The Write Side

1. You will be required to have you 12th grade vaccinations. You should make those appointments before school. Note that The Ohio Department of Health requires all students to receive the following immunizations prior to entering 12th grade : ● Two (2) doses of Meningococcal [MCV4] vaccine ● The second dose must be administered on or after the 16th birthday and there must be 8 weeks between the first and second doses. ● If the MCV4 vaccine is administered on or after the student’s 16th birthday, only one (1) dose of MCV4 vaccine is required. ● If a student is in the 12th grade and is 15 years of age or younger, only one (1) dose of MCV4 vaccine is required.
2. Consider studying and retaking the ACT. Though admission to most universities doesn't rely on the ACT, many scholarships offered will be based on that and your GPA.
3. Consider in what activities you are involved. Scholarship committees and college admissions reps like to see prospective students deeply involved in activities (see article below for more info).

Portsmouth West High School theatre department presented Anastasia in multiple performances over Mother's Day weekend. To view more photos provided by teacher Amber Kasper, please click on the title above.

On Monday, May 19, 2025 the Portsmouth West SCCTC FFA Chapter held their annual banquet. Recognized were 7 students who earned their greenhand degree. Those students were: Brenna Delong, Baylee Matthews, Makenna Bentley, Miley Castle, Humble Moore, Lainey cook, and Russell Rapp.

16 members earned their Chapter Degree. Those students were: Laiken Caudill, Kylee mccleese, Shelby Perkins, Tilton Rapp, Eliza Arthur, Vacilya Begley, Lyla Cornell, Evan Stiles, Hailey Carver, Kayleigh Craft, Rylee Fuller, Kate Cyrus, Lafe Potters, Chloe Fraley, Shaley Boggs, and Micah Barnes.

State degree recipients included: Kayden Bentley, Carson carver, Will Kegley, Grace Lucas, Owen Moore, and Christian Quirasco.

Additionally, the 2005-2006 Officer team was selected. Those offices are:

President - Grace Lucas,

Vice President - Kayden Bentley,

Secretary - Rylee Fuller,

Treasures - Laiken Caudill,

Reporter - Vacilya Begley,

Sentinel- Kayleigh Craft,

Student Advisor - Hailey Carver,

Chaplain - Makenna Bentley,

historian - Baylee Matthews , parliamentarian - Lainey Cook,

Chapter Engagement Officer - Brenna Delong.

~Reported by Vacilya Begley, 2025-2026 Reporter

(Pictured left to right)

PWHS students competed in the Shawnee State University Math Scholarship Competition. Students - both individually and in teams - in grades 9 to 12 from any high school (or home school), in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, or Indiana, could compete for scholarships (and bragging rights).

Congratulations to all our students, but especially freshman Lorelei Carver. Lorelei earned 3rd place overall in the individual math competition, which consisted of approximately 120 other students! This honor earned her a scholarship to attend SSU.

Students attending: Jolena Underwood, Elyn Shively, Ava McNeil, Chris White, Zane Pitts, , Corbin Miller, Vacilya Begley, Luke Elliott, Lorelei Carver, Logan Kessinger, Gunnar Shonkweiler, Evan Stiles

Interested in Advanced Biology? This is a course in human anatomy (structure) and physiology (function), designed for those students who wish to plan for a career in the medical or allied health fields as well as those students who wish to learn more about the human body. Pictured: Advanced bio students learned various suturing techniques. Displayed is the Surgeons knot.

1st 9 weeks

CCP students are currently learning about biodiversity and conservation. A favorite lab this week was “Ecosystem Jenga” where students simulated a variety of human impacts on an aquatic ecosystem. Don’t make too many changes or the ecosystem will collapse!

Students in Mrs. Sites’ classes created a presentation of their post-high school plans that included information about a chosen career. Students used online resources to match with potential career paths, and researched salary expectations, education and necessary skills for three different careers. Students reflected on what personal strengths they already have that would make the career a good fit for them. Students also described skills that they have developed from a class, club, job or sport that would make this career a good choice for them. They included in their presentations information about the school or college they would like to attend after high school, as well as what city they would like to live in.

