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Divya Takkellapati / Provided photo

Thirteen Mason students earned honors at the National History Day in Ohio contest held Saturday at The Ohio State University.

The History Day competition challenges students to research historical topics related to an annual theme.  This year’s theme was “Turning Points in History.”

Twenty-nine Mason students were invited to submit projects at the state level.  Of those, two were named national finalists, two national alternates, three honorable mentions and two special awards.

Mason sophomore Divya Takkellapati was named a national finalist for her paper, “The Lady with the Lamp: The Start of a Revolution in Healthcare.”

Mason Middle School seventh-grader Ahalya Ramesh was named a national finalist in the junior individual exhibit category with her paper, “The Discovery of Insulin: A Second Chance for the sugar Sickness.”

Both girls will go on to compete against the top national students June 9-13 at the National History Day contest in College Park, Md.

Two students received special prizes:  Mohamed Elzarka, a Mason High School student, won the Ohio Academy of History award for his paper, “The Hijrah: The Impact of a Journey,” while Mason Middle School student Vineet Sai Prasad won the American Founding Award-Ashbrook Center for Public Affair award for his paper, “Declaration of Independence: A Document of our Past.”

Ahalya Ramesh / Provided photo

Mason Middle School students Chinmay Bakshi, Sritej Devineni and Vardhan Avasarala were named national alternates.  Chinmay’s paper addressed “The India and Pakistan Partition” while Sritjej and Vardhan collaborated on a website on the “Cuban Missile Crisis.”

Mason High School students Gokul Muruganantham, Sai Madichetty and Shreetej Reddy and Mason Middle School students Ranjani Ramasubramanian Atneya Nair and Tristan Groenewold received honorable mentions.

This year’s crop of students marks the school’s strongest showing in several years and is the third consecutive year a Mason student has advanced to the national contest, said team adviser Dan Langan.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Ahalya Ramesh, contest, Divya Takkellapati, history day, mason high school, mason middle school, national history day in ohio

C.J. Jones / Provided photo

Deaf comedian C.J. Jones will perform Friday at Mason Middle School, 6370 Mason-Montgomery Road.

Jones, an internationally acclaimed comedian within the deaf community, will use a blend of visual imagery, comedy and storytelling combining voice, American Sign Language and mime in the 7 p.m. performance.

Members of Mason High School’s ASL Club petitioned local businesses for donations and held fundraisers to bring Jones to Mason as part of the club’s annual Deaf Awareness Week.

Our theme is ‘Famous Deaf People’ and we thought what better way to celebrate famous deaf people than have one come here,” said Jessica Cedrone, the club’s co-president and a fundraiser organizer.

Tickets are $15 at the door; the first 100 people will receive free tickets, thanks to a donation.

For more information about Jones, go to www.cjjoneslive.com.  For show information, call Christie Loucks at 513-398-5025.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: c.j. jones, cj jones, comedy, deaf comedian, mason asl club, mason middle school

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot with Mason Middle School eighth-grader Jarrett Wilson Photo provided

When Jarrett Wilson received a chance to earn extra credit by attending a town hall meeting held by U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, he had a better idea.

The intrepid Mason Middle School eighth-grader approached the longtime legislator and invited him to speak at his school.

Chabot (R-Westwood) took Jarrett up on his offer when he spoke to about 200 students Monday on government and civics.

Students peppered Chabot with questions on hot-topic issues such as North Korea, gun control, same-sex marriage and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), along with more general questions on how congress members work together.

One forward student asked Chabot if he’s ever considered running for president.  “Maybe someday, but no one has asked,” replied Chabot with a laugh.

“The student questions were excellent and Congressman Chabot was very candid in his answers,” said social studies teacher Renee Thole. “Jarrett earned his extra credit for sure.”

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: congressman, extra credit, jarrett wilson, mason middle school, republican, steve chabot

Mason Middle School announced its March Students of the Month.

