Category: Uncategorized

It was ‘game on’ throughout Warren City Schools during Disabilities Awareness Week as students gained some hands on, and feet on, experience in living with disabilities.

The school district partnered with the organization SkoolAid to bring a variety of activities to all four PK-8 buildings as well as the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

On Monday and Tuesday, May 12 and 13, each PK-8 building had two Disability Awareness assemblies focusing on educating students about disabilities through engaging experiences.

Through the “Ethan The Brave and Wheelchair Basketball” assemblies the goal is to dispel myths and foster understanding. The overall message is one of positivity and empathy, encouraging students to embrace their passions.

Students were called to play on teams and, after climbing into the provided wheelchairs, what it’s like to play basketball using your hands and two wheels.

The evening of Monday, May 12, , the district hosted a Family Olympics Event at the SRWC. Students from all four PK-8 buildings participated in a variety of hands-on activities designed to promote teamwork, problem solving, physical fitness, and, most importantly, fun!

In its first year of play, the newly formed Warren G. Harding Raiders Girls Flag Football Team is already making an impact both on and off the field.

The team wrapped up its first season with a 6-2 record, earned its way to Cleveland after qualifying for the fourth annual Northeast Ohio Girls Flag Football Tournament at Huntington Bank Field.

The 20-plus member team, coached by Justin Blair and Matthew Sheely, was among 16 teams competing for a girls’ flag football championship.

“It’s a big deal to me because my siblings get to see their little sister doing something they did,” Provitt said.

The Raiders went 1-1 in the tournament, ending their season just shy of the ultimate goal. The Warren G. Harding High School students competed against teams made up of player who have been in the game, in many cases, a lot longer than they have.

“I really didn’t know what to expect when I first started coaching this team. But I’m really proud. Just seeing how far we came from March to now was incredible. I wanted the girls to have fun and learn what it was like to come together as a team,” said Blair, the team’s head coach. “But they’ve by far outreached my highest expectations. They’ve been a great team.”

Their success on the field speaks for itself but it’s the bond they’ve built off of it that’s keeping them connected.

Quarterback Jaleah Provitt, a junior, said she was amazed by how the team came together.

“I’m very proud because nobody expected us to win at all. Nobody expected us to make it to the playoffs,” Provitt said. “But we did and that’s really something. And it was a lot of fun.”

Senior Ky’ziya Minor said she had never even been to the Cleveland Browns Field prior to playing there on May 12.

“That was crazy, being on the Cleveland Browns Field … so many people there. Families there, screaming and cheering. It felt like I was at a real football game,” she said. “That was so beyond anything … that was something!”

News coverage of the WGH Girls Flag Football Team.

Warren G. Harding High School students Alexis Rogers and Gummy Hart have each been awarded a Spring 2025 AAC Award.

Alexis, 17, a senior, was named “Most Inspirational Female” for the sport of track and field. Gummy, 17, in 10th grade, for the sport of baseball, received the “Respect the Game/Sportsmanship Award.”

Additionally, WGH Track and Field Coach Charles Penny was named Boys Sports 2024-2025 AAC Coach of the Year.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) defines Alexis’ award as a recognition that goes to a female student athlete who exhibits qualities that inspire not only her teammates, but her opponents. Inspirational qualities may include: dedication during the off season, overcoming an obstacle in her life or going out of her way to help others on the field, the classroom or outside of her school. This athlete’s peers, her home community and surrounding communities are also inspired by her efforts both on and off the playing fields or arenas.

The OHSAA defines Gummy’s award as going to a male athlete who demonstrates through play and sportsmanship the total philosophy of athletics. The recipient is choosing to play this game because it affords him the opportunity to use his skills, grow in character, serve others and be part of something bigger than himself. This male athlete loves his sport(s) for this reason and enjoys the competition. In turn, the athlete respects his sport by treating everyone involved with respect including opponents, coaches, officials, scorekeepers, ball boys and girls, groundskeepers,
ticket takers, announcers and anyone else who makes the game possible. This player does not throw equipment, dress improperly, wear any type of clothing that would dishonor the game or the school, use foul language, or engage in any behavior that hurts the team’s reputation or ability to compete and be successful.

This AAC Coach of the Year award goes to the coach of a Spring Boy’s sport who led their team in a manner that exhibited excellence and success in their sport as well as outstanding leadership qualities during the Spring season. Each school nominated one of their respective coaches whom they felt showed all of
these qualities while leading their team on their respective field or arena of play.

