Seventy-nine Blendon Middle School students celebrated their academic and community service achievements by attending the 4th Quarter 2013-2014 Renaissance Awards program and enjoying an afternoon of swimming at the Jaycee Pool on August 28. To qualify, pupils had to meet stringent goals in academic achievement, community service, attendance, attitude, and school spirit.
Each quarter, at an awards ceremony, qualifying students receive both a certificate for their accomplishment, and a tangible reward donated by various local businesses. The most recent group received coupons from First Watch, Sweet Frog Yogurt, Skyline Chili, Little Caesar’s Pizza, and Gahanna Lanes Bowling. In addition, a variety of raffle prizes were given, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and PTO parents, including Renaissance t-shirts from the Blendon PTO; gift cards from City BBQ, Cold Stone Creamery, Columbus Square Bowling Palace, Little Caesar’s, Marie Scrambler’s, Rita’s Italian Ice, and former student Christopher Tedeschi; and a Columbus Clippers cap and pennant, to name a few. The Grand Prize was a $50 Gift Card from Star Lanes Bowling. Following the awards presentation, students spent the rest of the day “chilling” at the Jaycee Pool, courtesy of the Blendon PTO. 2014-2015 marks the 5th year for Blendon’s Renaissance Awards Program.