5 Ohio Students Making The Buckeye State Proud

Ohio is full of bright, driven young people making a difference in and out of the classroom. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics, athletics and community service.

Check out five exceptional Ohio students making a big impact. And if you know a student who deserves a shoutout, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them for a chance to be featured as a Star Student on Patch!

Sophie Jaques (Columbus) — A standout both academically and athletically, Sophie Jaques made history in 2023 as the first Ohio State player drafted into the Professional Women’s Hockey League, going 10th overall to Boston. As a Buckeye, she became the first in program history to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, recognizing the top player in Division I women’s hockey, and was also named the university’s first Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year. Sophie graduated magna cum laude with a degree in civil engineering and continued her studies as a master’s student while leading Ohio State to back-to-back national championship game appearances. Her combination of academic excellence, athletic dominance and leadership in the community cements her legacy as one of the most accomplished student-athletes to come through Ohio State. Read more here.

Andrew Ziarko (North Canton) — With a clear sense of purpose and academic drive, Andrew Ziarko has earned the prestigious Henry Timken Scholar Award, a $25,000 annual scholarship renewable for up to three years. A senior at Hoover High School, Andrew plans to study biomedical engineering and pre-dentistry at Ohio State University — an early step toward his goal of becoming an orthodontist, inspired by his grandfather. Known for his kindness, leadership and positive attitude, Andrew’s dedication to learning and helping others has long set him apart. Now, as one of just 20 students worldwide honored through the Timken Global Scholars Program, he stands out as a young talent ready to make a lasting impact in science and health care. Read more here.

Bianca Patrone (Youngstown) — At just 17 years old, Bianca Patrone made history as the first student in Youngstown State University’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program to earn a bachelor’s degree before finishing high school. She began taking college courses in eighth grade and, through determination and support from mentors and family, completed a degree in Business Administration while balancing high school coursework. Along the way, Bianca completed two marketing internships — one for her family’s landscaping business and another for WKBN, where she became the station’s first intern in over 50 years. Bianca’s early achievements and entrepreneurial vision make her a standout among Ohio’s next generation of business leaders. Read more here.

True King (Marietta) — A senior at Frontier High School and the Washington County Career Center, True King is building a strong foundation for a future in skilled trades. Enrolled in the Building Technology/Carpentry program, True earned industry-recognized construction safety and carpentry credentials through the Carpenter’s International Training Fund and OSHA 10-Hour Training. He balances this technical training with academics — consistently earning a spot on the honor roll and recently named Student of the Month — and leadership roles as quarterback and captain of the football team. King also volunteers as a teacher’s assistant and participates in SkillsUSA. After graduation, he plans to earn a chemical operator certification and pursue a career in plant operations. Read more here.

Jordan Schwartz (Alliance) — With a perfect ACT score, a national debate championship title and acceptance to Harvard University, Jordan Schwartz built an academic and extracurricular record that placed him among the top high school graduates in the state. Named one of just three 2023 Star Students by The Canton Repository, Jordan graduated first in his class at Alliance High School with a 4.5 GPA and earned National Merit Finalist honors. He was a national contender in multiple speech and debate categories, a leader in student government and marching band and a top performer on the track and cross-country teams. When Alliance didn’t offer AP Physics, Jordan found his own solution — enrolling in the course through Johns Hopkins University to continue challenging himself academically. Now a Government major at Harvard, he continues to build on his early accomplishments through research, civic engagement and campus leadership — while still making time for activities like running and hiking. Read more here.

These exceptional students are just a glimpse of the incredible talent in Ohio. The future is certainly looking bright! If you know a Star Student making an impact in your community, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!