Tecumseh High School Senior, Jason Holbrook, was honored by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at the BBB Eclipse Integrity Awards held at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center on May 10, 2016. Holbrook was named one of the Miami Valley’s BBB Students of Integrity and awarded with a $1000 scholarship. The award is given to Miami Valley high school seniors who exemplify strong ethics, integrity, and who have an accumulated grade point average of at least 3.0.
According to Holbrook, after he was chosen to represent Tecumseh High School, he applied for the Student of Integrity scholarship by writing a series of essays about Leadership, Academics, Community Service, Work Experience, and Compassion. In addition to Holbrook, students from 49 other Miami Valley school districts competed for the scholarship. The winners were chosen by a panel of 12 judges comprised of business leaders and members of the academic community.
Several honors and activities helped Holbrook win the Student of Integrity title. In addition to being named the Valedictorian for the Tecumseh Class of 2016, Holbrook has also served as a student body vice president, been inducted into the National Honor Society, was a Rotary Student of the Month, and heavily participated in Tecumseh’s Arts Program. Holbrook has also volunteered at various community programs, including Midwest Children’s Foster Home, Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, Kids Read Now, and the March of Dimes.
Holbrook loves his community and his school, “I’m a big believer in ‘Arrow Pride.’ I live in a great community and have had the best teachers who are second to none. I have also been lucky enough to work with some great charities that have helped the New Carlisle area. I am proud to be able to represent my community.”
Holbrook mentions he was surprised by the number of business honored at the BBB’s Eclipse Integrity Awards dinner where he received his award and the diversity of people who attended. However, he says he was most excited to meet WDTN Channel 2 news anchor, Mark Allen, especially when Allen mentioned to Holbrook he thought it was “really cool” that Holbrook was involved in something as “old-school” as Tecumseh High School’s “Young Harmony” barbershop quartet.
Although he has won numerous honors and awards, his goal to do his best and become his class’ Valedictorian is what has driven Holbrook as a student, “I am most proud of accomplishing my goal of becoming Valedictorian. That is something not many people can say they have done and I am proud that all of my hard work paid off.” Holbrook also says some of the best advice he was given as a student was to, “Keep trying, even when you mess up,” because the sense of accomplishment he felt after solving a hard problem was worth the work.
Holbrook will attend Wright State University after graduation from Tecumseh and will major in Physics Education.
