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    Ottawa Hills Earns Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM

    Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School has been named a recipient of the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research for the 2025–2026 school year by The Ohio Academy of Science. Executive Director Michael E. Woytek officially announced the award, placing Ottawa Hills among just 76 schools across Ohio recognized for their exceptional commitment to hands-on learning and student scientific inquiry.

    To qualify for this honor, schools must satisfy strict criteria demonstrating a comprehensive STEM program. Ottawa Hills students actively participated in a local science fair, a Regional Science Day, and at least one additional youth science activity outside the classroom. Rather than treating STEM as just an acronym, Ottawa Hills embeds science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into a project-based curriculum designed to foster problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and communication.

    "STEM education is about empowering students to think critically and solve real-world problems, and this award highlights the incredible hands-on learning happening in our classrooms every day," shares Principal Ben McMurray.

    16 staff members of our faculty and staff were recognized for their leadership and classroom contributions: Jacob Hall, Jacob Byrley, Paul Genzman, Dan Feuerstein, Anthony Torio, Michael Leeds, Trevor Hug, Gloria Kreischer-Gajewicz, Nicole Silvers, Janelle Fowler, Patty Dowd, Kristin Johnson, Liz Puskala, Tim Adkins, and Caitlin Shawaker (not pictured: Paige Bergsma).

    To honor their dedication, each recognized teacher will receive a complimentary membership to The Ohio Academy of Science.

    Established in 1985, the Governor's Thomas Edison Awards are administered through a partnership between The Ohio Academy of Science, The Office of Technology Investments, and The Ohio Department of Development to highlight programs preparing students for the future workforce.

    "The brilliant minds in today's classrooms are laying the groundwork for our state's future economic success," said Lydia Mihalik, Director of The Ohio Department of Development. "We're deeply grateful to the schools and educators molding these young scientists into the problem-solvers and visionaries who will create a brighter tomorrow across Ohio."

    Congratulations to our outstanding faculty and students on this well-deserved statewide achievement!

    About The Ohio Academy of Science

    Founded in 1891, The Ohio Academy of Science (OAS) is a membership-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization. The Academy is the leading organization in Ohio to foster curiosity, discovery, innovation, and problem-solving skills. For more information about the OAS, please visit its website at http://www.ohiosci.org.

     

    Ottawa Hills High School Named a National Blue Ribbon School

    Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School, one of the most prestigious honors a school can receive in the United States. 

    The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized public and private schools for overall academic excellence for more than 40 years. Ottawa Hills High School was recognized in the Exemplary High Performing category, which identifies schools that rank among the highest performers in their state as measured by state assessments or national standardized testing. 

    The honor is highly competitive. Schools must submit a rigorous application detailing their culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, and family and community involvement. From all applications received nationally, no more than 420 schools are nominated before the final list is selected. Schools must also have been in existence for at least five years and are ineligible if they have received the award within the prior five years. 

    "This recognition is a direct reflection of the dedication and excellence our teachers and staff bring to Ottawa Hills every single day. They set a high bar for themselves and for our students, and this award is a testament to that commitment," said Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School Principal Ben McMurray. 

    In his congratulatory letter to the school, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine wrote, "This is an incredible honor and reflects the dedication of your entire school," adding, "Teachers and school leaders have the power to change lives."

    Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School is consistently among Ohio's top-ranked schools, earning 5-star ratings on the Ohio School Report Card and recognition as a Cognia School of Distinction. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school No. 1 in the Toledo metro area, No. 3 in the state and No. 169 in the nation in 2025. The school offers 18 AP courses, more than 99% of graduates enroll in higher education, and the average ACT composite score of 27 far exceeds state and national averages. For more than a decade, the school has earned the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education. 

    Ottawa Hills High School received notice of earning the award from the U.S. Department of Education last fall. While the program has historically been administered by the U.S. Department of Education, the award was officially presented by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in March 2026 following restructuring within the federal government. 

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