At Riverside’s 2017 commencement ceremony, Wallace Baker Brainard, Jared Bucholtz, Asiah Rusnak, and Mackenzie Wolf each received a $1,000 scholarship from the RHS Alumni Association. In addition to the academic achievements, extra-curricular and community involvement, and the association requiring the writing of a short essay, at least one of each student’s parents/guardians or grandparents must have graduated from RHS.
Wallace Baker Brainard, better known as Baker, plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and major in architecture. While at Riverside he held an officer’s position each year in Student Council and was class president from eighth through eleventh grades. He founded a club named SIDE (Student Initiative for Developing Excellence). He also was a member of National Honor Society for three years. Outside of RHS he volunteers at the Concord Township Fire Department and the Cleveland Clinic. His father, Wallace Baker Brainard, graduated from RHS in 1990.
Jared Buckholtz plans to attend The Ohio State University and follow the pre-med track. He played soccer throughout his four years in high school and was named MVP player twice and Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He was named to the All-Conference team twice and the Greater Cleveland Second Team in 2015. In 2016 he captained the team to the first conference championship in school history. His father, David Bucholtz, graduated from RHS in 1988 and his mother, Kristine Maret Bucholtz, in 1984. His grandparents, David Bucholtz and Anne Blakely Bucholtz, as well as aunts, Susan Blakely Ferris and Kimberly Maret Hall, and uncle, Elbert Blakely, also graduated from Riverside.
Asiah Rusnak plans to attend Ohio University in the fall and major in child psychology. She was involved in varsity cheerleading and soccer all four years at school. Her senior year she was named All-Conference team in soccer. Outside of school she volunteers at her community church. Asiah’s mother, Brenda Lee Rusnak, graduated from Riverside in 1990.
Mackenzie Wolf will be attending Mount Vernon Nazarene University to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. She was a member of the Riverside Regiment Marching Band and was awarded most Outstanding Female Player her senior year. She is a member of the Youth Wind Symphony at the Cleveland Institute of Music and finds time to volunteer at her church. Both of her parents, Joel Wolf and Kristen Tulenson Wolf, graduated from RHS in 1989. In addition her grandmother, Jacqueline Wolf, grandparents Dennis and Fernette Smith Tulenson, and uncles,Jeff Wolf and Eric Tulenson,also graduated from Riverside.
Scholarships have been given to graduating seniors since 2003. With the completion of this year the RHS Alumni Association has given out more than $41,000 in scholarships.
