A.C.E. Awards spotlight unseen success stories of area high school students

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The Lima Exchange Club awarded scholarships to students who succeeded in school while going through tough situations.

The A.C.E. Awards, also known as Accepting the Challenge of Excellence, are $300 scholarships given to students nominated by 12 area schools. These seniors have all had some obstacles that prevented them from performing well in school, like becoming a mother or the death of a sibling, but each one pushed through and brought their grades back up. The award not only helps them continue their education on the path to a successful career but also serves as a positive lesson to other students.

"It's easy to give up when you go through as many things—obstacles, adversity, that a lot of these students have gone through. But these students have found a way to go above and beyond that; they've found a way to completely outdo that and shine above anything that happens to them," said Jim Baumgartner, guidance counselor from Spencerville High School.

Out of the 12 award winners, one finalist was chosen to receive an additional $500 and will move on to the district-level A.C.E. Awards.

"My sophomore year was the hardest year I've had in my entire life. I was in four different homes—I believe three or four—and at one point I told myself, I'm done; I chose to give up on school. I would skip school every single day, or I would go home. And I noticed, no, God does not want me to do this; this is not my purpose," commented Kiarah Dodds, who was the overall A.C.E. Award winner from Spencerville High School.