Poland Schools Foundation to honor outstanding alumni

The Poland Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence will honor three graduates of Poland Seminary High School at its annual banquet at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14, Ted Roberts, president of the foundation, announced today.

Sue Van Meter, chairwoman of the English Department at Poland Seminary High School, will be recognized as outstanding educator. Anthony Sferra and James Stewart, both assistant chiefs of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, will be recognized as outstanding alumni. Van Meter graduated in 1962, Sferra in 1964 and Stewart in 1971.

While in high school, Van Meter, the former Suzanne Honey, was a top student and, among her extracurricular activities, a majorette in the marching band. She earned her baccalaureate in 1966 and master’s in education at Bowling Green State University. Before returning to Poland schools in 1973 to teach English, Van Meter taught at Sylvania High School from 1966-1971. She taught at Cleveland Heights/University Heights High School from 1971-1973 when she began the doctoral program in educational psychology at Kent State University and worked part-time as a reporter for the weekly newspaper that served Poland. At Seminary High School, Van Meter has taught French and advised the cheerleading squad.

Sferra retired as a detective sergeant on the Poland Township Police Department and today is a bailiff in Struthers Municipal Court. In his 37 years with the fire department, Sferra has overseen the purchase and maintenance of fire department vehicles besides responding to fire calls.

Stewart too has been a volunteer for the fire district 37 years and overseen its safety programs and construction projects, giving thousands of hours of his time in its behalf. He is a production manager at Duncan Bath and Kitchen Center and a certified aging-in-place specialist.

“The Foundation will honor these outstanding alumni, because they have dedicated their careers to educating and keeping safe the students of Poland Schools,” said Roberts about the contributions Van Meter, Sferra and Stewart have made the school system and community,

Tickets to the banquet, to take place at the Lake Club, are $50 and can be obtained from the foundation secretary, Holly Fender, at 330-757-0783 or Roberts at 330-744-5211.

The Poland Schools Foundation for Education is an academic booster club that supports the teachers and students in the Poland Local School District. Since its founding in 1991, it has given or directed nearly $300,000 in scholarships to graduates of Seminary High School and grants to the school system and its teachers.