The Conotton Valley Union Local School District is pleased to announce that its SOAR Mentoring Academy has kicked-off for the 2025-26 academic year. This special initiative, now in its third year, focuses on building leadership, personal, and professional success skills with a limited number of high performing students. As part of the program experience, students and their mentors participate in a shared book read with real world applications targeted towards the program’s goals and objectives. This year, the group will be reading and discussing The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.
The mentors for the 2025-26 academic year are as follows:
- Jeremy Ady, Assistant Principal, Conotton Valley Junior/Senior High School
- Lauren Hanstine, Gifted Coordinator, Conotton Valley Union Local School District
- Kevin Neidig, Owner of Multiple Local Businesses and Conotton Valley graduate
- Derek O’Hara, Teacher and Head Football Coach, Conotton Valley Union Local School District
- Sharon Ricklic, Retired Educator with the New Philadelphia City Schools
- Ethan Zucal, Public Affairs and Safety Manager, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
Superintendent John R. Zucal offered, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our young people to learn from amazing role models who guide and inspire them to realize the fullness of their human potential. I am so appreciative of our mentors’ gifts of time, talent, and treasure in helping these students become the very best version of themselves. The relationships being built, and the impact of these connections, will last a lifetime!”