By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
August 12, 2008
Four Carrollton High School graduates who have distinguished themselves in their respective professions have been selected for induction in the Carrollton High School Hall of Fame this fall.
The 2008 inductees are:
Zachary M. Casper, a 1997 graduate of Carrollton High School who is the lead computer engineer with General Dynamics, a large defense contractor in Falls Church, VA.
Kimberly A. (Mallarnee) Coplin, a 1981 Carrollton High School graduate who is an Associate Provost at Denison University.
Patricia A. (Tschantz) Grischow, a 1969 Carrollton High School graduate who is a Senior Government Affairs Specialist for The Timken Company, headquartered in Canton.
Steve Harter, a 1980 Carrollton High School graduate who is president of Notre Capital Ventures in Houston, TX.
Each of the inductees will be honored at a formal dinner to be held Saturday evening, Sept. 6, at the Days Inn in Carrollton. The inductees and/or family representatives will also be honored during Carrollton’s home football game Friday evening, Sept. 5, when the Warriors host the Claymont Mustangs.
Tickets for the Sept. 6 dinner may be purchased for $25 each by calling Rosemary Brace at 330-627-4868.
Eligibility criteria used to establish the Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by the Carrollton Schools Alumni Foundation, Inc., is as follows:
1. The nominee must be a graduate of Carrollton High School for at least ten years.
2. The person must have demonstrated significant achievements in a chosen field or have been recognized for involvement in an activity of special note.
3. The nominee must have made significant and widely recognized contributions to society and/or their profession.
Zachary M. Casper
Nominated by his great-aunt, Edith Zwahlen of Paris, Casper, 29, was a member of the Carrollton High School (CHS) track team and was named captain his senior year where he still holds the pole vault record.
After graduation, Zach attended the University of Akron, majoring in Computer Engineering. As a freshman, he walked on to the Varsity Cheerleading squad which led to several future opportunities. He was part of the University of Akron’s nationally competing squad in 2000 that traveled to Orlando, FL., where they competed in the UCA’s National Competition televised on ESPN.
Casper was named captain of the squad in his final year at the University of Akron and coached local and regional squads part-time. This led to a great opportunity with the Cleveland Indians as Casper and three other University of Akron cheerleading members were a part of the organization’s stadium entertainment with the Cleveland Indian’s mascot, Slider, for three seasons.
Zach was also a member of the University of Akron’s Super Mileage Vehicle (SMV) team comprised of both electrical/computer engineers and mechanical engineers with a goal of engineering the most fuel efficient vehicle representing the University of Akron in an annual national engineering competition seeking the most fuel efficient vehicles.
In 2001, Casper was recruited by the Department of Defense to take part in their cooperative education program with the University of Akron. In addition to completing the cooperative education program with the Department of Defense, Zach also was a member of the Baltimore Ravens Cheer and Stunt squad during the 2001-02 season.
After graduation in 2003, he was offered permanent placement within the Department of Defense and relocated to the Washington, D. C., metropolitan area.
Zach spent five years with Department of Defense, receiving several points of recognition including the National Security Operations Center Certificate of Professionalism, Certificate of Appreciation from the Applied Technologies Division, Certificate of Appreciation from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Recognition of Achievement from Special Operations.
In 2005, Zach began working for General Dynamics, a large fortune 500 defense contractor based in Falls Church, VA., where he remains currently employed. His areas of expertise are in embedded systems research, design and development, consulting, business development and advanced technology integration.
In just three short years, Casper has received two Awards of Excellence and has been promoted to a Lead Engineer. In the winter of 2007, he completed his Master’s of science, Computer Science degree at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.
Casper attends McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Va., where he is an active member of the Frontline, McLean Bible’s young professional ministry. He actively serves within several ministries, including Global Impact, the church world missions ministry and co-leads the church’s Sports Car and Racing outreach, Power Shift 2024.
In 2006, he was a member of a short-term missions team who traveled to Ecuador in partnership with Bridge Builders and Compassion International to do work projects at two sites in the coast portion of Ecuador.
Recently, Casper and 11 other young mountaineers from Frontline stepped forward to form the Last Well Movement - a movement to provide clean water in Jesus’ name to an entire nation in Africa. By combining their passion for adventure with the compassion of their Christian faith, the group climbed Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in the European continent at 18,510 feet, to raise contributions to build or refurbish 25 wells in the African nation of Liberia. These 25 wells will provide clean drinking water to more than 40,000 citizens of Liberia.
Casper’s hobbies include mountain biking, wakeboarding, snowboarding and mountaineering. In 2003, Zach placed in the top third at the US Open of Downhill Mountain biking held at Mountain Creek Resort’s Diablo Freeride Park in New Jersey. He often places in the top 10 at local freestyle snowboarding, mountain biking and bordercross events.
