panel discussions to discuss the literacy crisis in our country.

 

In 2010, Rebecca joined the Ohio Dyslexia Legislation Committee, working tirelessly for policies to support individuals with dyslexia learning to read, write, and spell.  She volunteered her time, sometime weekly, driving to Columbus for committee hearings and testified to the House of Representatives Education Committee.  In 2011, Rebecca co-authored two bills, Ohio HB 96, and HB 157, that passed unanimously.  In 2019, she co-authored HB 436, passed into law in 2020.  That law requires a multidisciplinary team to create a dyslexia guidebook for the state of Ohio.  Rebecca currently serves as chair of the Ohio Dyslexia committee overseeing the Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook implementation phase.

 

Rebecca is currently serving as a literacy and dyslexia consultant in the state of Ohio with thirty-one years of experience in the field of education.  She is an adjunct professor in the Masters of Dyslexia Therapy program at Walsh University, as well as a director for the University of Akron’s Center for Structured Literacy.

 

Rebecca earned the following certifications: Certificate of Advanced Studies, Qualified Instructor, Southern Methodist University (2011-2013); Learning Therapy Graduate Certificate, Alphabetic Phonics, Southern Methodist University (2006-2008); Project Read: Report Form, Southern Methodist University (2008); Project Read: Reading Comprehension – Story Form, Southern Methodist University (2007); Procedures and Measurers for Assessing Students for Dyslexia, Southern Methodist University (2006); Advanced Orton-Gillingham (2005); Wilson Language System Level II A (2003); Wilson Language System Level II B (2002); Wilson Language System Level I (1998); and Introductory Orton-Gillingham (1998).

 

Professional Organizations Rebecca has participated in:  2021 – Present – Reading League Ohio; 1998 - Present – International Dyslexia Association (IDA); 2008 – Present – Acaemic Language Therapy Association (ALTA); 2013 – 2016 ALTA Board Member; 1998 - Present – Northeastern Ohio Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA-NO); 2012 - Present – International Dyslexia Association Northern Ohio Branch Advisory Board Member; 1999 – 2012 – International Dyslexia Association Northern Ohio Branch Board Member.

 

 

Randal K. Mears graduated from Edgewood High School in 1974.  While attending Edgewood, Randy participated on the Varsity Track and Football teams.  He was Honorably Mentioned by the All Regional football team in the 1972 – 1973 season.  In the 1973 – 1974 football season, Randy was selected to the All Regional Football Team.  Randy graduated from Kent State University Ashtabula with a degree in Business Management Technology and began a career in Financial Consultation.

 

Randy’s years working improving the quality of life to families for generations to come with his wisdom and knowledge of the financial world is a true gift to all of his clients.  His honesty and integrity are a “breath of fresh air” in his field.  His personal statement is “I have found that best practice is to tell people what you are going to do and be certain to do it.”

 

Randy established Mears Financial Services, Inc. in 1995 and has been working out of that office from then to the present time.  From the year 2013, until now, he has consistently been awarded the prestigious Five Star Wealth Manager distinction.  There are stringent criteria for the distinction and only 100 of 1400 area individuals are chosen.  Randy has been chosen eight years in a row.

 

Randy and Lisa Van Driest-Gable own a home and farm and are environmental advocates.  Their farm is organic-chemical and pesticide free.  They are champions for the endangered bees of this area by beekeeping on their farm.  They also raise free range chickens.

 

Randy is an avid golfer and has managed a “hole-in-one” in multiple years:  2007,2013, 2016, and 2017.

 

Their household is rounded out by Cesear: their 16 year old family pet dog, Millie: a rescue dog that went from Indianapolis to New York before she found her “forever home” with them and Sage: a Swiss Mountain breed they brought home as a puppy that has won multiple ribbons on the way to becoming a Grand Champion.

 

Kymberly Ann Nicholas graduated from Edgewood High School in 1999.  She was a four year member of the Edgewood Marching Band and Jazz Band, a two year member of the National Honor Society serving as secretary her Senior year.  Also, she participated in the Mentorship program, Spanish Club, AFS, Yearbook, and Student Council presiding as President her Senior year.  She was named a United States National award winner in Mathematics by the United States Achievement Academy, was the Class of ’99 Vice President for three years and a member of SADD.  Kymberly was elected to the Homecoming Court her senior year, participated in Tennis, Volleyball and the Science Envirothon.

