frtom The Gallipolis Daily Tribune (3/10/2010)
Gallia County residents gathered at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Hall on Tuesday to view the end result of two projects created by students from River Valley High School and South Gallia High School.
Funded through the Ohio Department of Education’s Learn and Serve Ohio initiative with a grant written by Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Director Susan Rogers, students from RVHS created a DVD detailing the history of the Gallia County Local School District and students from SGHS created a book detailing their school’s history.
RVHS students said the project afforded them the opportunity to find out more about their own history, to visit new places and meet interesting people.
“Before we started this project I really didn’t know how much I did not know about Gallia County, not just the school system, but just the place I’ve grown up all my life,” said RVHS senior Lauren Dye. “I think it’s really important to know your own history and know about your roots before you move on in the world so you share your background with other people.”
Erin Johnson echoed Dye’s comments on the importance of the project to their future.
“In order to be an effective person in the real world you have to know where you came from,” said Johnson.
Dye said the most interesting place she visited was Mound Hill Cemetery. Though she lives in Gallipolis, Dye said it was the first time she had visited Mound Hill.
Original interviewers, RVHS seniors Amber Gilbert and Jon Porter, said the most interesting part of the project was getting the chance to interview and meet new people and the memorabilia they brought with them. Porter said the project gave him the confidence to meet and speak with new people.
RVHS senior Brad Burris said the project has inspired him to pursue broadcast engineering at Hocking Tech in the fall.
“You can’t figure out where you’re going until you know where you’ve been,” said Burris. “We have a really good heritage in the area that helped me decide I want to stay in this area in the future.”
Overall the information the students gleaned from interviews with residents and senior citizens of Gallia County has helped prepare them for the future.
A copy of the book created by SGHS students was also unveiled during the event.
SGHS teacher representative Linda Baird said the project started last spring with approximately six students.
“They really enjoyed it and I think it was a big learning experience for them,” said Baird.
While they started out a little apprehensively, Baird said the students quickly jumped in and ran with the project. The most interesting thing students learned revolved around the daily lives of those they interviewed, whether it be about dating or farming.
Students traveled around Gallia County to interview local residents, including seniors who reside at Holzer Assisted Living and those who frequent the Gallia County Senior Resource Center.
In attendance, interviewee Dorothy Ruff, Ph.D., said she was honored the students had chosen her to interview for the project.
Before the DVD viewing, Gallia County Local Schools Superintendent Charla Evans, Ph.D., thanked all those involved in the project from the students to RSVP.
“Those of you who are a part of these two pieces, very distinct pieces and yet pieces that lay out the history of our school district, I can only say thank you,” said Evans.
The student authors, artists and editors for the projects were:
• RVHS — Adessa Back, Kirsten Carter, Carolyn Crews, Amber Gilbert, Danielle Johnson, Ian Lewis, Kennedy Nunn, Brad Burris, Ryan Clary, Lauren Dye, Stephanie Griffith, Erin Johnson, Jacob Marcum, Courtney Price, Stacy Swint, Courtney Carroll, Anna Cooper, Ben Elmore, Timothy Hersman, Kayla Johnson, Kari McFann and Jerrod Roberts.
• SGHS — Megan Daines, Christopher Fooce, Lindsay Johnson, Rachael Stanley, Hailee Swain, Tayler Duncan, Bryanna Frash, Robbie Lewis, Adria Stapleton, Samantha Taylor, Megan Thomas, Kim Fillinger, Lindsay Johnson, Shyanna Rose, Rachael Stapleton and Valerie Terre-Blanche.
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