March 18, 2025, Press Release from the Ohio Educational Service Center Association:
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) will recognize Ohio’s top students from across the state during the 35th Annual Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Awards Program to be held on Monday, April 14, 2025 in Westerville, OH.
The winner for the Allen County Educational Service Center is Thomas Koh, a senior from Shawnee Local Schools. Thomas is the son of David and Cecilia Koh. He has plans to major in Biophysics at Johns Hopkins.
The awards program, named in honor of Ohio’s 31st State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Franklin B. Walter, was established in 1989 by OESCA to promote and recognize outstanding student leaders for their academic achievement and service to their schools and communities. One senior from each county in Ohio was eligible to receive this annual honor with the top 51 students from each of Ohio’s ESCs selected to attend the statewide event.
Eligible applicants must be a high school senior enrolled in a public school within an ESC’s service region. Recipients were required to demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and community service as indicated by high school grades, test scores, school and community activities and awards.
Over the past 35 years, OESCA has recognized over 2,600 scholars and student leaders during this event. “Ohio’s ESCs have over a century of service in providing technical assistance and support to Ohio’s schools and students, and during this event we get to see the impact of that work,” added Burford. “We look forward to our continued partnership with school district leadership and state policymakers to ensuring students have the tools and resources necessary to succeed regardless of where they live and attend school.”
