North Ridgeville City Schools honor students, staff and award $16,510 in endowment grants

At the Dec. 2 meeting, the North Ridgeville City School District honored students and staff across grade levels and heard that the district’s endowment funds awarded 31 grants totaling $16,510 to support classroom initiatives and student programs.

District speakers recognized early‑childhood and elementary students including Benjamin Fairbairn and Ophelia Bowden, and named learners from Liberty, RHGA and the high school such as Riley McCowen, Logan Gard, Ariana Delagatti, Casey Youngcock, Zion, Liam Schmidt, Mara Esper, Ogechukwu (name in transcript variably spelled) and Abigail Milton. Staff recognitions included transportation employee Erica Cotner and a STEM teacher cited for leadership and lasting student impact.

The meeting also featured presentations by members of the endowment funds and by Daryl and Karen Edwards, who offered awards from the Shannon Edwards Memorial Fund established in memory of their daughter. The board was told the endowment distributions came from three sources — a general endowment fund, a fine arts fund and the memorial fund — and are intended to support enrichment and special‑needs programming.

Board members recessed briefly to take photographs with award recipients before returning to regular business. The district said the grants are funded from endowment interest and are intended as a recurring source of classroom support.