Breakfast of champs

Boardman honors students with tradition

BOARDMAN -- As he made his way through the breakfast line, 18-year-old Ethan Anderson was greeted by district administration and personnel, eagerly congratulating him on a job well done.

He's one of about 100 seniors at Boardman High School to participate in the school's annual Scholar's Breakfast for achieving a 3.5 grade-point average or higher. In Anderson's case, he has earned a 4.0 GPA since middle school.

"It's a good tradition to have each year," Anderson said of the breakfast. "It's always something nice that I appreciate each year, that (administration) recognize the hard work we put in all year."

Students with the highest GPAs in their class had seats reserved with their names, and they introduced themselves and told their peers their plans after graduation in just a few months.

Anderson has been part of the accelerated math courses at Boardman High and has played basketball.

He's still deciding where he wants to attend college, but he does know he wants to study engineering and play basketball.

Throughout the week, about 120 students each morning will be served their Scholar's Breakfast by representatives of the community and district staff.

As with most other events, this year's breakfast looks a bit different with plexiglass dividers and social distancing. It's also held over four days this week, with seniors served Monday.

Planning the meal and preparing the food were completed by the food services department, with members of the Boardman Police Department, board of education and school district greeting the students and overseeing the process, said Natalie Winkle, food service director for the district.

Luckily, the breakfast last year was held as normal, right before schools and events began shutting down in response to COVID-19.

Keeping the tradition alive seems to be more important than ever as it is a way to ensure interaction with students, Winkle said.

"Now that (the pandemic) has been drawing on … To have the traditions will make the students feel better," she said.

The school is trying to have as many events as possible as the end of the school year approaches.

"We're trying our best to be normal and have a normal end of the school year. We just have to alter some things ever-so-slightly to make them work," Cindy Fernback, Boardman High School principal said.

Students are excited, but as Winkle said, it's just as important to district leaders.

"I think they get just as excited. They see the kids working super hard and this is one little thing they can do to give them a pat on the back," she said.