Page 15 - The Buzz 05/29/2026

MAY 29 - JUNE 11, 2026 The NEARBY NEWS |C3
COTC’s Promise Programs Honored with Innovation of the

Year Award SUBMITTED | COTC

NEWARK, Ohio — Central Ohio Tech- Innovation of the Year Award, given out gion,” said John M. Berry, PhD, president cess and meaningful community impact
nical College (COTC) recently earned a by the League of Innovation in the Com- of COTC. “Such great financial support every day. We’re honored to have their
2025-26 Innovation of the Year Award munity College. exemplifies our steadfast commitment efforts recognized at the national level.”
for the development of its Promise pro- In February, COTC implemented its to changing futures for the better. I can’t See below for this year’s League Excel-
grams, through which students in its ser- new Licking County Promise and ex- wait to see its lasting impact.” lence Award winners from COTC:
vice region who exhibit financial need panded its existing Knox County Prom- In addition to COTC’s Innovation of
can receive free tuition. The award is ise and Coshocton County Promise pro- the Year Award, five of its employees
presented by the League for Innovation grams. These programs establish that received a 2025-26 League Excellence
in the Community College, an interna- any new, continuing or returning student Award. The honor celebrates leaders,
tional nonprofit dedicated to encourag- from those counties who report an an- faculty and staff members who exempli-
ing and rewarding innovation in the com- nual household income of $100,000 or fy leadership and outstanding achieve-
munity college environment. less on the Free Application for Federal ment at their respective community col-
COTC is one of 26 schools — spanning Student Aid (FAFSA) may be eligible for lege.
the U.S. and Canada — the League is free tuition. The Licking County Promise “Being recognized by the League for In-
honoring this year. The award recognizes goes into effect summer semester of novation is a powerful affirmation of the
experimental spirit and innovative activ- this year. outstanding work happening at COTC,”
ities led by faculty, staff and administra- “These Promise programs have the Berry said. “Our Excellence Award recip- Rachel Brandenburg, senior marketing
tors at member colleges. potential to change the higher educa- ients represent the dedication, creativity communications specialist. Submitted
A badge for recipients of the 2025-26 tion accessibility landscape of our re- and leadership that drive student suc-

Susan Cooperider, associate professor of Chris Doll, director of institutional research Cassie Summers, manager of enrollment Amanda Waser, office coordinator in the
nursing technology. Submitted and effectiveness. Submitted communications. Submitted Office of Student Life. Submitted
Baseball Division V Sectional Cambridge baseball continues

Champions Ridgewood to battle through the postseason

Generals wrap up season with win over Claymont

BY MATTHEW DOTSON | THE BUZZ BY MATTHEW DOTSON | THE BUZZ
Vs. Claymont (5/28) swered in the bottom of the inning with a
The Mustangs jumped out to an early 1 six-run blowout, 6 – 1. The Bobcats were
– 0 lead in Cambridge on Thursday. The able to nab two more runs in the top of
scoring stalled for the next three innings the second inning, but were shut down
before the Bobcats came back with the after that. With a run in each of the next
tying run in the bottom of the fifth, 1 – 1. four innings, the Red Devils took a 10 –
Cambridge took the lead in the bottom 3 win.
of the next inning with two runs, 3 – 1.
Claymont responded with the tying two Vs. East Liverpool (5/19)
runs in the top of the seventh, 3 – 3. The On Tuesday, the number 4-seeded
game remained tied through the ninth Bobcats hosted the 14th-seeded East
inning, to go for extra innings, until Cam- Liverpool Potters. After a quick top of
bridge took the walk-off winning run in the first inning, the Bobcats leapt onto
the bottom of the 10th, 4 – 3, to move the board with two runs to lead 2 – 0.
on to the District Final game. Cambridge added another run in the
bottom of the second, 3 – 0. The third
Vs. St. Clairsville (5/21) inning came and went without a run, but
Ridgewood base runner slides back to first base. Matthew Dotson | FILE PHOTO On the road for a makeup regular-sea- Cambridge made up for it with four runs
son game in St. Clairsville, the Bobcats in the bottom of the fourth inning, fol-
Vs. Harrison Central (5/28) Vs. Tri-Valley (5/21) faced the Red Devils on Thursday. Cam- lowed by three runs in the bottom of the
On the road in Zoarville, the Generals The Generals hosted the Scotties on bridge grabbed a run in the first inning fifth, to win the Division IV Sectional Title
were hoping to upset the Huskies and Thursday. After three dry innings, the to lead briefly 1 – 0, until the Devils an- with the 10 – 0 shutout victory.
grab a District Title on Thursday. Both Generals took the lead with three runs
teams battled without a run through the in the bottom of the fourth inning, 3 –
first five innings. In the bottom of the 0, followed by two runs in the bottom of
sixth inning, Harrison blasted forward the fifth, 5 – 0. Tri-Valley landed a run
with five big runs to lead 5 – 0. Ridge- in the top of the sixth inning, but it was
wood tried to answer back in the top of not enough to cover the deficit, and the
the seventh, but only managed two runs Generals took the 5 – 1 win.
before being shut down by the Huskie
defense, ending their playoff run with a Vs. Morgan (5/19)
Harrison 5 – 2 win. The Raiders faced the Generals at
Ridgewood High School on Tuesday.
Vs. St. Clairsville (5/26) Right away, Morgan took a 1 – 0 lead in
In West Lafayette on Tuesday, the the top of the first, but the Generals an-
Generals prepared for the Red Devils’ swered back in the bottom of the inning
arrival. St. Clairsville hit the scoreboard to tie the game 1 – 1. In the bottom of
right away, with a run in the first inning. the third inning, the Ridgewood dugout
Ridgewood tied the run in the bottom of came alive as the Generals blasted out
the first, and grabbed a go-ahead run seven runs for an 8 – 1 lead. Morgan
to lead 2 – 1. The Red Devils were able tried to retaliate as they pumped out
to tie the game at the top of the fourth a run at the top of the next inning, but
inning with a run, 2 – 2. The Generals the Generals stopped them there, 8 – 2.
ended St. Clairsville scoring there, and The hosts added four more runs for good
added three runs in the bottom of the measure as they took the 12 – 2 win and
sixth inning to take the game 5 – 2 and the Division V Sectional Title.
move on to the District Semifinal game.

THE
Pastor’s Corner

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

801 Chestnut Street, Dresden, OH 43821

740-754-1029
BIBLICAL BAPTISM
PASTOR MIKE ROBINSON
Dear Friend,
Last issue we were introduced to Philip the evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch.
(Acts 8:26-40)
Philip had shared the gospel with this man and he had believed on the Lord
Jesus as his personal Savior. He then asked Philip if he could be baptized? With the
question “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 16:25) he is asking Philip
if there are any further requirements. In other words, he believes the gospel, he is
trusting Christ Jesus alone for his salvation, and he wants to know what else he must
do.
Philip then gives him the only prerequisite to Biblical baptism with the answer
“If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest.” (Acts 8:37)
This gives us the first of the four basics of Biblical baptism. That is, “Meeting
the minimum requirement”. A heart belief in Jesus as personal Savior is all that is
required. In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says, “for with the heart man “believeth”
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
There are no accounts in the Bible of anyone being baptized who had not first
been saved.
So, we see here the first of the four basics of Biblical baptism. You must meet the
minimum requirement. You must be born again.
See you on Sunday!

- Pastor Robinson
JOIN US!

Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Service: 10:40 a.m.
Bible Study: Sunday 6 p.m.,
Wednesday 7 p.m.
The Evangelistic center of the Tri-Valley Region.