The Excellence in Teaching Awards are given every May during the Senior Awards Assembly to two faculty members
who have been nominated and voted on by their peers. Both honorees this year have similar educational backgrounds,
graduating from Bishop Hartley High School, then earning degrees in Education from Ohio Dominican University. Lucky for
us, they decided to share this knowledge with the students at St. Francis DeSales High School.
Our first honoree, Peggy Griffith, has been a math teacher at DeSales for 8 years. Previously, she taught Algebra to
eighth graders in the Diocesan elementary schools for 6 years, and then at Bishop Hartley High School for 12 years. She
currently teaches CP Algebra I and CP Geometry, and is the faculty advisor for the Mothers Club. Peggy is also working on
her Masters in Mathematics at Otterbein University. She loves challenging the students, and watching their knowledge
and skills come together. Both of her children, who graduated from DeSales, and her husband were able to celebrate this
achievement with Peggy at the awards assembly.
Our second honoree, Janet Pickens, has been a proud
member of the DeSales family since 2004. Before starting
her teaching career at SFDHS, she raised her two boys,
earned her BA, and then received her Masters from
Otterbein University, where she also earned her Reading
Certification. Currently, she is in the process of earning her
Computer and Technology Literacy for Teachers certification
from The Ohio State University. She sits on the parish board
of Holy Spirit Church, and makes time to tutor an adult
student as well. She enjoys gardening, walking, and any
activity that involves spending time with her grandchildren.
Her focus is always on finding better ways to teach, reach,
and serve the students at DeSales: “I think of myself as a resource for both students and colleagues.”
Teachers of Excellence
Academic Merit Scholarship Winners
THE MIGHTY PEN 5
In our second year distibuting Academic
Merit Scholarships, we are proud to
congratulate the class of 2017 winners.
As a result of the St. Francis DeSales High
School Freshman Entrance Exam, ten
students received a $3,000 St. Francis de
Sales renewable merit scholarship, and
twenty-nine earned a $1,000 Franciscan
Sisters renewable merit scholarship.
Twenty additional scholarships were
awarded to our newest members of the
Stallion family, totaling an impressive
$81,750 in scholarship money. See
complete listing on page 13.
Row 1: Melissa McCabe (St. Paul), Jenna Weithman (St. Paul), Devon Grube (St. Paul), Morgan Rowan (St. Anthony), Casey Honaker (St.
James), *Josey Waltman (Clintonville Academy), *Jacob Paugh (St. Anthony), Alecee Barnum (St. Catherine)
Row 2: *Grace Carlos (St. Paul), *Cleo Yeager (St. Paul), Lauren Williams (St. Paul), Nicole Rhoads (St. James), Nora Hartsough (St. Paul),
*Hazel Antao (St. Paul), *Ellie Sarle (St. Paul)
Row 3: *Michael Zelina (St. Matthew), Thomas Mulligan (St. Matthew), Andre White (St. James), Jacob Mierzejewski (St. Paul), Matthew
Piatt (St. Michael), Zach Bosco (St. Paul), Caden Sanchez (St. Matthias), Zane Carpenter (Clintonville Academy), Colton Hilleary (St. Paul),
*Anthony Salmeron (Licking Heights), *Andrew Mannion (St. Michael), Antwyan Reynolds (Columbus Collegiate Academy), Grant Sichel
(St. Matthew), LaVaughn Johnson (Columbus Collegiate Academy)
Not Pictured: *Adele Sciarroni (St. Matthew), Connor Cavanagh (Clintonville Academy), Samantha Durbin (St. Matthew), Lindsey
Klutch (St. Matthew), Patrick Mulligan (St. Matthew), Jared Noble (Gahanna MS South), Rachel Nordmoe (St. Matthew), Nina Ryan (St.
Matthew), Shay Steele (Calumet Christian), Micah Weil (Calumet Christian)
*denotes St. Francis de Sales merit scholarship recipients
Class of 2017 Academic Merit Scholarship Recipients
