Bowling Green High School seniors Lucille Nomaguchi-Long and Samuel Challu were recently honored at the 30th Annual Achievement of Excellence Awards, hosted by the Wood County Educational Service Center at Penta Career Center.
The event celebrates two outstanding seniors from each school district across Wood County for their academic achievements, leadership, and community impact. In addition to student honorees, the event also provided an opportunity for each student to recognize a staff member who has made a meaningful difference in their lives.
Lucille Nomaguchi-Long is the BGHS Class of 2025 Valedictorian. Lucy has distinguished herself as a scholar, leader, and athlete. Lucy is a National Honor Society member, president of both the Model United Nations Club and the Class of 2025, and is part of the National French Honor Society. Her academic distinctions include being named a National Merit Semi-Finalist, Presidential Scholar Program candidate by the US Department of Education, AP Scholar with Distinction, and a recipient of both the National African American and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Awards.
As a standout participant in Model UN, Lucy has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Delegate, Distinguished Delegate and Best Delegate in competitions at major Model UN conferences held at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Ohio State, and the University of Dayton. Outside the classroom, Lucy works as a figure skating coach and is a Double National Gold Medalist in Senior Gold Moves and Gold Ladies Singles. She also contributes to academic research as a life sciences research assistant at BGSU, where she studies molecular biology alongside undergraduate and graduate students.
In addition to her academic and athletic pursuits, Lucy mentors two recently-immigrated Japanese elementary school students through the BGCS Mentoring Program, helping them navigate their new environment and culture in their native language.
With a 4.5 GPA, an ACT composite score of 35, and a 1580 SAT score, Lucy plans to attend Harvard University to major in Molecular Biology and possible double major in Government, with aspirations of minoring in art.
Lucy chose to honor her French teacher and Model UN advisor, Mary Kern. “Madame Kern demonstrates constant support of academics and devotes countless hours and energy to her students. She played a central role in my growth throughout high school. Without her, I would have never joined Model UN or discovered my passion for international issues and diplomacy,” Lucy said. “Madame Kern is always encouraging and positively challenging her students.”
Samuel Challu is the BGHS Class of 2025 Salutatorian. Sam is also a well-rounded scholar, athlete, and leader. He is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), Spanish Honor Society, and holds the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish. He has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, National Hispanic Recognition Award recipient, and was nominated for the Franklin B. Walters Scholarship and the National Rural and Small Town Recognition program.
His leadership roles span across a variety of clubs and teams. He is president of NHS, treasurer of Model United Nations, secretary of the peer tutoring club, and co-president of Spanish Club. Additionally, he serves as a section leader in the high school orchestra and is a dedicated member of the varsity cross-country and track teams. Through his involvement, Sam has tutored peers in math and science, earned awards at national Model UN conferences—including Harvard and Chicago—and organized cultural and community events with Spanish Club and Orchestra.
Beyond high school, Sam has conducted research with BGSU’s photochemical sciences department as part of the PICNICS program and studied abroad in Spain. He plans to pursue physics and engineering at either Brown University or Johns Hopkins University, while continuing his exploration of Spanish, music, philosophy, and debate.
Sam chose to recognize Kathy Hershberger, the guidance office secretary at BGHS. “Although I was asked to bring a faculty member to this event, in bringing Mrs. Hershberger, our guidance office secretary, I hope to highlight the invaluable relationships students build with staff members who often work behind the scenes,” Sam said. “As a volunteer in the guidance office, I’ve had the privilege to receive her insightful feedback on applications, college choices, and life in general, all while witnessing her eagerness to do the same for each student who steps through the door. As I advance into my future, I will never forget her impact on me as a mentor, but especially as a friend.”
