The Lima City Schools has announced that it will build a Lima City Schools Veterans Wall of Honor at Lima Senior High School.

The district is now collecting names of Lima Senior, South and Central High School graduates who served active duty in the military. It has also kicked off its campaign to raise funds for the wall. District funds will not be used.

Superintendent Jill Ackerman said the district has already collected about 130 names, but knows there are many more men and women who served their country and deserve to be recognized by their alma mater.

“Our hope is that this wall will also remind our current students of the sacrifices made by so many graduates who came before them,” she said. “We know there are students sitting in classrooms inside Lima Senior and in buildings around our district who will one day have their names etched on the wall.”

Ackerman was joined recently by the Allen County Veterans Service Commission, Lima City Schools Foundation and Johns Memorials, which will construct the black granite wall that will stand six and a half feet. It will include names of graduates, their branch of service and year of graduation.

Veterans and/or family members must complete a form to be included in the project. Family members are welcome to submit names of deceased alumni. A digital form can be accessed through the “Community” tab on the website. Look for “Veterans Wall of Honor.” The wall will be big enough to continue to add names well into the future.

For questions about getting a name on the wall, please contact Patrick Horstman at 419-996-3486 or email

phorstman@spartan.limacityschools.org.

Working with the Lima City Schools Foundation, the district launched a campaign to raise funds for the project. The goal is to initially raise $75,000. The district will seek larger corporate donations as well as donations of any sizes from other groups and individuals. Those donations exceeding $5,000 will be recognized on a plaque that will hang inside Lima Senior.

Checks should be made out to the Lima City Schools Foundation, with “veteran wall” written in the memo box. Donations can be sent to: Lima City Schools, C/O Beth Jokinen, 755 St. JohnsAve. Lima, OH, 45804.

Questions about donations should be directed to Beth Jokinen at 419-996-3411 or bjokinen@spartan.limacityschools.org.

Lima Senior High School’s DECA program inducted new members and installed this year’s officers at its annual breakfast this week.

The breakfast included Lima Senior Marketing and Audio Engineering DECA students.

Lima Senior’s culinary students prepared the breakfast. Graphic Communications student designed and printed the program.

The school has a strong DECA tradition, with students doing a number of projects and competing at the national/international level each year.

The new officers are below.

Senior Officers

President: Keegan Halliday

Vice President: Noah Engberg

Secretary: Ti’ana Spivey

Treasurer: Matilda Nelson

CEO Spartan Spirit Shack: Addison Delph

CEO Spartan Higher Grounds: Madeline Emerick

Policy Advocate Officer: James Evans

Public Relations Officer: Qua’Jane Tobias

Vice President of Stakeholder Relations: Charlese Ferris

Vice President of Marketing: Emma Schick

Vice President of Community Outreach: Taurean Frazier

Junior Officers (there are two chapters)

President: Ariana Custer and Chase Hipsher

Vice President: Dalton Chiles and Sumarion Doughty

Secretary: Gabby Avalos and Nick Fosnaugh

Treasurer: Zaveon Garner and Aniyah Hollon

Project Manager: Jairo Canchola and Aliyana Coppler

The Lima City Schools and Downtown Lima, Inc. unveiled a new partnership today designed to boost pride and bring more people to school events and to downtown Lima.

Superintendent Jill Ackerman and Downtown Lima, Inc. Executive Director Betsy Billingsley introduced the Spartan Like a B.O.S.S. (Bring On the Spartan Spirit) contest at a press conference at South Science and Technology Magnet School.

The initial phase of the program is to distribute “We Love Our Spartans” yard signs around the community. When supporters get their yard signs, they will also receive a Spartan Like a B.O.S.S. card.

People who complete the tasks on the card this school year will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including a Downtown Lima Experience (dinner, show at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center and a night at the Wingate).

The B.O.S.S. card will include attending student sporting events, concerts and art shows, visiting a downtown business, submitting a picture with the yard sign, and supporting the Lima City Schools and downtown Lima in various other ways. The card contains 18 tasks; Any 12 need to be completed for the chance to win prizes.

There will be someone to stamp the cards at the various events and locations. Cards must be turned back in by May 19, 2023.

Yard signs and B.O.S.S. cards are available in the main office of any of the district’s school buildings. Or call 419-996-3411 or email bjokinen@spartan.limacityschools.org.

Individuals are welcome to take a yard sign even if they do not plan to participate in the B.O.S.S. contest.

Lima City Schools’ staff and Lima Senior students will participate in versions of the B.O.S.S. contest.

The Spartan Ride is ready to hit the road with multiple stops scheduled at all Lima City Schools’ buildings throughout the school year.

With the tagline “Engaging Our Community at Every Stop,” the school bus transformed into a mini-learning center and community resource brings learning, resources and much more to families.

The bus is filled with learning materials, books, information about school and community resources and much more. It is a Wi-Fi Hotspot with computers as well.

The Spartan Ride will be at the schools during dismissal. September and October stops will emphasis teaching parents more about DOJO, while November and December will focus and ProgressBook.

Below is the schedule

Sept. 13: Independence

Sept. 22: Heritage

Sept. 27: Freedom

Oct. 4: Liberty

Oct 11: South

Oct. 18: North

Oct. 25:West

Nov. 1: Unity

Nov. 8: Independence

Nov. 15: Heritage

Nov. 22:Freedom

Nov. 29: Lima Senior

Dec. 6: Liberty

Dec. 13: South/Alternative

Dec. 20: North

Jan. 3: Unity

Jan. 10: Independence

Jan. 17: Heritage

Jan. 24: Freedom

Jan. 31: Lima Senior

Feb. 7: Liberty

Feb. 14: South

Feb. 21: North

Feb. 28: West

March 7: Unity

March 14: Independence

March: 21: Heritage

March 28: Freedom

April 4:Liberty

April 11: South

April 18: North

April 25: West

May 2: Unity

May 9: Independence

May 16: Heritage

May 23: Freedom