Outstanding academic and community service achievements qualified 295 Blendon Middle School students for the 2nd Quarter Renaissance Awards celebration. Their reward was an afternoon of bowling, miniature golf and video arcade games at Gahanna Lanes on January 23. To qualify, pupils must meet high standards in academics, community service, attendance, attitude, and school spirit. Each quarter, at an awards presentation, qualifying students receive a certificate for their accomplishment. They also get the chance to win wonderful raffle prizes, donated by local businesses and PTO parents, including Renaissance t-shirts from Blendon Principal Kendall Harris, gift cards from Anthony Thomas Candy Company, Cheryl’s Cookies, Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen, Donato’s Pizza, Little Caesar’s, Marcus Theatre, Old Skool Skateboards, On The Border Mexican Cantina, Skate Zone 71, Smashburger, Texas Roadhouse, Turkey Hill Markets, Westerville Recreation Center, and former Blendon parent Carla Tedeschi. The Blendon PTO also donated free admission to the next school dance, along with pizza, drinks, chips and Kona Ice to 10 lucky youngsters. The Grand Prize was an Amazon Fire Tablet and tablet cover. 2017-2018 marks the 8th year Blendon has hosted a Renaissance Awards Program, which would not be possible without the continued support of local and national businesses, parents, and the Blendon PTO.