The Sandy Valley Academic Booster Club recently held its annual banquet to honor students at the high school. Mark Bankert, a 1980 graduate was the speaker for the evening.

Bankert, who grew up in Waynesburg, is currently in his 21st year at Malone College in Canton as sports information director and associate athletic director. While at Sandy Valley, Mark was a three-year member of the golf team, earning co-medalist honors as a senior. He was also an honor roll student.

He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1984 with a degree in business administration and from Ohio University in 1986 with a master's degree in sports administration. Bankert completed an internship with the Cleveland Browns in 1985 as part of his master's degree program. He also worked for the NFL's public relations department at the 1985 and 1986 Super Bowls.

Mark was recently inducted into the Malone Athletic Hall of Fame, becoming the first administrator elected (formerly open to only athletes or coaches).

An elder and active member at Jackson Friends Church, Mark is married to Colleen and they have three children-- Rebecca, 16, Joel, 15, and Joshua, 13. Mark is the son of John and Joan Bankert, both Sandy Valley graduates.

In addition, Mark's dad was the executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton for many years before his retirement in 2005.

The Academic Booster club was organized in 1991 by the Sandy Valley administration and community to recognize students for their efforts and hard work in academics. The organization sponsors various activities throughout the school year. Some of the activities include prize drawings; red, gray and white cards; graduation sgns for the senior class members' homes and academic letters.

David Fischer, principal of the high school, welcomed everyone at the banquet, and the invocation was given by Paige Dagenhard.

The dinner was provided by Cibo's & Don & Mary's, and desserts were provided by Taggarts and Milk & Honey of Canton. The staff of Sandy Valley junior and senior high served the meal. Pamela Sewell, president of the club, thanked everyone who helped make the evening a success and introduced the speaker. Mrs. Patty Dazey, treasurer for the boosters, announced the top 10 students.

Those receiving first-year academic awards were as follows:

Freshmen-- Dustin Baum, Brittany Bowling, Julia Burnett, Parker Cole, Taylor Diehl, Lacey Dyer, Jordan Fonte, Jessica Gager, Alexander Herstine, Sarah Hoffman, Adam Jacoby, Lyndsey Jones, Amanda Kemp, Vincent Kinsinger, Alexandra Lincoln, Tessa Litman, Rachel Maurer, Christian Mayfield, Kelli Mohr, Joseph Nutter, Kathleen Ott, John Rice, Courtney Riter, Rachel Schreffler, Lincoln Shaw, Macen Skipper, Mary Soehnlen, Rayelle Swinehart, Brittany Tindall, Victoria Trbovich, Nicole Whitcomb; Sophomores--Nicole Bebout, Brandi Delong, Dutch Kirkman, Aleisha Offenberger, Maggie Thurston, Brittany Tozzi;

Juniors-- Jeffrey Brothers Jr., Walter Burnworth IV, Donald Crum, Anthony J. Davis, Justan Dazey, Cortney Geiger, Nick Hahn,Matthieu Huszar, Michael Lambert, Justyn Mook, Melissa Ritenour, Joshua Williams;

Seniors-- Jessica Alborn, Cassandra Boyce, Dayna Bracken, Megan Cusick, Megan Daley, Kyle Foltz, Matthew Handy, Barbara Patterson, Courteney Vesco.

Second-year academic Awards went to:

Sophomores-- Nathan Burkhart, Julia Cain, Connie Collins, Michael Dewitt, Samuel Gindlesberger, Brittani Gintz, Samantha Givens, Danielle Grooms, Alison Malavite, Carli Nicholson, Tasha Otte, Ricky Smith, Megan Welker;

Juniors-- Amanda Hook, Jaymee Mook, Zackary Ray, Jordynn Skipper, Daniel Stokes Jr., Margaret Tolin;

Seniors-- Daniel Burnett, Kayla Carnes, Laura Contos, Paige Dagenhard, Ashtan Herstine, Nicole Peters and Courtney Swier.

Third-year academic awards went to:

Juniors--Noell Adkins, Kyle Amos, Austin Cole, Ryan Cook, Erika Crone, Vincent Fonte, Alex Randolph, Gary Shaeffer, Nicole Skropits, Matthew Suarez;

Seniors-- Robert Carroll Jr., Morgan Eick, Brendan Grossi, Samantha Paul, Tyler Randolph;

Fourth-year academic awards went to:

Seniors-- Justin Andrew Beck, John Daniel Coates, John Finley VI, Olivia Stephanie Gruber, Erin Christine Lancaster, Ethan Wallace Leyda, Brittany, Kalynn VanDee, Jacob Michael Waller and Christine E. Wingate.