The awards are presented by Bull & Bear Restaurants and Fast Trac Convenient Stores.

WARREN – The Board of Directors of the Warren City Schools’ Foundation and the Committee of The Warren High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame inducted six new members at the 33rd Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The annual event was held at Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road, Warren.

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Additionally, 39 WGH High School seniors were awarded $57,540, collectively, in scholarships.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame award is to honor those individuals who, through their performance and achievements, reflect credit on the Warren High Schools (Warren High School, Warren G. Harding, and Warren Western Reserve), so that today’s students may find inspiration from the past and establish goals for the future.

The Alumni Hall of Fame’s Committee and the Warren City Schools’ Foundation Board of Directors will also honor a “Distinguished Faculty” member of the Warren City Schools. Each year, the Board of Directors requests that each inductee of the Hall of Fame name the educators who influenced and inspired their success.

The 2025 recipient of the “Distinguished Faculty Award” is Eileen Patrone, a longtime member of the Warren City Schools faculty who taught History at Warren G. Harding High School, Turner Jr. High and Warren Western Reserve Jr. High.

Information about the awards program, scholarship recipients and 2025 inductees is included in the 2020 Awards Dinner Program.

The names of all inductees, along with a short biography of each, are listed in the 2025 WCS’ Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Yearbook.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Karla Thumm Dines (Warren, Ohio): Following graduation from Warren G. Harding High School in 1974, Karla Thumm Dines continued her studies at Purdue University, receiving her BS in molecular biology and minor in chemistry in 1978. She has been employed as a research biologist at Case Western Reserve University, a chemist at PPG, and in the biopharmaceutical industry in Cleveland, first at Athersys, Inc., a company engaged in the discovery of therapeutic products, and for Copernicus Therapeutics. Copernicus develops gene therapy technologies. For 12 years, Karla was employed by the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. as a primary patent examiner in the areas of combinatorial chemistry and biotechnology. As a primary examiner, she made final determinations on the patentability of patent applications. She is currently working as a correspondent for the Warren Tribune.
• Lt. Col. James “Knuckles” Fowley, (Eagle River, Alaska): Lieutenant Colonel James Fowley graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 2000 and Ohio Northern University in 2004. After graduation, James joined the United States Air Force and he served as an Air Battle Manager in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, and Oklahoma from 2004 to 2016. During this time, he graduated from the United States Air Force Weapons School and deployed twice. In 2016, James joined the Alaska Air National Guard where he commanded the 176^th Air Defense Squadron from 2021 to 2025.Additionally, he served as the Military Advisor the Alaska State Board of Education from 2021 to present.
• Greg Gania (Erie, Pennsylvania): Greg Gania graduated from Warren G. Harding in 2001. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2005 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. While at BGSU, he was involved in the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization, broadcasting four different sports. He also served two years on the executive staff of BGRSO. Gania began his play-by-play broadcasting career with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (03-05). He joined the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A Detroit Tigers, in 2006. After serving as Director of Broadcast and Media Relations, he was named Assistant GM/Communications of the club in 2012. A role he still holds today. Greg made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2018 and was added to their radio broadcast team in 2024.
• Jeanna Hondel (Baltimore, Ohio): Jeanna (Cunningham) Hondel is a proud graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. She continued her education at Youngstown State University on a full Track and Field Scholarship, where she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering. Throughout her academic career, Jeanna earned recognition for her excellence, consistently earning a place on the Dean’s List and being selected for the prestigious President’s Cabinet. Upon graduation, Jeanna relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where she began her career as a Civil Engineer focused on improving municipal infrastructure. In 2009, she earned her MBA “With Distinction” from Capital University, where she also volunteered as a track coach. After obtaining her Professional Engineering License, Jeanna founded Ascension Construction Solutions in 2017, a company dedicated to “Building Great People Who Build Great Things.” Under her leadership, Ascension prioritizes the development of its team, fostering values such as mutual respect, continuous improvement, accountability, and teamwork while delivering exceptional results. Since its inception, Ascension has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition from Mayor Andrew Ginther, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Jeanna attributes her success to her faith, her husband Michael Hondel, their son Gideon, and her family, including her mother Wanda Cunningham and siblings Sye, Katrina, and Markella.
• HEATHER N. LOWRY, DDS (Warren, Ohio): Heather N. Lowry graduated from Warren G. Harding High school in 2002. Her interest in dentistry sparked during her high school years while she worked part-time at her aunt Carol’s dental office. After graduation, she attended The Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with cum laude distinction. She then continued her education at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2011. Following her graduation, Dr. Lowry worked nearly three years in a clinic setting in Columbus, Ohio. In 2014, she transitioned to an associate position at a thriving dental practice in New Albany, Ohio. Eventually, Dr. Lowry and her husband Danny returned to Warren with aspirations of realizing their own dream. Upon returning, she acquired a small dental practice from Dr. Anthony Antolini. Under her leadership, the practice flourished, and in its ninth year it was awarded the Tribune Chronicle Readers’ Choice Gold Award. Dr Lowry’s commitment to her community extends beyond providing dental care. Over the years, she has actively contributed to various local programs, including the Animal Welfare League, Trumbull Mobile Meals, Warren Baseball League, Girard Robotics, HAC Soccer, Pink Lights the Way, Ross Griffin Memorial Foundation, Raider 5K, Howland PTO and Children’s Rehab Center. Additionally, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Association and the Corydon Palmer Dental Society.
• Charles A. McKean (Manlius, New York): Chuck McKean is a 1976 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. After attending Kent State University, then relocating to southern California, he graduated from the Los Angeles Broadcasters program in Hollywood. He began his career at KFOX-FM, in Redondo Beach, as a radio engineer and on-air personality. In 1985, he was hired by Prime Ticket Network, advancing to producer and director, and working on over 1,000 sports broadcasts for the LA Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Raiders, Forum Boxing &; PAC-12 collegiate events. In 1995, he was recruited by KCAL-TV in Hollywood, to lead a new broadcast package for the California Angels. He would also produce and direct the Los Angeles Clippers for KCAL. In 2001, he was hired by WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, to direct daily newscasts and Cleveland Browns feature shows. He also directed Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball. Beginning in 1992 and continuing until 2024, he was an integral part of the Showtime Championship Boxing team as a producer, director and writer. He has directed world class boxing in New York City, Cleveland, Boston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Cancun, Mexico City, London, Manchester and Sheffield, England, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. He was a producer for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2000 Paralympics Games held in Sydney, Australia. Other career highlights include Director for Glory Kickboxing in Milan, Italy, Producer/Director for the Dropkick Murphy’s at The House of Blues in Boston, MA, Producer for M-1 Global Mixed Martial Arts in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia, Producer/Director Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and Production Executive for Miss World Beauty Pageants held in Washington, DC, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Community members by the dozens joined Warren City Schools in celebrating student creativity at the annual districtwide art show on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Approximately 450 people were in attendance. The event featured a variety of exhibits along with an awards ceremony.

