District News

Madeira High School seniors Maya Parker and Luke Pease have been named Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among more than 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide who now have the opportunity to compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth about $24 million, to be awarded in spring 2027. About 95% of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and approximately half of the Finalists will receive a National Merit Scholarship and earn the title of Merit Scholar.

Maya, Luke, and about 1.2 million other high schoolers entered the competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The Semifinalists represent the highest-scoring students in each state and make up less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. To become Finalists, students must complete a detailed scholarship application with a high school official. The application includes their academic record, school and community activities, leadership experience, employment, honors, and awards.

Notifications will be sent in February 2027 to more than 15,000 Semifinalists who are expected to advance to Finalist standing. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. About 700 corporate sponsored scholarships will be awarded to students who meet specific requirements, such as being children of employees or residents of communities served by sponsoring companies. In addition, about 140 colleges and universities are expected to provide approximately 3,500 college-sponsored scholarships to Finalists who attend their institutions.

Scholarship winners will be announced through four nationwide news releases from April through July 2027. They will join more than 395,000 students who have previously earned the Merit Scholar title. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1955, conducts the annual program without government assistance. Its scholarships are funded by NMSC, businesses, colleges and universities, and individual donors. Winners are selected based on their academic skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, or religion.

English poet John Donne once wrote, “For whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” Thanks to the families of the Madeira High School girls who were seniors on the 2024 State Champion Soccer Team, a bell now tolls for all student victories—both on and off the field.

At the beginning of every soccer season, the Amazons choose one word that will guide the team through the year. In the fall of 2024, the team chose the word “legacy.” After an incredible season culminating in a state championship, the ten senior girls on the team wanted to make a lasting impact—not only on the soccer field and in the record books, but on the Madeira High School community as a whole.

As the senior moms sat together at their girls’ games that fall, they began talking about how the team could best leave that legacy. They decided on a bell that could be rung after every student victory—athletic and academic.

The ten families of the girls pitched in to donate the funds to have an 83-pound brass victory bell made. The bell was installed on a metal stand at the end of the MHS track, home field of many Madeira athletic teams.

“We wanted to make a contribution that was meaningful to the school,” said Emily Momper, mother of Class of 2025 player Vivian Momper. “In honor and with love to Madeira High School, the bell was meant as a gift to the entire school.”

Prior to the start of Madeira’s 2026-2027 school year, a “Celebrate the ’Zons” event was held at the high school. Families and friends of past and present Amazons were invited to watch members of the winning team receive their state championship rings, as well as to take part in the dedication of the special gift from the Class of 2025 seniors—the Victory Bell. Attendees also watched home boys’ and girls’ soccer games.

On August 14, the Victory Bell was officially dedicated to Madeira High School by the ten former Amazon soccer players and their families: Olivia Bodley, Natalie Cimpello, Anna Cornejo, Autumn Daley, Evelyn Kerrey, Vivian Momper, Abby Naegeli, Emma Prus, Kate Shoemaker, and Corinne Westbrook. Many of the girls were able to attend the event.

The bell represents more than the accomplishments of one championship team. It is intended to become part of the Madeira High School experience, providing students with a way to recognize and celebrate victories throughout their high school years—whether those victories take place on the athletic field, in the classroom or in other areas of student life. The plaque on the bell reads, “This bell hangs as a reminder of the Amazon’s strength and resilience. Its ring, which symbolizes the Amazon warrior cry, is to inspire all Madeira competitors and to celebrate hard fought victories. Go ‘Zons, Go ‘Stangs, and Go Madeira! A gift from the class of 2025 Amazon soccer players – OHSAA State Champions 2024.”

The former players have challenged every future Amazon and Mustang to continue this legacy during their time at Madeira High School and to add their own accomplishments to the story of the school.

 

A tradition at Madeira City Schools, the annual New Staff Orientation, was held August 12 to welcome the newest members of the Madeira school family to the district.