PWHS seniors received the following scholarships to help fund their post-secondary education:

• Mason Parker—Ohio Governor's scholarship, Choose Ohio First Scholarship, Ohio Dominican Honors Scholarship, Ann Callihan Community Service Award, AJ Stiles Memorial Scholarship, Southern Ohio Healthcare Alliance Scholarship, Portsmouth West Alumni Scholarship, Bill Newman Athletic Sportsmanship Scholarship, Flour-BWXT Portsmouth 2025 S.T.E.A.M. Scholarship, Three Point Club Scholarship, Lee Staggs Memorial Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Portsmouth Area Mother's Milk Scholarship, Washington-Nile Board of Education Scholarship, Dr. Stephen J. Harvey Memorial Scholarship, Courtney Clifford Outstanding Achievement Scholarship, Choose Ohio First Scholarship.
• Kayla Cook—Governors Merit Scholarship, Free Tuition Scholarship (SSU), Ohio College Opportunity Grant, Gillum Memorial Scholarship, Washington-Nile Legacy Scholarship, Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Scholarship
• Dalton Russell—Capital University Main Street Scholarship, CU Merit Scholarship, CU Comet Community Award, CU Music Performance Award, The Mary Smalley Memorial Scholarship, Loretta Veazey Scholarship, Augusta A. & Rose L. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship, Richard Wolbert Memorial Scholarship, Washington-Nile Legacy Scholarship.
• Olivia Kirkpatrick— Ohio Northern Dean's Scholarship, Ohio Northern Grant, Ohio Governor’s Scholarship , Washington-Nile Local School District Board of Education Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, American Red Cross Scholarship, Kenneth Merrill McCall Memorial Scholarship
• Brooklyn Pitts— SSU Legacy Scholarship, Shawnee Success Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Jeremy Pitts Memorial Scholarship, Kenneth Merrill McCall Memorial Scholarship, Washington Local Classroom Teachers Scholarship
• Nichol Rapp— Washington-Nile Local School District Board of Education Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Lee Staggs Memorial Scholarship, Carolyn Locher Memorial, Roger McDermott Memorial, Scioto County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Augusta A. & Rose L. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
• Maci Bradford— SSU Legacy Scholarship, SSU Blue & Gray Scholarship, Monk Sportsmanship Scholarship, Abe and Bette Zuber Portsmouth Retail Merchants Scholarship
• Rylee McDermott— American Red Cross, Hillview Retirement Center Resident Scholarship, Gary Thacker Memorial Scholarship
• Brigette Rose— Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship, Washington Fire Department
• Tehya Hazelbaker— Mary F Smalley Scholarship, Ann Callihan Memorial Community Service Scholarship, Harry James Memorial Scholarship, Charlie Bill Greene Memorial Scholarship, Augusta A. & Rose L. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship, University of Michigan Full Merit Scholarship, UM Grant
• Zane Conrad— Washington-Nile Local School District Board of Education Scholarship, Mr. Kenneth and Eileen Rapp Memorial Scholarship, Atomic Credit Union Scholarship
• Jadyn Hedge— Fran Smith Memorial Scholarship, McKibbin (Jane and Sam) Family Scholarship
• Colton Journey—SSU Blue & Gray Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Pepsi Scholarship, Grant Anne & Pamela Reed Family Scholarship, Fran Smith Memorial Scholarship
• Dillon Messer— SSU Blue & Gray Scholarship, Monk Sportsmanship Scholarship, Gordon M. Freeman Local Union #575 Scholarship
• Nick Messer— Shawnee Success Scholarship, Monk Sportsmanship Scholarship, Gordon M. Freeman Local Union #575 Scholarship
• Jackson Geyer— Morehead State Reciprocity Merit Scholarship, Washington-Nile Local School District Board of Education Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Portsmouth West Varsity Club Scholarship, Gordon M. Freeman Local Union #575 Scholarship
• Ava Potters— Shawnee Success Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Portsmouth West 3 Point Club Scholarship, Scioto County Farm Bureau Scholarship
• Max Rapp— Dugout Club Coach Chris Rapp Scholarship, Fluor-BWXT Trade Scholarship, Lee Staggs Memorial Scholarship, Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Scholarship
• Erica Whisman— Jonas Cooper Legacy Scholarship, Lee Staggs Memorial Scholarship
• Jack Bell— Portsmouth West Alumni Scholarship, Augusta A. & Rose L. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
• Ashlyn Swords—Harry James Scholarship
• Layla Buckler—Ira Swearingen Memorial Scholarship
• Hannah Hutchinson— Earl Thomas Conley Scholarship, Legacy Scholarship (SSU), Paws Up Scholarship (SSU)
• Mylie Pistole— Pepsi Scholarship
• Bryson Kessinger— Shawnee Excellence Scholarship, Dugout Club Coach Chris Rapp Scholarship
• Cassidy McClurg— Nauvoo Global Methodist Scholarship, Adam Eldridge Memorial Scholarship
• Jolena Underwood— Shawnee Achievement Scholarship, Choose Ohio First Scholarship, Raymond L. Arn & Dorothy L. Maier Scholarship, Linda Lawson Scholarship, Hazeldean Meyers Scholarship
• Megan Satterfield— Wayne Jayne Scholarship
• Mason Coleman— Wayne Jayne Scholarship
• James Reese Journey— Shawnee Success Scholarship, Grant, Anne & Pamela Reed Family Scholarship
• Ashton Reynolds— Blue & Gray Scholarship

Did you know summer activities can push your college application to the “yes” pile?