Artwork on display represented students in grades K-12, as well as the district’s preschool classes.

Additionally, the following Warren G. Harding programs displayed work: WSCN, the drones program, robotics, woodworking and metal shop (welding).

Among award recipients were:

Emily Nutter (Lincoln 7th Grade) for the Mayor’s Award as selected by Warren City Mayor Doug Franklin (Below)

Tre’Denn May (Jefferson 2nd grade) for the Superintendent’s Award as selected by WCS Superintendent/CEO Steve Chiaro (Below)

Karina McDonald (WGH Senior) for the SMARTS Award, which is given to an artist rather than a particular piece of artwork (Below)

Emma Frazzini (WGH Senior) for Best In Show for a ceramic sculptural piece that she created. (Below)

WGH Art teacher John Johnson was recognized during the ceremony, as he is retiring at the end of this school year.

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Community members generously donated 5,894 menstrual products in support of The Raymond John Wean Foundation’s Period Products Drive during the month of March, enough to cover an estimated 265 menstrual cycles. 

Donated products are being used to stock the Raider Pantry at Warren G. Harding High School. Items were also donated to Youngstown Rayen Early College High School, Chaney High School and Wean Foundation grantee partner Inspiring Minds. These organizations will provide the products to menstruating individuals who need them.

Leaders at the Wean Foundation, which held the drive in honor of Women’s History Month, said they are grateful to have had partners in the effort. Gloris Counseling Services in Warren and DOPE Cider House and Winery in Youngstown also collected products to support the drive. 

It is estimated that 1 in 4 students struggle to afford period products, which results in missed school days and activities. In 2023, Ohio passed a law that requires schools that enroll girls in grades six through 12 to provide free menstrual products. At the time, the state allocated $5 million in the budget to support schools in adhering to the law and reimburse them for products, but that funding is no longer available.

A collection bin will remain in the organization’s lobby at 147 West Market Street in downtown Warren. Community members may continue to drop off donations of tampons, pads, liners, etc., in their original packaging, Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Community members are encouraged to consider donating at any time, but to keep in mind upcoming opportunities to engage, including Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 12-18, Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, and Period Action Day on October 11. 