After coffee and bagels, the day began with an introduction and overview of the district’s goals, mission and vision by Superintendent Kenji Matsudo and Assistant Superintendent Dave Bergan. The new employees were then introduced to cash handling and purchasing policies by Treasurer/CFO Emily Hauser, followed by introductions on procedures by Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Lora Graziani and communications by Public Relations Director Diane Nichols. Student Services Director Jessica Hunter then spoke to the Educational Assistants after which the new staff members were treated to lunch before returning for meetings with their mentors. The orientation was held courtesy of the Madeira City Schools Board of Education.

2026-2027 New Madeira Staff members pictured are Row 1 (l to r): Amy Geiger (4th Grade ELA), Layne Moorman (Madeira Elementary School (MES) School Psych), Jordan Gates (Preschool Teacher), Angie Laux (MES Intervention Specialist, Stephanie Staudigel (Madeira Middle School (MMS) Special Education Assistant), Megan Kearns (Kindergarten Instructional Aide), Abigail Myers (Preschool Teacher), Michelle Eikenbary (MES Special Education Assistant). Row 2: Connie Binkley (MES Special Education Assistant), Ellie Bernard (Preschool Speech Language Pathologist), Chloe Demboski (MES Intervention Math Tutor), Lizzie Ahlrichs (MES Special Education Assistant), Sophia Johnson (Madeira High School (MHS) Business Teacher), Amy Dyer (MES Physical Education Teacher), Leah McCain (MHS and MMS Choir & Guitar), Tyler Kossila (MES Intervention Specialist) Row 3: Lindsey Davis (5^th Grade ELA/Math), Martha Fraley (MES Special Education Assistant), Emily Wolf (MMS Intervention Specialist), Cherish Patton (MES Special Education Assistant), Emmy Sager (MES Special Education Assistant), Erin Rombach (Kindergarten Instructional Aide), Sara Cheeseman (MMS Administrative Assistant). Back Row: Gabe Sutton (District Accounts Payable) Not pictured: Jasmine Daniels (MES Special Education Assistant), Bobbi Wagner (District Payroll & Benefits).
 

 

Since 2018, every member of each Madeira High School (MHS) graduating class who attends a college, university, career training program, or enters the military receives a monetary scholarship - originally $250 and now $325. This monetary scholarship is known as the Made in Madeira Scholarship.

The Made in Madeira scholarships were made possible by a generous donation from the estate of Homer O. Amos.  A WW II Veteran and long-time Madeira resident and business owner, Mr. Amos was proud of his sons and their graduation from Madeira High School in the early 1970’s. As Madeira’s local TV repairman and laundromat owner, Mr. Amos’ shop on Camargo Road served Madeira and the surrounding area for many, many years. Mr. Amos was also an avid investor, successful in managing and growing his assets but who in many ways lived a simple and modest life. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 90, and as part of his final wishes had his estate shared with Madeira High School graduates. Mr. Amos’ generous gift of $750,000 provided the foundation of the Made In Madeira Scholarship which will be built on for years to come.

“I know of no other public high school in the State of Ohio who is able to offer this kind of an opportunity to each and every one of their graduates,” Madeira Superintendent Kenji Matsudo stated. The scholarship funds have continued to grow as donations have been made in memory of family, friends, alumni, and former teachers by individuals or entire classes in amounts ranging from $10 to $2,500 to again another recent estate gift.  Long-time former Treasurer and friend of Madeira Barb Brewer estate left a generous gift of nearly $50,000 to the Made in Madeira Scholarship fund. Often graduates will donate parts of their scholarships back to the school in an effort to ‘pay it forward.’

This May the current graduating class received word of their scholarships, along with a Made in Madeira t-shirt. At their Senior Awards Night, Superintendent Matsudo shared the history behind the awards with the students and the lesson they instill. “I hope that this generous Made in Madeira Scholarship given to you by a Madeira community member you never knew sparks an even greater sense of purpose for who you are and who you can become as you leave Madeira High School,” Matsudo stated. “Being Made in Madeira is not just about what you say, it’s about what you do.  Being Made in Madeira is not about how you start, it’s how you finish. It’s not only about who you are but who you can become. Being Made in Madeira is not about getting, it’s about giving. And if things aren’t quite perfect or you’ve hit a roadblock or a bump along life’s journey ….. being Made in Madeira means that it’s never too late to change your path or course of direction because above all else, being Made in Madeira means that you never, ever give up.”