 

Kymberly attended Bowling Green State University where she earned her Athletic Training degree working with the Falcon’s Football team under the guidance of Urban Meyer.  After graduating from Bowling Green, she then attended Gannon University, graduating in 2007 with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

 

Kymberly began her career with Sports Plus in Columbia, South Carolina, then joined Supplemental HealthCare as a traveling Physical Therapist, earning the Traveler of the Year Award.  Kymberly joined the Brookdale Senior Living in 2009 where she serves as the Regional Director of Rehabilitation covering ten states in the Northeastern Region of the United States working with therapists to improve their skills in patient care and documentation.

 

Esme’ Hawtin-Schlotjes graduated from Edgewood High School in 1977.  Esme’ was the Foreign Exchange Student through the American Field Scholar (AFS) for the graduating class of 1977.  Her hometown was Napier, New Zealand.  She came “halfway around the world” to become our “Beloved Kiwi”.  During her time at Edgewood, she participated in chorus, school productions, Spanish Club, National Thespians, Dance Committee, National Honor Society, Ski Club, Student Council, American Field Service, Snack Shack Worker, and was on the Homecoming Court.

 

Upon returning to New Zealand, Esme’ pursued a career in Occupational Therapy and has been an Occupational Therapist for 38 years.  Her exhaustive work resume’ includes extensive work in the mental health area.  Her advocacy for the underserved, underrepresented, and the pursuit of the preservation of the Mauri culture in New Zealand is stellar.  Her compassion and understanding of the human experience make her stand head and shoulders above all others.

 

Her involvement in creating assessment and training programs that have become standards in New Zealand have allowed her influence to change the entire country.

 

She and her husband Rene’ built their beautiful home on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand and have two wonderful adult children who live in Perth, Australia.  Their son Gabriel is a successful music producer, and their daughter Katie is a flight attendant. Both children like their parents have traveled all over the world.

 

Not only is her work resume’ exhaustive but her involvement in her local community is the same.  She has created numerous support groups where she saw there was a need.  She is also very active in her church.  Her musical skills, both vocal and instrumental, have provided her opportunity for activity in multiple bands and choruses.

 

1982 was the year Esme’ met her husband, Rene’.  They are still together after 40 years.  In 1984, we decided to indulge in their passion for travel.  They started by crewing for three weeks on a sailing yacht from New Zealand to Queensland, Australia where they worked for a year.  Esme worked as an Occupational Therapist overseeing eight residential homes in what is called the “Australian Bush”.  These homes accommodated people with various disabilities.  In 1985, we set out to travel around the USA and in particular to visit many friends and her host family in Ashtabula.  They visited 45 US states in 12 months before traveling to the United Kingdom where she worked at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford as an Occupational Therapist in Elderly Rehabilitation until our son was born.  When he was three months old, we travelled to Israel, Sinai Peninsular, Cyprus, Greek Islands and back up through Europe to Holland.  Rene’s ancestral homeland.  They traveled extensively in the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand in August of 1987.

 

Back in New Zealand, they bought land on the Kapiti Coast, a small coastal community a 45 minute drive north of New Zealand’s Capital city, Wellington.  Just before they started building, their daughter Katie was born.

 

Esme’s life turning point was applying for and being accepted as an American Field Scholar for the 1976/77 year.  The New Zealand’s Birthright, Lions and Rotary service clubs in Hawkes Bay helped her.  Being enrolled in Edgewood Senior High School was the best experience she could have hoped for at that stage in her life.  It expanded her vision, provided her with amazing once in a lifetime experience and left her with a bank of wonderful memories and friendships.  She is forever grateful to the generous and open hearted folk of Edgewood.   Esme’ had two host families during the school year.  She remains very close to David and Mary Lou Marshall and their family.  They have visited each other many times over the years, both in the USA and in New Zealand.

 

Year 2000 brought a challenge with a cancer diagnosis and consequently a major, at the time groundbreaking surgery that lasted twelve hours and chemotherapy following along with a personal prescription of diet change, walks along the beach, later swimming and cycling.  Esme’ was bald for close to a year.  When she was ready to return to work, her position had been disestablished and devolved into four separate management positions for each of the four allied health disciplines that she had overseen.

 

Their family has also hosted Exchange students over the years while our children were at high school, from Australia, Argentina, Canada and supported the local AFS chapter and some of their students.  They have for periods of time, hosted young people who have required some transitional support or accommodation to heal from trauma and move on with their lives.

 

Esme’ has continuously helped others throughout her life.  From helping those who live near her and those across the globe.  

 

You can reach our Alumni Board President at edgewoodalumni@buckeyeschools.info

 

Edgewood Alumni Association

P.O. Box 24

Ashtabula, OH 44005