The Westerville City Schools Board of Education recognized students who received the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Faust Award and celebrated one student who has completed graduation requirements early at the board’s Feb. 10 meeting.

Board members invited award recipients forward and named the students and their schools. Mariah Chaffin (Westerville North), Andrew Gould, Andrew Tran, Caleb Tran, Ben Pipo, Cameron Shadley and Maya Varkudai (Westerville Central), and Colin Fowler and Paige Veil (Westerville South) were identified as recipients. The board described the Faust Award as recognizing Westerville students in grades 6–12 “who have demonstrated tolerance, respect for others, and bravery in the face of adversity,” and noted that awardees were formally recognized during the district’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in January.

Trustees also recognized several Genoa Middle School alumni who received the Faust Award as members of a former Future City team. The board noted the team’s project — designing a sustainable city for a nomadic African community — and said the students continued their work after the competition, including fundraising with the Rotary Club of Westerville.

The board then recognized an early graduate from Westerville North, identified in the meeting as Ekron Mallin, who completed credits early, will work part time this semester and plans to attend Columbus State and later Ohio State to study neuroscience.

Ending: Board members congratulated graduates and award recipients. Administrators and principals named during recognitions included Dawn Sayer (Westerville Central principal), Shana Wade Argus (assistant principal, Westerville North), Scott Gaitis (Genoa Middle principal), Tina Bardwell (Genoa science teacher), Linda Amiki (middle school instructional coach), and Mike Hinsy (Westerville South principal).