Colleges want to see that you are committed to extracurriculars throughout the school year, but they also love it when you are making the effort to expand and stretch yourself over summer vacation. What you do with your time can help you stand out from other applicants who have similar test scores and GPAs.

What Should High Schoolers Do Over the Summer to Impress Colleges ?

Your summer vacation is the perfect time for college prep and to explore potential careers. All summers in high school are important, especially the summers after sophomore and junior year. Check out these summer activity ideas that are fun, creative, and will make admissions officers take notice.

1. Participate in a specialized high school program

Specialized summer programs are held on college campuses all over the country. At MIT Launch, students start real companies. Students at UCLA’s Mock Trial Summer Institute train in public speaking and learn how attorneys prepare a case for trial. And the National Student Leadership Conference offers programs on campuses like Harvard Medical School and Georgia Tech, where students explore a future career, develop leadership skills, and get a taste of college life.

2. Take a college class

Many colleges offer summer programs where high school students come to campus to take courses and live in the dorms. Taught by real college professors, these classes are extremely competitive for high school students and require an application (with letters of recommendation). Start looking now!

Read More: How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation

3. Find a summer program at a local school or community college

Instead of living in the dorm, save money by living at home and attending college classes as a commuter student. Worried that summer college programs are too expensive? Don’t be afraid to ask if they offer financial aid !

4. Get involved with research

Experience in a lab as a high school student is really impressive to colleges. Cold call professors or ask your parents to talk to anyone they know who is connected with a university to see if you can work in their lab (even cleaning slides is useful experience!).

5. Create your own project

Turn your interests and talents into your own summer-long project. A few ideas: Form a garage band with some musically-inclined friends and practice with local gigs. Teach yourself how to program. Practice your creative writing and submit your work to journals that publish high school students.

6. Take a free online class

Sites like edX and Coursera offer free college courses that are taped or streamed from universities. With tons of subjects from robotics to American poetry, you get to participate in real-time or watch past lectures from professors at places like Stanford and Harvard.

Read More: Find Your Dream School

7. Get a job

Colleges are impressed when students have jobs, whether they are working for family income or just for fun. Your work history demonstrates your initiative and responsibility. Take note: you may need a work permit, depending on your age.

Colleges love to see collaboration, so try to spend your summer working with others versus only on solo projects.

8. Be an entrepreneur

Start a business with friends that offers a service in your community. We’ve heard of students starting babysitters' clubs, walking dogs for the neighborhood, or even teaching Skype to the elderly.

9. Volunteer in your community

Colleges would rather see continuity and commitment to a community service activity instead of a bunch of one-offs. Start now, and volunteer two hours a week through your senior year. For example, you could visit residents at nursing homes a few days a week. Or, spend your Saturday mornings feeding animals at the animal shelter.

10. Apply for internships

An internship is a structured opportunity to work (usually unpaid) at a company, lab, or non-profit organization for a set amount of time. These can be very competitive for high school students, but opportunities are out there!

11. Find a job-shadowing opportunity

Job shadowing involves observing or doing small tasks in a professional setting to get an idea of what a particular field is like. Does your dad’s best friend work at an electrical engineering company? Ask if you can help with filing or sit in a planning meeting or two, all while soaking up the atmosphere.

12. Start your SAT or ACT test prep

Summer is a great time to explore the ACT vs SAT , practice for the PSAT , or ramp up your study schedule. Pick up a prep book, take an online prep course , or find a test prep tutor to help you manage your time. Test prep keeps your brain active so you’re in tiptop shape to head back to school in the fall.

Read More: Should You Take the ACT, the SAT, or Both?

13. Make college visits

Now that you have some free time, plan your college visits ! You could take a college road trip with your friends or family or even virtually visit some campuses on YouTube.

14. Use your imagination

The sky’s the limit! Start a summer art project with friends to beautify a rundown area of your community. Pick up trash in your local park every Sunday. Colleges love to see collaboration, so try to spend your summer working with others versus only on solo projects.

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