One boy and girl from each team are honored monthly for showing good character.  Honored students are treated to a breakfast with their teachers, parents and school staff by the Mason Kiwanis Club.

This month’s standout students are: Christopher Atkins, Peyton Banks, Megha Battina, Isabella Baumann, Danny Blakeman, Caroline Carr, Noah Cook, Alejandro Dominguez, Nate Drogowski, Scott Drogowski, Tim Eaton, Alex Gao, Clarence Gao, Madison Giessler, Justin Gorski, Spencer Hathaway, Claudia Hawke, Adara Hove, Jordan Kling, James Krueger;

Danny Loehr, Alyssa Manguiat, Aidana Mirlan, David Moyer, Justin Nordeman, Rachel Perkins, Guthrie Rasmussen, Lauren Rose, Kyle Ruble, Lauren Schaffer, Rachel Schaffer, Ashley Schlaeger, Rujul Singh, Elizabeth Soper, John Swartz, Madison Van Erp, Abigail Vanfossen, Rue Whitmore and Samantha Winkler.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: kiwanis club of mason, mason middle school, students of the month

Veteran’s Day is Sunday and the area is gearing up to celebrate veterans with a variety of programs this weekend.

SATURDAY:

Warren County will hold its veterans memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday at the veterans memorial at the corner of East Warren and High Schools in Lebanon. Warren County Sheriff Larry Sims will be the keynote speaker.

The Lebanon, Mason & Monroe Railroad will remember veterans Saturday with special one-hour train rides and walk-through displays of military equipment and vehicles.

Veterans receive a free ride in coach on Saturday with proof of service. Other ticket prices are #13 adults; $8 for seniors and children ages 5-16; $5 for toddlers ages 2-4 and free for children 1 and under. Rides depart from the Lebanon station at 127 S. Mechanic St.

The railroad will hold a USA Style Dance from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Admission is a $5 donation to the United Service Organizations. Reserve tickets by calling 513-933-8022, ext. 106.  More information is at www.lebanonrr.com.

SUNDAY:

The city will hold a memorial service at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Mason City Building, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road. Steve Maynard, a captain who served 29 years in the U.S. Navy, will be the guest speaker.

MONDAY:

Veterans are invited to attend a breakfast at Mason Middle School at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the school, 6370 Mason-Montgomery Road. A tribute to veterans follows the breakfast.

Emeritus at Long Cove Pointe will hold a flag raising at 1 p.m. Monday in which they will honor 7 local WWII veterans, along with current veterans at 5535 Irwin Simpson Road.

Second-grade students at Mason Early Childhood Center will demonstrate proper flag folding techniques at 11 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Monday at the school, 4631 Hickory Woods Drive.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: breakfast, dance, emeritus at long cove pointe, flag folding, lebanon mason & monroe roadilroad, mason, mason early childhood center, mason middle school, memorial service, uso, veteran's day

Doug Hennig, 22, is now a fifth year senior at the University of Cincinnati getting both his undergraduate and masters in Chemical Engineering. His journey of being ‘the fat kid’ no one wanted to be around to being sought out after losing the weight is told in the “Fat Boy Chronicles” . The book was also made into a movie. The Enquirer/ Liz Dufour

John Faherty reports:

Doug Hennig knows the pain of being bullied, of feeling alone. He knows the awful march to school knowing the only people who might talk to him that day would be his teachers. He knows what it is like to be, in his own words, “the fat kid.”

Hennig is 22 years old now. He is neither fat, nor a kid. He has a degree in engineering from the University of Cincinnati and this spring he will earn his MBA. He is engaged to a pretty girl.

It would be easy, expected even, for Hennig to to walk away from a difficult youth. To pretend it never happened or to put it in a box in his mind and close the lid tight.

Photos of a young overweight Doug Hennig, now 22, are photographed with the book and movie, ‘The Fat Boy Chronicles.’

But Hennig never wanted to do that. His first thought, after he got healthy and lost weight, was not to move on. He was inspired , to try to help other kids.

