Wednesday, April 23, 2008 the Dinner of Excellence was held at the Oasis Conference Center. Over 350 people attended. The Milford High School Jazz Band performed during the social hour and as always did a wonderful job. The Milford Police Dept. presented the colors, Bob Proud led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Josh Wright, Adm. Milford Christian Academy gave the Invocation. Dinner followed the invocation. The program got underway at 7:00pm with the introduction and presentation of the

scholarship winners. They were:

Elmer L. Weigel Memorial Scholarship Ryan Cushenan

Mary Ann Partin Scholarship Brittany Moore

Frontier Days Scholarship Elyse Budkie

Milford Miami Twp. Chamber Scholarship Rachael Landon

Milford Community Fire Dept. Scholarship Matthew Bryant

Milford Area Jaycees Scholarship Brittany Moore

Milford Area Jaycees Scholarship Heather Whitaker

Next up were the businesses nominated for the Don & Jean Ackermann Award. This award was established in honor of the Ackermann’s for all the time and work donated to the schools through Partners in Education. The nominees and the school nominating were:

Kim Grimme-Great Clips Live Oaks Career Campus

Miami Township Police Dept. Mulberry Elementary

Kevin Petrocelli-Miami Twp. Police Meadowview Elementary

Katrice Keown-Milford Kroger Pattison Elementary

Promont-Milford Historical Society Boyd E. Smith Elementary

RJ Vilardo Auto Sales Seipelt Elementary

The winner was: Katrice Keown-Milford Kroger. Katrice invited Pattison Elem. third grades to tour the store and learn about famous African-Americans during Black History Month. Each department worked with the children explaining their role. Milford Kroger also displays artwork of the students throughout the year and donates food to needy families in the Pattison area during the holidays.

The retirees from the area schools were introduced and commended by the various Principals. They were:

Michael Sofranko, 36 years with Milford Schools.

Judy Miller, 23 years with Milford Schools.

Linda Bowles, 16 years with Milford Schools

Terri Pregitzer, 23 years with Milford Schools

Sandy Loudermilk, 18 years with Milford Schools

Anna Dold, 37 years with Milford Schools

Gloria Causey, 21 years with Milford Schools

Linda Wolverton, 27.5 years with Milford Schools

William Graham, 30 years with Great Oaks

Peg Bausch, 25 years with Great Oaks

Debra Meyer, 30 years with Great Oaks

Paul Nugent, 28 years with Great Oaks

Gary Simms, 5 years with Great Oaks

The evening then shifted to the Educator of the Year. Each school’s Principal introduced and spoke about their selection. The nominees were:

Robert Calabrese Live Oaks Career Center

Patrick Bowers SASEAS-Seton Campus

Kim Ragle Milford Christian Academy

Vicky Pielsticker Boyd E. Smith Elementary

Joanne Roberts McCormick Elementary

Hala Charles Meadowview Elementary

Randall Vaughan Milford High School

Jennifer Bruce Milford Jr. High School

Debbie Hall Mulberry Elementary

Ginny Gross Pattison Elementary

Melissa McGahan Seipelt Elementary

The winner was Robert Calabrese from Live Oaks. Robert had owned a restaurant for 25 years, sold out

and went into teaching at Live Oaks. He has been there for 10 years and is instrumental in teaching the

special needs students how to correctly welcome diners, take an order, prep, set, bus and clean a restaurant.

Bob works closely with Frisch’s Restaurant and places some of his students into their workforce. He

was truly humbled by this honor and couldn’t wait to go home and call his Dad in New York.

Closing remarks were made and another Dinner of Excellence was put to bed.

Many thanks to all that participated and those that worked putting it all together, especially Mike Matthews