He is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring new places. Zach currently lives in Eldridge, MD., just north of Washington, D. C. His mother, Sherry Casper, and two younger brothers, Zeph and Zeb, reside in Carrollton.
Kimberly A. (Mallarnee) Coplin
Nominated by Dorothy Horrigan of Carrollton, Mrs. Coplin was valedictorian of her 1981 graduating class at Carrollton High School where she was also the recipient of a four-year DeFord Memorial scholarship. Even though she was involved in many extracurricular activities, her first priority was her classroom work, according to the nominator.
While Kim was doing her undergraduate work at Denison University, she earned several A+ in physics. Her extracurricular activities at Denison University included concert band, chapel advisory board, and physical department lab assistant/homework grader/tutor.
Mrs. Coplin currently is the chief academic officer at Denison University where she is one of two Associate Provosts. Her responsibilities include oversight of the academic and curricular side of the college, including sitting on Denison’s Academic Affairs Council, the Registrar’s Advisory Board and the University’s Assessment Committee.
Kim earned a bachelor of arts degree in physics from Denison University in June 1985 where she also was the class valedictorian, graduating with highest honors and a 3.96/4.00 grade point average.
Her honors project was titled “High Resolution Spectroscopy Employing a Large Blazed Echelle Grating”.
She went on to obtain her master of arts degree in physics from The John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD., in 1987 where her dissertation was titled “A Statistical Analysis of the Ultraviolet H2 Emissions from the Jovian Equatorial Region.”
In June 1983, Kim earned her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Physics from The Ohio State University where her dissertation was titled “Photoexcitation of Pernigraniline Base: The Role of Neutral Soltions”.
Upon graduating from OSU, Mrs. Coplin returned to her alma mater at Denison University and taught physics until she became an Associate Provost. She has been Associate Professor of the Department of Physics and Astronomy since September 2000, and served as Physics and Astronomy Department Chair in the fall of 2001 and from 2003-06.
Courses Mrs. Coplin has taught include General Physics, Introductory and Intermediate Modern Physic, Thermodynamics, Classical Mechanics, Quarks to Cosmos: Frontiers of Contemporary Physics, Physics and the Sound of Music and Experimental Physics.
Her research program has included Photoexcitations in Electronic Polymers and Biomechanics.
During her professional career, Mrs. Coplin has authored several conference papers and manuscripts, one of which is titled “Photoinduced Absorption of Poly (p-phenylene sulfoxide): Production of Triplet Excitons” which was published by Synthetic Metals.
She also has attained numerous Honors, including a teaching associate award from The Ohio State University in 1989, 1990 and 1991, membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Pi Sigma at Denison University, the later being a national physics honor society, both in 1984.
The Honoree also received the President’s Medal at Denison University and the Samuel C. Wheeler Award at her alma mater, both in 1985.
Mrs. Coplin is a member of numerous professional organizations and service activities and has given presentations at various seminars in Belgium, Sweden, Akron, Cleveland, Newark, Columbus and Atlanta, GA.
She has contributed conference papers at the International Conference on the Science and Technology of Synthetic Metals in Tubingen, West Germany; the spring meeting of the Materials Research Society in Anaheim, CA., the International Conference on Optical Probes of Conjugated Polymers in Snowbird, Utah; the 6th International Conference on Electrical and Related Properties of Organic Solids in Capri, Italy; the March meeting of the American Physical Society in Seattle, WA.; the first International Conference on Organic Nonlinear Optics in Val Thorens, France, and the American Association of Physics Teachers winter meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, plus numerous other professional meeting throughout Ohio, Indiana, Missiouri, Georgia and Michigan.
Kim is described by her nominator as being smart, personable and able to talk easily to anyone. “She enjoys many things, from her teaching to family gatherings at her grandparents farm,” Mrs. Horrigan said.
“Not only did Kim have good teachers at Carrollton, but also she worked hard. Kim is an outstanding example of a Carrollton alumna,” Mrs. Horrigan added.
Kim and her husband, Richard (Rick) Coplin were marred in 1986 and they have three children: Daniel, age 13; Jacob, age 10, and Lia, age 4. They family resides in Alexandria and are members of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Granville.
Mrs. Coplin is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale (Janet) Mallarnee of 167 Willow Rd. SE, Carrollton.
Patricia A. (Tschantz) Grischow
Nominated by her sister, Linda S. Tschantz of Carrollton, Mrs. Grischow is a 1969 graduate of Carrollton High School where she was actively involved in cheerleading, choir, National Honor Society, American History team, Student Council and served as a delegate to Buckeye Girls State.