So he worked with two authors and his story became a book, “The Fat Boy Chronicles,” and then a movie. Now the book and movie are used in schools to help stop bullying and to let kids know they are not alone and that they do matter. Hennig knows what it is like to feel invisible. That, he says, is the worst part.

• Photos: Doug Hennig then and now

“People didn’t give you a chance. Nobody would talk to me. Nobody,” Hennig said. “It makes you think your opinion isn’t worth anything. The next step, is ‘I’m not worth anything.’”

Between sixth grade and seventh, Hennig’s family moved from Pleasant Run Farms to Mason. For a boy that age, it may as well have been across the country.

Hennig was the new kid at Mason Middle School, and he was already chunky. Soon, he was more than that. “I wasn’t happy, so I ate, and I didn’t have friends, so I played video games to go to another world,” Hennig said. “Now I’m the new kid and the fat kid.”

For nearly two years, he suffered abuse. It was, he says, just run-of-the-mill meanness, as if there is such a thing. He means his treatment was consistent low-grade cruelty, a string of fat jokes and emotional cruelty, not actual torture. But the isolation was awful. “You feel really alone,” Hennig said.

In 8th grade, Hennig went to his doctor for his annual checkup. He had gained 20 years for two straight years. He was 5’5” tall and weighed 187 pounds. He was no longer chunky, he was obese. The doctor told him he was worried about him.

“He said you are on a bad track,” Hennig said of the conversation. The doctor’s tone he said was very calm and non-confrontational. “Then he said if you don’t change, you will have to live this way for the rest of your life.”

That struck a chord with Hennig. He was already looking forward to getting older. People always told him that his life would be easier when he grew up. That he would lose his baby fat and meet nicer people. Now his doctor was telling him that might not be true. Hennig can still hear Dr. Richard Heyman’s next words. Lose weight he said, or “you will have to live this way for the rest of your life.”

It was the right message at the right moment. “Something clicked. I would be excluded and rejected for the rest of my life. It was scary. I knew I could not live that way.”

That week Hennig started excercising with his father, who had recently bought a Total Gym — “You know, the one with Chuck Norris.” Hennig also started on Weight Watchers with his mother. The point system can drive a boy to madness or make him start eating better. Hennig started eating fruits and vegetables with nearly every meal and and drinking lots of water.

The next year he returned to Dr. Heyman, who first had to check that he had the right chart. This time Hennig had lost 20 pounds and grown a few inches. First the doctor made sure Hennig had lost the weight in a healthy way. He had. Then Dr. Heyman asked a simple question: “What did I say to you?”

The doctor said Hennig should share his story. People, he said, would benefit from it.

(more…)

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: books, brandon steiper, bullying, doug hennig, mason, mason high school, mason middle school, movie, obese, overweight, required reading, the fat boy chronicles, university of cincinnati, weight loss

Mason Middle School students enjoyed a field day Friday.  The Enquirer’s Leigh Taylor was there to catch the mighty tug-of-war match.  Click on each  photo below to see a larger-resolution version.

Posted in: Photos, Schools |

Tags: Tags: field day, mason middle school, photos, tug-of-war

Volunteers are needed to mentor grade and middle school students in the Mason school district.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Mason mentoring program pairs adult volunteers (ages 21 and up) with students in fourth through eighth grades for one hour each week during the school day.

“There are a lot of kids out there who need a little extra encouragement,” said Sue Shackleford, program director.  “Mentors are just a little more support in these students’ lives.”

For more information or to volunteer, call Shackleford at 513-777-7207.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: mason intermediate, mason mentoring program, mason middle school, mason schools, mentors, volunteers

Erin Beaudry and Danielle Morey sign copies of "Your Stories Volume 1" at Mason Middle School. The two students are among student-authors to have works published in the anthology. Photo provided

Three Mason Middle School students are now published authors.

Erin Beaudry, Danielle Morey and former student AnnMarie McNamara were selected from more than 800 student-authors to have their works published in “Your Stories Volume 1″ (Four Star Publishing).

