32 • The Beacon May 11 , 2023
Elks honor River View and Coshocton students
BF-101460
By Marianne Austin
The Elks Grand Lodge decrees the first week of May is Youth Appreciation Week . Every lodge honors schools in its local jurisdiction , recognizing young people for their achievements in the community . Coshocton Elks hosted its annual youth banquet on May 4 to honor students in the River View and Coshocton districts .
The hoop shoot had about 40 kids participate this year . Colton Conkle was a past hoop shoot champion in 2017 , and this year Coshocton has another national hoop shoot champion .
The Elks presented the awards for champions and runners-up in the free throw championship .
The 8- to 9-year-old girls runner-up was Allie
Potts , and the champion was Cadence Watson , who also won the national trophy . The 10- to 11-yearold champion was Maddie Thomas . Boys 8- to 9-year-old runner-up was Liam Babcock , and champion was Beau Laaper . The 10- to 11-year-old runner-up was Jacob Carroll , and champion was Cruise Potts . The 12- to 13-year-old runner-up was
Helping People . Changing Lives . Turning hope into reality . Making our service area a better place to live .
This is what the Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission achieves for individuals and families . Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission has been your local partner for 59 years .
May is National Community Action month and we invite you to learn more about our agency . Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland provides vital and innovative services in Knox , Holmes , Coshocton , and Ashland Counties . With many satellite offices covering nearly 2,000 square miles , we attempt to provide service to every far reaching corner of our service area . KHCA serves thousands of individuals and families each year . Services include Head Start , HEAP , Family Planning , Dental Clinic , Senior Center , Homeless Shelters , Rent / Utility Assistance , Weatherization , Affordable Housing communities and more .
Learn more by reaching out to one of our offices or visiting our website at www . knohoco . org .
Corbin Talbott , and champion was Leo Laaper .
Watson won local , state and district . She also won the national championship in the 8- to 9-yearold division at the Hoop Shoot National Finals in Chicago . She said the most awesome thing about it was her trophy .
“ She has an older brother that plays sports , and she has been playing sports since she could walk , talk , crawl . She just took to it , challenged herself and made herself practice ,” said Courtney Watson , her mom . “ It ’ s her drive that did this — every day 75-100 shots . Her grandparents took her to Kids America every day after school . She is a determined little soul . She has taken to basketball , really likes it , and it is her favorite sport to play . The Elks have been amazing with everything they do for this tournament . It is organized so well .”
The 2022-23 Elks Grand Lodge Americanism Essay contest theme this year was “ What Is Your American Dream ?” This contest is held each year for grades 5-8 to explore the value of being an American .
Coshocton sixth-grader McKenna Strange won locally , seventh-grader Gracelia Moore also won locally , sixth-grader Serenity Arens won locally and placed second in the district , seventh-grader
Send us your
SCHOOL NEWS !
jsellers @ alonovus . com
Cadence Watson , second from left , and friends check out her national championship trophy .
Marianne Austin
Hailey Helter was awarded Teen of the Year for Coshocton .
Tavyah Deran won locally and placed second in the district , and sixth-grader Aubree Bantum won locally and took first place in the district for her essay . She placed first in the state competition , and her essay went on to the nationals . Seventh-grade student Kaelyn McClister won locally and placed third in the district .
Grace Cullison was awarded Elks Teen of the Year for River View . Cullison is a member of the student council . She is involved in every music opportunity at the high school . She had a part in the musical “ Footloose ,” was a sixth-grade camp counselor , member of the National
Marianne Austin
Marianne Austin
Grace Cullison was awarded Elks Teen of the Year for River View .
Honor Society , received the Community Service Award , raised money for Clary Gardens , helped organize the first tri-county music department get-together and has been in community theater for eight years . She will attend Kent State Tuscarawas for a career in marketing and advertising .
Hailey Helter was awarded Teen of the Year for Coshocton . Helter is active in basketball , volleyball , softball and soccer . She is president of Varsity C , a member of student council , Key Club , class treasurer and attending classes at Zane State . She plans to attend Ashland University .