4th-graders portray famous Ohioans

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

new middletown

Thomas Edison,

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and a couple of Neil Armstrongs and LeBron James found their way to Springfield Elementary School.

The school’s fourth-graders each researched a famous or noteworthy person with an Ohio connection, wrote a paper about them and then took on that individual’s persona.

They call it a wax museum, and Principal Tom Yazvac said the tradition predates his 14-year tenure at the school. The students, dressed as the historical figure, sat in chairs lined up behind the school.

“We get parents and some other visitors who come to the school,” said Yazvac. When one of those visitors stops in front of a student, he or she stands up, introduces himself or herself as the historical figure and delivers facts and information about them.

Courtney Hughes, 9, dressed as inventor Thomas Alva Edison, complete with a silver wig fashioned in a bowl cut. “He invented the light bulb, and I use it every day,” she said of the reasons for choosing her subject.

Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, Courtney said. A lesser-known tidbit of information about the inventor is that he had six blue dots on his forearm, she said, pushing up her jacket sleeve to show hers.

“No one knows why,” Courtney said.

Ryan Ohlin, 10, dressed as Chief Pontiac, sporting a red jacket that his grandmother made, a tunic he found in his brother’s closet and a long, black wig pulled back in a low ponytail.

“He was a war Indian chief,” Ryan said. Ryan relied on two books and the Internet to conduct his research.

Broc Garchar, 10, chose Chief Pontiac, too, donning a feathered headdress made by his grandmother.

“I think he was an interesting guy,” Broc said.

Dakota Rudzik, 10, picked Gen. George Custer to study and portray. “I’m a big fan of the American Civil War, and I think he’s really interesting,” Dakota said, wearing a Civil War-style Army uniform and a blond wig.

Tyler Harbert, 10, selected Neil Armstrong as his historical figure. “My grandmother knew him very well,” Tyler said. “She used to live by him.” That was in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

“He was the first man to walk on the moon,” Tyler said.

Cierra Latronica, 10, picked Mary Campbell, a woman who was captured by American Indians at age 10.

Cierra first learned of Campbell in a book her teacher read called “The Beaded Moccasins,” she said.

Wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope draped around her neck, Kate Demmeade, 10, picked Elizabeth Blackwell. “She was the first woman doctor,” Kate said.

Luke Scheetz and Stephen Cvetkovich, both 10, chose sports figures. Luke jabbed at his listeners while telling them about boxing champion and Youngstown native Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.

His mom is a fan of the boxer’s, he said. She got the gloves he wore as part of his costume signed by the former champion. Luke’s mom used makeup to draw bruises under his eye and at the corner of his mouth.

“He is just really awesome to me,” Luke said.

Stephen picked Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and even tossed a handful of baby powder into the air after delivering his spiel, following James’ custom of using talcum powder on his hands before a game.

“I basically copied off of him,” Stephen said. “It gets more people to come over. I’ve already had probably 45 people come over.”