About The Raymond John Wean Foundation
Established in 1949, the Wean Foundation is dedicated to community building in the under-resourced communities of Warren and Youngstown in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley. The Wean Foundation leverages a dynamic combination of grantmaking, capacity building, convening and partnerships to provoke new thinking, strengthen communities and disrupt the status quo to achieve its vision: empowered residents creating an equitable Mahoning Valley. Visit weanfoundation.org to learn more.

CASEL (Collaboration of Academic Social and Emotional Learning) sponsored a conference at Warren City Schools that highlighted some of the district’s recent work in social-emotional learning and in serving and supporting students.

WCS has been affiliated with CASEL since 2010. This is the first time Warren has hosted this event.

The conference served as a Community Network Partners Gathering for CASEL members, including Warren City Schools. Community partners learned about partners’ efforts to support students through social-emotional learning. 

The gathering, held April 29-May 1 at the WCS’ Student Recreation and Wellness Center, gave a panel of Warren school leaders the opportunity to share the district’s current SEL work while also noting the accomplishments over the past 15 years.

Keynote Meena Srinivasan,  a celebrated international speaker, author and visionary edupreneur, spoke on “Healing Burnout with a Wise and Tender Heart,” addressing professional burnout and ways to thrive in today’s professional work atmosphere.

Srinivasan, an educator-activist at heart, is executive director of TEL-Transformative Educational Leadership.

Conference participants visited each of WCS’ five building sites to witness the Warren work first hand.  Afterwards, Warren City Schools received feedback from the various districts and CASEL leadership

Participating districts joining Warren City Schools included: Chicago Public Schools, Washoe (Reno) County Public Schools, El Paso Public Schools, Guilford County (North Carolina) Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, and Austin Public Schools.

A board meeting will take place Tuesday, May 13th at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, 860 Elm Rd. NE, Warren, OH 44483. This meeting is open to the public. Click the link below to view the live stream.

WSCN YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Closed Captioning is auto generated and not considered official record.

Public participation (via email in advance) will be considered at wcsboard.participation@warrencityschools.org, questions, comments and concerns must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. the day prior to the meeting.  Submission must include name and address.

WARREN – The Board of Directors of the Warren City Schools’ Foundation and the Committee of The Warren High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame have chosen six new members to induct induct during the 33rd Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The annual event is held at Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road, Warren.

The purpose of the award is to honor those individuals who, through their performance and achievements, reflect credit on the Warren High Schools (Warren High School, Warren G. Harding, and Warren Western Reserve), so that today’s students may find inspiration from the past and establish goals for the future.

The Alumni Hall of Fame’s Committee and the Warren City Schools’ Foundation Board of Directors will also honor a “Distinguished Faculty” member of the Warren City Schools. Each year, the Board of Directors requests that each inductee of the Hall of Fame name the educators who influenced and inspired their success.

The 2025 recipient of the “Distinguished Faculty Award” is Eileen Patrone, a longtime member of the Warren City Schools faculty who taught History at Warren G. Harding High School, Turner Jr. High and Warren Western Reserve Jr. High.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:

Karla Thumm Dines (Warren, Ohio)

Following graduation from Warren G. Harding High School in 1974, Karla Thumm Dines continued her studies at Purdue University, receiving her BS in molecular biology and minor in chemistry in 1978. She has been employed as a research biologist at Case Western Reserve University, a chemist at PPG, and in the biopharmaceutical industry in Cleveland, first at Athersys, Inc., a company engaged in the discovery of therapeutic products, and for Copernicus Therapeutics. Copernicus develops gene therapy technologies. For 12 years, Karla was employed by the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. as a primary patent examiner in the areas of combinatorial chemistry and biotechnology. As a primary examiner, she made final determinations on the patentability of patent applications. She is currently working as a correspondent for the Warren Tribune.

Lt. Col. James “Knuckles” Fowley, (Eagle River, Alaska)

Lieutenant Colonel James Fowley graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 2000 and Ohio Northern University in 2004. After graduation, James joined the United States Air Force and he served as an Air Battle Manager in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, and Oklahoma from 2004 to 2016. During this time, he graduated from the United States Air Force Weapons School and deployed twice. In 2016, James joined the Alaska Air National Guard where he commanded the 176^th Air Defense Squadron from 2021 to 2025.Additionally, he served as the Military Advisor the Alaska State Board of Education from 2021 to present.

