The latest Westerville South High School Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are Cindy Straub, Rick Rano and Jonathon Strickland (not pictured).
Westerville South High School inducted three alumni into its Hall of Fame at a luncheon and ceremony held April 22 – Rick Rano, Cindy Straub and Jonathon Strickland. The school’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee selected those honored from a pool of applicants who graduated at least 10 years ago, have demonstrated success in their career, and have made significant contributions to their community.
Superintendent John Kellogg meets with the Student Advisory throughout the school year and he praised the pupils for their honesty and respectful perspectives which help identify and find solutions to district-wide concerns. He also thanked this year’s group of Hall of Fame inductees for the example they have set.
Rick Rano graduated from Westerville South in 1982. During his high school career he played basketball, was a member of Student Council all four years and was active in numerous school events and activities. After high school, Rano attended the University of Hawaii, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1992. He has been a realtor – first in Hawaii and then in Westerville – for 29 years. He served as President of the Westerville Area Realtor Association and was awarded the Re/Max Lifetime Achievement Award and the Hall of Fame Award in 2010. Rano’s community service includes being President of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary, Assistant Governor of Rotary District 6690, Board Member and Chairman of the Board of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce. He was Business Person of the Year in 2007. Rano is also staunch supporter of Westerville City Schools and served as levy chair on two issues in the past. Rick and his wife, Tess, live in Westerville and have three children, all of whom graduated from Westerville South.
Cindy Straub graduated from Westerville South High School in 1976. She earned a degree in communications from The Ohio State University in 1980. Straub started dancing professionally as a member of Actors’ Equity Association in musical theatre for Kenley Players at the age of 16, while she was still in high school. She continued performing with stars including Betty White, Billy Crystal and Tommy Tune. She teaches today at Generations Performing Arts Center in Westerville, where she and her sister, Angie, are the owners and directors. Straub has choreographed more than 50 musicals. Currently, she is the choreographer for the Westerville Civic Theatre as well as Westerville North, South and Central high schools. In the 1980’s, Cindy tried her hand at broadcast journalism. She worked at WBNS-TV in all facets of news production, including video-tape editing, producing the news, working as an assignment editor and as a TV reporter. She also worked as a reporter at the CBS affiliate in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Straub has been hired by business and community organizations as choreographer for events including Tween Brans, The BEST Awards, Capital Holiday Lights, and the WBNS-TV fall kick-off featuring Pat Sajak and Regis Philbin.
Jonathon Strickland graduated from Westerville South High School in 2003. While in high school, he lettered in football, ran track and played for the Westerville Worms rugby team. After high school, Strickland joined the U.S. Navy and through his hard work and commitment, has had a successful military career. His vast training includes learning multiple languages for the many missions on which he has served. While abroad, Jonathon enjoys helping and interacting with local villagers and children.