Steubenville High School celebrates its Pathfinders

STEUBENVILLE -- Friday was a day for Steubenville High School to celebrate its Pathfinders, community leaders who've made their mark on their community as well as students who are following in their wake.

School officials say the honorees' accomplishments speak for thems:

— Ta Litha "Patti" West, a 1963 Big Red graduate, was presented the education award, West, who also attended Steubenville Business College, and worked at the H.J. Heinz Co. and, most recently, as Urban Mission Ministry secretary. She's been active in the community, serving on the Martin Luther King Committee, Pathfinders Committee, Red Hat Society, Women's Ministry of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Minority Health Month Committee, Right to Read, Ohio River Sweep and the JB Green Team, and she assisted with Catholic Central's annual science fair.

She's credited with forming the first minority majorette group and drunline in 1971, the "PA Donnetts," and has worked with the La Belle Neighbors Who Care Group as well as after-school and summer reading programs. Among her many awards are Volunteer of the Year Award, Pathfinder Award, Woman of the Year Award and the NAACP award.

— Crystal Wicker, a 1992 Big Red grad, was hired by Steubenville City Schools in 2010 as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional and then, two years later, as a teacher. She's also an adjunct profession at Eastern Gateway Community College where she has taught courses pertaining to exceptional children, cognitive and physical development of children, society, family and diversity. She's also part of Steubenville's Community Solutions Team and leads the "Acts of Kindness" Club at Pugliese West, where she taught third grade for five years after a year at Wells Academy. She's also youth director at Second Baptist Church, chair of Second Baptist's Trustees and a member of the Pastor's Aide Ministry.

— Bobbyjon Bauman, who earned his bachelor's in education from the University of Wisconsin in 1990 and then his master of divinity in 1995 from the Reformed Theological Seminary. He worked for two years as a physical education teacher at a Texas school and devoted two more decades to youth ministry in Missouri and Wisconsin before moving to Steubenville and founding the Ohio Valley Youth Network, which he serves as president.

He was instrumental in starting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes group at Steubenville High School, along with 15 other FCA Bible Clubs in the region serving more than 400 students. He founded and is current director of Sycamore Youth Center and, with about 80 volunteers and staff, offers more than 60 after-school programs for elementary to high school-age students. Among his many awards are the Village Impact Award from the L.A.W.S. Movement, Herald-Star Community Star honors, 2018 Child Advocate of the Year by a Caring Place, and Community Champion Gold Gala Award from the JaQuan Lavender Foundation.

"Our Pathfinder Committee wanted to honor individuals doing wonderful things in our community, from Patti and her work at the Urban Mission to Bauman at the Sycamore Center to Wicker teaching our youth," Principal Ted Gorman, a member of the Black History Committee, said. "All three have been great examples of giving back to our community and putting other people's needs before their needs."

Black History Month essay winners also were recognized during the hour-long program, organized by students. Students also sang and danced for the audience.