PAST AND PRESENT — Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons and past advisers of the Steubenville High School Key Club, John Georgiafandis and Joe Biasi, were among guests at the club’s annual Honor America Assembly. With Georgiafandis, left, are current Key Club Adviser Ross Ivkovich, Timmons and Biasi is Avery Zorne, an eighth-grader at Harding Middle School who won the Honor America essay contest.
— Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons told students and others attending Friday’s Steubenville High School Key Club’s Honor America assembly there are many opportunities for them to succeed and learn, as Steubenville students and as American citizens.

Timmons noted the late 1800s saw a wave of immigrants from many foreign lands enter the U.S. seeking religious freedom and opportunities to better themselves often not available in their class-based homelands.

And those same opportunities are the reason so many risk their lives to cross America’s southern border today, he said.

A 1994 graduate of Steubenville High School, Timmons said he had many opportunities as a youth and his education and experience led him to a satisfying job with WesBanco.

But he said he didn’t feel he was using his knowledge and abilities to the fullest, so when a seat on Steubenville City Council became vacant, he applied.

Timmons told those in attendance in the high school auditorium not everyone considered him the first choice for the position, but when he was chosen, he worked hard in that first term and when he was up for re-election, he won by a large margin.

He said after that, he was encouraged to run for county commissioner and though his opponent was a 20-year incumbent, he won again.

Timmons said not all of the opportunities he has encountered in life have led to success, but he learned from all of them.

“Every opportunity I took advantage of, win or lose, made me a better and stronger person,” he said.

Timmons told the students opportunities may come in many forms, including athletics, academic, work or community service.

The students also heard from Avery Zorne, an eighth-grader at Harding Middle School and winner of the Key Club’s Honor America essay contest.

In her composition, Zorne quoted Chinese military leader and philosopher Sun Tzu, who said, “Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.”

Zorne cited her experiences in gymnastics

She said when her competition cheering gym closed, she was disappointed and angry, but then she decided to try gymnastics.

Zorne admitted initially she wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, but that changed as new coaches and friends welcomed her into their circle.

“I am so delighted that I ended up taking the chance, because I fell in love with the sport and met amazing people,” wrote Zorne.

“If I would have passed up that opportunity, I would have never had the chance to improve my technique. Gaining skills from gymnastics led me to where I am today as a Harding Middle School cheerleader.”

Zorne said from gymnastics she became more confident and willing to try new things.

She advised other students, “If you are given an opportunity, take it and try your hardest, because you never know what might happen.”

While promoting pride in America, the assembly also was a reunion of sorts, with former teachers and students among the many attending.

They included former Key Club advisers Joe Biasi and John Georgiafandis.

Biasi noted the club was formed 75 years ago by William Croskey and applauded the efforts of current adviser Ross Ivkovich and its young leaders. Biasi said he looks back fondly on the days when he was a Steubenville High School student and president 2of its Key Club and noted Georgiafandis, as its adviser, history teacher and later, colleague, served as an inspiration and mentor to him.

Georgiafandis, who launched the Honor America assembly as the Key Club’s adviser, said one of the greatest rewards from his 50 years in education was seeing former students like Biasi and Timmons go on to become community leaders.

A 1955 graduate of Steubenville High School, he noted the various programs and facilities — including the natatorium and more recently, the Science Technology Engineering and Math Center — available to students.

“You should be so proud to be Steubenville High School students,” Georgiafandis told them.

He added, “You Key Clubbers are special because you dedicate yourself to community service and to improving the lives of those who are less fortunate.”

Georgianfandis noted the Steubenville Kiwanis Club’s role in forming the group and supporting it through the years.

Also participating in the assembly were Natalie Romanyak, Key Club president; Sarah Ostovich, its vice president; Ava Antill, senior representative; Amelia Collopy, the program’s coordinator; Gabriella Vein, its secretary; the school’s a capella chorus under the direction of Scott Wolodkin, the school’s band under the direction of Rosalind Thacker; and the Tri-State Marine Corps color guard.