Clarence “C.J.” Mitchell

Felicia (West) Jones

Manard Reed

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville High School is honoring alumni-turned-community leaders for their contributions Friday during the 34th-annual Pathfinders Awards ceremony on Friday.

The event will be held in the school auditorium at 10 a.m. and will include student performances as well as award honors in recognition of Black History Month. Principal Aaron Newman said recognition is generally given for arts, business, government, education and humanities and this year’s honorees include Felicia (West) Jones, Clarence “C.J.” Mitchell, and Manard Reed. Jones will be lauded for her accomplishments in business while Mitchell and Reed will be spotlighted as humanitarians.

“It’s our culminating Black History Month event at Steubenville High School and Steubenville City Schools,” Newman said. “A committee consisting of myself and select staff and community members work to recognize alumni and/or district contributors who have positively impacted our school community.”

He said nominees are recommended to the committee for consideration and honors are given at the student-driven event. The ceremony will include music by alumnus Elijia Fletcher and seniors Mathew Miller, Laila Reed and Caleigha Birden; dance performances by Sydney Reid, Kaycee King, Zaharryah Herring, Dejah Achhammer and Allison Lewis; the SHS Jazz Choir; and essay winners including East Garfield Elementary first-grader Mi’Chell Barnett, Pugliese West Elementary third-grader Rory Dawson, Wells Academy fourth-grader Eisley Brown, McKinley STEM Academy first-grader Quinn Stubbs, Harding Middle School sixth-grader Thomas Smith and seventh-grader Evan Dong and SHS junior Alexis Featherman.

The day will recognize this year’s award winners.

“We feel all three honorees have positively impacted our school and community,” Newman added. “Felicia Jones was a state champion track athlete in the 1980s and has stayed close to her alma mater, plus she has stayed close to her church, family and community in New Albany. C.J.’s somebody I admire a great deal. He’s a leader in the business community and he does more than talk about having an impact in the community — he’s showing it with the revitalization of the North End. He’s also a great supporter and I think C.J.’s a great role model. Manard Reed was a standout student-athlete at Steubenville High School and he’s just a phenomenal person and steadfast supporter of Steubenville City Schools and Steubenville High. He’s also had a successful pro boxing career and is the epitome of ‘Big Red Tough.'”

• Jones, a 1988 graduate of SHS, distinguished herself academically and athletically. She was an active member of the girls’ track team, where she earned a state championship in the 400-meter dash and captured another state title as part of the 4×800 relay, and participated in the school band. She headed to Ohio State University on a track scholarship and continued to compete at the collegiate level. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in sociology and erves as a business analyst on the digital systems team at Park National Bank. She has also been involved in community service and outreach through her work and as a resident of New Albany, from the bank’s sponsorship of local basketball scoreboards to tutoring elementary students and raising funds for the United Way, while she has consistently supported her hometown and alma mater. Jones remains an avid Big Red fan and attends local games, plus she never misses state track and field finals. She is married to William Jones and is the mother of their daughter, Mikayla.

• Mitchell graduated from Steubenville and attended Kent State University, where he went on to build a strong professional foundation across telecommunications and finance. After nine years with AT&T, he transitioned into the financial services industry in 2019 with Huntington Bank and joined Clearview Federal Credit Union two years later. Mitchell was promoted to regional manager two years later after serving as branch manager. He has also been invested in the community through service and leadership, acting as first vice president of the Steubenville Branch of the NAACP for two years and co-chair of the African-American Heritage Festival Committee for six years. This festival has been a cornerstone of the greater Steubenville community since the 1990s, celebrating culture, history and unity. Mitchell is a former coach for the Steubenville Broncos youth football team and has spent years unofficially mentoring local youth. In 2024, he expanded his community impact by co-founding Legacy Lounge Media Group, where he serves as host of the Legacy Lounge podcast alongside his longtime friend and business partner, Blake Thompson. Together, they highlight inspirational stories and broadcast positive events throughout the region. Mitchell is a devoted husband to his wife Ashley, whom he married in 2017, and a father to three daughters–Chyna, Amira, and Ashtyn. He also remains a steadfast supporter of Steubenville High.

• Reed, a 1990 graduate of Steubenville Big Red, was immersed in athletics during his time at school and was a wide receiver and defensive back in football in addition to taking part in wrestling, track and field and the Steubenville Striders summer track club. Among his achievements were winning state champion in the 4×400 relay (lead leg) and being the school record-holder in the 4×800 relay. He went on to Youngstown State University and Kent State University, then was employed by the city of Steubenville and Jefferson County Jail as a correctional officer for 25 years. Reed has given back as a community mentor and coach, serving the Steubenville Striders Track Club for 15 years and the Steubenville Tigers Little League Football team for 16 years, but his interest in sports didn’t stop there. He also was active in the ring as a professional boxer from 1997-2003, beginning at the age of 26. Reed earned the nickname “Lightning” and fought in the super welterweight (junior welterweight) class. He won two professional titles, including the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion at age 27 and yielded a record of 27-4-1 with 18 knockouts, completing 32 bouts.

The event will conclude with a small luncheon for honorees and their family members in the Keenan Conference Room. Seating for the ceremony is limited and for information, contact the school at (740) 282-9741.