The anthology is edited by Taylor Joseph, a Michigan teen and published author of eight books.  Joseph toured 135 schools across the U.S. speaking about her experiences and collecting hundreds of stories from students.

The anthology, which was released this month in paperback and Kindle, features the best of those works.

Joseph visited Mason in April of 2011 where she inspired many students to put pen to paper.

Erin’s story, “The Dream Key,” features a girl who finds an unusual key in a cemetery that allows her to predict the future through her dreams.  She had written an early version for the Power of the Pen competition, a writing competition for middle school students, but “it bombed,” she said.

“But, I got great feedback from the judges which I used to edit the piece and re-work several parts.  This experience proved to me just important it is to never give up,” she said.  “I love writing. It’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Danielle’s story, “The Hourglass,” began as a simple writing prompt given by her English teacher.

“I never expected this piece to go this far, but I’m thrilled because I always wanted to be a published author,” she said.

Both girls are now encouraging their classmates to take the leap and begin writing.  They held an end of the year book signing event at school and signed copies for fellow students.

“I am very proud of our students and our school,” said Judi Stewart, a school media specialist.  “I know we have such talented writers, and I hope more students will send their stories.”

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: annmarie mcnamara, authors, danielle morey, erin beaudry, fiction, mason middle school, published, short story, taylor joseph, teenagers, your stories volume 1

Sonia Yeolekar / Photo provided

Two Mason students are among 36 Ohio students headed to Maryland this summer to compete in the National History Day Contest.

The Ohio State University hosted the National History Day in Ohio contest on April 28. The two entries in each division of the competition advance to the national contest, set for June 10-14 at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Mason High School freshman Sonia Yeolekar and Mason Middle School seventh-grader Aditya Jog made the cut and will now compete at the national level.

The annual history competition for students in grades 6-12 challenges students to compete either individually or in groups in five categories including: historical paper, exhibit, documentary, performance or website using the theme “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.”

Sonia received an excellent rating for her research paper titled “The Rebellion of Boudica,” referring to the celebrated Celtic queen who led an uprising against the Romans.

Aditya also received a superior rating for his paper titled, “The Salt March: Nonviolent resistance as a vehicle for political reform,” referring to the peaceful protest led by Gandhi against the British salt monopoly in colonial India.

Aditya Jog / Photo provided

Ten other Mason students competed in the Ohio History Day event.

Mason High School

• Melissa Groenewold with an individual documentary film titled “Leymah Gbowee: A Women’s Revolution” which received honorable mention.
• Clayton Lewis with an individual exhibit titled “Athenian Democracy: Redefining the Political Spectrum”,
• Mohamed Elzarka with an individual website titled “Rethinking Roman Progress: Improving a Nation“

Mason Middle School

• Sneha Gundavarpu and Mekhala Rao- Group Documentary- “The Evolution of Uganda during Idi Amin’s Reign” which received honorable mention.
• Annie McBeath- Exhibit- “Down with Dignity: The Rebellion at Masada” which received honorable mention.
• Lizzy Kong – Research Paper “Confucius and Civil Service Reform: A Rise in Social Mobility and Curricular Uniformity in China”
• Akhila Sonti- Research Paper- “Pablo Picasso: A Revolution in Art”
• Sriharsha Voleti- Research Paper- “The Bolshevik Revolution: The Birth of the Soviet Union”
• Jocelyn Kang – Exhibit- “The Unification of Germany: What pieced Germany together”

Erin White, a Mason Middle School social studies teacher, and Dan Langen, who teaches social studies at Mason High School, coached the team.

“We were so proud to have these deep thinkers represent us at the Ohio History Day competition, and are excited to have Sonia and Aditya showcase their projects at the national competition!” said White.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: aditya jog, college park, competition, contest, dan langen, erin white, mason high school, mason middle school, national history day contest, national history day in ohio, rebellion of boudica, salt march, sonia yeolekar, university of maryland