Greg Gania (Erie, Pennsylvania)

Greg Gania graduated from Warren G. Harding in 2001. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2005 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. While at BGSU, he was involved in the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization, broadcasting four different sports. He also served two years on the executive staff of BGRSO. Gania began his play-by-play broadcasting career with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (03-05). He joined the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A Detroit Tigers, in 2006. After serving as Director of Broadcast and Media Relations, he was named Assistant GM/Communications of the club in 2012. A role he still holds today. Greg made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2018 and was added to their radio broadcast team in 2024.

Jeanna Hondel (Baltimore, Ohio)

Jeanna (Cunningham) Hondel is a proud graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. She continued her education at Youngstown State University on a full Track and Field Scholarship, where she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering. Throughout her academic career, Jeanna earned recognition for her excellence, consistently earning a place on the Dean’s List and being selected for the prestigious President’s Cabinet. Upon graduation, Jeanna relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where she began her career as a Civil Engineer focused on improving municipal infrastructure. In 2009, she earned her MBA “With Distinction” from Capital University, where she also volunteered as a track coach. After obtaining her Professional Engineering License, Jeanna founded Ascension Construction Solutions in 2017, a company dedicated to “Building Great People Who Build Great Things.” Under her leadership, Ascension prioritizes the development of its team, fostering values such as mutual respect, continuous improvement, accountability, and teamwork while delivering exceptional results. Since its inception, Ascension has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition from Mayor Andrew Ginther, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Jeanna attributes her success to her faith, her husband Michael Hondel, their son Gideon, and her family, including her mother Wanda Cunningham and siblings Sye, Katrina, and Markella.

HEATHER N. LOWRY, DDS (Warren, Ohio)

Heather N. Lowry graduated from Warren G. Harding High school in 2002. Her interest in dentistry sparked during her high school years while she worked part-time at her aunt Carol’s dental office. After graduation, she attended The Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with cum laude distinction. She then continued her education at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2011. Following her graduation, Dr. Lowry worked nearly three years in a clinic setting in Columbus, Ohio. In 2014, she transitioned to an associate position at a thriving dental practice in New Albany, Ohio. Eventually, Dr. Lowry and her husband Danny returned to Warren with aspirations of realizing their own dream. Upon returning, she acquired a small dental practice from Dr. Anthony Antolini. Under her leadership, the practice flourished, and in its ninth year it was awarded the Tribune Chronicle Readers’ Choice Gold Award. Dr Lowry’s commitment to her community extends beyond providing dental care. Over the years, she has actively contributed to various local programs, including the Animal Welfare League, Trumbull Mobile Meals, Warren Baseball League, Girard Robotics, HAC Soccer, Pink Lights the Way, Ross Griffin Memorial Foundation, Raider 5K, Howland PTO and Children’s Rehab Center. Additionally, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Association and the Corydon Palmer Dental Society.

Charles A. McKean (Manlius, New York)

Chuck McKean is a 1976 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. After attending Kent State University, then relocating to southern California, he graduated from the Los Angeles Broadcasters program in Hollywood. He began his career at KFOX-FM, in Redondo Beach, as a radio engineer and on-air personality. In 1985, he was hired by Prime Ticket Network, advancing to producer and director, and working on over 1,000 sports broadcasts for the LA Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Raiders, Forum Boxing &; PAC-12 collegiate events. In 1995, he was recruited by KCAL-TV in Hollywood, to lead a new broadcast package for the California Angels. He would also produce and direct the Los Angeles Clippers for KCAL. In 2001, he was hired by WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, to direct daily newscasts and Cleveland Browns feature shows. He also directed Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball. Beginning in 1992 and continuing until 2024, he was an integral part of the Showtime Championship Boxing team as a producer, director and writer. He has directed world class boxing in New York City, Cleveland, Boston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Cancun, Mexico City, London, Manchester and Sheffield, England, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. He was a producer for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2000 Paralympics Games held in Sydney, Australia. Other career highlights include Director for Glory Kickboxing in Milan, Italy, Producer/Director for the Dropkick Murphy’s at The House of Blues in Boston, MA, Producer for M-1 Global Mixed Martial Arts in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia, Producer/Director Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and Production Executive for Miss World Beauty Pageants held in Washington, DC, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Celebrate the creativity and talent of Warren City Schools students on Friday, May 2, 2025, during the district’s annual art show.

The event is set for 5 to 7 p.m. inside the large gym at Warren G. Harding High school. An awards ceremony with begin at 6 p.m.