Chris Cuprys, a 2021 graduate from Westerville Central High School, has been named the Educational Options for Success (EOS) program’s 10th Outstanding Graduate.
Cuprys earned all his high school credits through EOS — the second student ever to do so in the program’s 20-year history.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “It was the best four years of school I’ve had. I loved it here.”
During his time in the program housed at the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC), school leaders said Cuprys was a leader among students with his work ethic, determination, respectful manner and positive attitude. He often helped new students transition to EOS and took the lead in learning how to use the equipment in a new virtual lab before teaching others how to use it.
“Chris acted with integrity throughout his time in EOS by showing us he could be counted on to be here daily and work for three hours, all the while maintaining responsibility for both academic work and virtual lab obligations,” science teacher Steve Rovtar said.
Teachers, students and staff at the AEC recognized Cuprys during a ceremony Tuesday. His mother, grandmother and recruiter from the Navy also attended the event.
“When he first came here, it was like he was coming from a situation where he was lost,” his grandmother, Harriet Shields, said. “And they said this (would be) a match and it was…This was such a help in giving him a direction into his life.”
Cuprys has enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he plans to become an explosive ordnance disposal technician who performs missions to dispose of bombs.
“We wish you the best of luck in everything you're going to do,” Nick McIlwain, director of Assessment and Alternative Education, said during Tuesday’s event. “You’ve been an inspiration to a lot of us here at the AEC and we couldn’t be prouder of what you have accomplished and where your future is going to take you.”
The Outstanding Graduate award is selected by the teachers and staff at the AEC each school year. Attributes considered for this award are perseverance, scholarship, leadership, service, character, responsibility, respect, attitude, loyalty, and integrity.
For 20 years, EOS has continued to provide a quality educational alternative for students and their parents. The award-winning program serves a wide variety of students and has leveled the playing field to enable the district to actually gain a competitive advantage over its charter school counterparts. EOS has not only helped hundreds of at-risk pupils to complete their high school education, but it has recouped state funding which is lost when students drop out or leave the district to pursue other educational avenues. Approximately 90 students graduate from EOS each year, representing approximately 8% of the district’s annual graduate rate.