After high school, Pat attended Mount Union College, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and was promptly hired by the Timken Company in June of 1973.
Pat was worked her way up through the ranks of that company, getting her master of business administration degree from Kent State University along the way.
Her present position of Senior Governmental Affairs Specialist holds responsibilities at local, state and national levels. As a Timken associate, she promotes business and individuals to be actively involved in the policy decisions made in Washington, D. C., or the Supreme Court in Columbus.
She is considered a “watchdog” guarding against legislation that will adversely affect not only business but associates, their families and the communities in which they live.
In her present position, Pat manages human resource legislative and regulatory issues on the state and federal level and is responsible for the Government Affairs communications program for US Timken associates.
Prior to this position, Pat was the corporate benefits manager with responsibility for health care, workers’ compensation, retirement, disability and other employee benefit programs. During her 33-year career with Timken, she has also held positions in labor relations, hourly employment, industrial engineering and bearing operations.
Mrs. Grischow as been active on numerous legislative, health care, workers’ compensation and human resource committees sponsored by local, state and national business organizations. These include the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, the Employers Health Care Coalition, the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Association of Manufacturers.
She was an original stakeholder in the development of Ohio’s workers’ compensation managed care system and participated in the legislative efforts yielding Ohio’s patient protection law. As a member of the Ohio Governors’ Workforce Policy Board and the Stark-Tuscarawas Workforce Investment Board, Pat is involved with state and local initiatives to improve Ohio’s workforce development system.
In recognition of her outstanding volunteer service on behalf of Ohio manufacturers in 1997, the Ohio Manufacturer’s Association presented her with the William M. Babington Jr. Memorial Award. She also received the William K. Wilson Service Award in November 1999 from the Community Healthcare Coalition, Inc. in recognition of her outstanding support and contribution on behalf of coalition members.
Mrs. Grischow is a member of the Board of Directors of the Aultman Health Foundation in Canton, the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board and chairs the Board of Directors for the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
She and her husband, Bill, reside in Osnaburg Twp., Stark County. They have to grown children, Jennifer, 25, who resides in Pittsburgh, PA., and Bill, age 23, who resides in Canton.
Steve Harter
Nominated by Larry Pontuti and Don Rutledge, Harter is a 1980 graduate of Carrollton High School, having attended Buckeye Career Center where he was enrolled in the carpentry program.
Upon graduation from CHS, Harter attended Mount Union College through the efforts of former Carrollton Schools Superintendent Lawrence (Larry) Pontuti and Mt. Union’s head football coach, Ken Wable.
Harter reportedly arrived at Mount Union College with a blue suitcase, two pairs of pants, six T shirts and a box fan. He majored in accounting and soon emerged to the top of his class in accounting with encouragement from his future wife, Suzanne. While attending Mount Union, Steve was an All-American and Academic All-American in both football and wrestling.
Following graduation from college, Steve accepted employment with a public accounting firm in Houston, TX., where he remained for five years. From there, he moved to Allwaste, Inc., where he managed the acquisition program until 1993 when he decided to go into business for himself.
In June of 1993, Harter launched the successful Notre Capital Ventures, LLC., of which he now serves as president. This is a venture capital company specializing in identifying opportunities and needs within various industries and providing the resources, management and knowledge to capitalize on those concepts.
Since forming Notre Capital Ventures, Steve has raised approximately $550 million in eight initial public offerings on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as seven private transactions. His innovative style has been recognized by several news publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CEO and Business Week magazines, to name a few.
In 1999, Harter became a member of the Mount Union Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Alumni award. He also was named Alumnus of the Year by the Buckeye Career Center Foundation, Inc. in 2002.
In 2004, Harter acquired Texas Taxi, Inc. which made Steve the largest individual owner of taxi cabs in North America. As part of the acquisition, Yellow Cab/Taxi Fiesta Cares was created. This provides scholarships for children of employees and drivers plus provides dollars and resources to local charities such as the Houston Police Foundation, Child Advocates, Susan Kolman Foundation, Neuhaus Education Center, Muscular Dystrophy Association and numerous youth sports.
In collaboration with the mayor’s office, Steve helped create the “Adopt a Middle School” program which turned a failing middle school, in the inner city, into a model that is being studied by Houston school districts.
The program includes mentoring, computer labs, sports, after school programs plus field trips to colleges, businesses and day camp. Since adopting this school four years ago, test scores have increased from less than 50% to more than 85% with students passing today in both reading and math.
Steve and his wife, Suzanne, currently reside in Houston, TX., with their three children, Victor, Molly and Adam. His mother, Vickie Harter, also resides in Houston. |
