LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Lima Exchange Club presented its annual “Accepting the Challenge of Excellence” (A.C.E.) awards to 14 Allen County high school seniors.
Students were nominated by their guidance counselors for showing a major change in attitude and performance during their high school years and are now on track to graduate. Each school’s nominee receives a $300 scholarship, and one student is selected as the overall winner, receiving an additional $500.
Exchange Club members say many of the students have overcome personal losses, physical challenges, or emotional and social obstacles but have persevered. This year’s overall winner is Jasmine Neer, a senior at Spencerville High School. Her counselor shared how Neer was once expelled from school but turned things around to become a strong student and supportive friend.
Neer said having a support system helped her bounce back.
“A lot of the emotional armor came with being disappointed by people that I loved and cared about deeply. Just knowing that I have people to support me and love me no matter what mistakes I make really made it easier,” Neer said.
Exchange Club members say the award is meant to recognize students who have shown perseverance, not just those at the top of their class.
“We like to honor those kinds of people because it shows that hard work pays off, and it gives an example to other students in the school that it’s not just the people with the top three GPAs who get the awards and scholarships,” said Mike Mullen, secretary of the Lima Exchange Club.
Full list of 2026 A.C.E. Award winners:
Lyla Clum — Allen East
Sophia Moreno — Apollo Career Center
Parker Kollars — Bath
Karleigh Davis — Bluffton
Madeline Shaurer — Buckeye Community Schools
Eli Case — Delphos Jefferson
Ian Fairchild — Delphos St. John’s
Jordan Priddy — Lima Central Catholic
Kamryn Forrest — Lima City Schools
Kylie Richards — Perry
D’Angelo “DJ” Bentley — Shawnee
Jasmine Neer — Spencerville
Na’Talya Wilson — Temple Christian
