COLUMBUS — Bellville’s Christian M. Reed was the top performer in academics among the 41 graduates of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s most recent class, according to a press release from the agency.

Reed, who was one of five graduates to earn special honors, will begin his first assignment at the Marion Post.

Other local graduates included Matthew K. Walker, of Lexington, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Marion Post; Ethan Hibner, of Centerburg, who will fortify the Columbus District at the Mount Gilead Post; and Philip E. Schaffter, of Millersburg, assigned to the Columbus District, Mount Gilead Post.

Other new graduates who will take up assignment in north central Ohio include Eli P. Heaster, of Findlay, who is assigned to the Bucyrus District at the Marion Post; Randis L. Ramsey, of Willoughby, assigned to the Columbus District, Mount Gilead Post; and Daniel T. Telehany, of Corning, New York, assigned to the Cleveland District, Medina Post.

The Patrol’s 168th Academy Class graduated today after 30 weeks of intense training. Director Thomas J. Stickrath, Ohio Department of Public Safety; and Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol Superintendent provided remarks. Judge David M. Gormley, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, issued the Oath of Office.

Courses completed by the 168th class included crash investigation, criminal and traffic law, detection of impaired drivers, firearms, physical fitness, self-defense, and emergency vehicle operations.

Trooper Harry G. Baumgartner IV, Springfield Post, was selected as class speaker and thanked the Academy and cadet family members for being supportive during their training.

Three graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study at the Training Academy. The honorees were:

Overall performance – Trooper Shane D. Spieth, Fremont Post.

Top performance in academics – Trooper Christian M. Reed, Marion Post.

Top performance in driving – Trooper Thomas O. Casimir, Granville Post.

Top performance in firearms – Trooper Lewis P. Marino, Medina Post.

Top performance in physical fitness – Trooper Xiaoxiang Ji, West Jefferson Post.

Each of the graduates will report to their posts on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022.

The graduates’ first 70 working days will be a field-training period under the guidance of a veteran officer. The new graduates are assigned to 24 of the Patrol’s 59 posts.

Harry G. Baumgartner IV, of McDonald, assigned to the Piqua District, Springfield Post.

Ryan J. Bernard, of Steubenville, assigned to the Cambridge District, St. Clairsville Post.

Ashley C. Bogard, of Cleveland, assigned to the Cleveland District, Medina Post.

John D. Bushong II, of Boiling Springs, S.C., assigned to the Cambridge District, Cambridge Post.

Justin M. Capps, of Pickerington, assigned to the Columbus District, Granville Post.

Thomas O. Casimir, of Baltimore, Ohio, assigned to the Columbus District, Granville Post.

Dalton L. Chaffin, of Chillicothe, assigned to the Piqua District, Springfield Post.

Steven R. Church, of Delaware, assigned to the Columbus District, Delaware Post.

Austin D. Crow, of Sunbury, assigned to the Columbus District, Granville Post.

Nicholas K. DeNoon, of Parkersburg, W.Va., assigned to the Cambridge District, Marietta Post.

Jayden T. Fails, of Alliance, assigned to the Warren District, Lisbon Post.

Andre J. Giordon, of Brunswick, Ohio, assigned to the Warren District, Chardon Post

Marcus A. Hamilton, of Mount Orab, assigned to the Wilmington District, Batavia Post.

Eli P. Heaster, of Findlay, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Marion Post.

Emily A. Heglin, of Cincinnati, assigned to the Wilmington District, Hamilton Post.

Ethan G. Hibner, of Centerburg, assigned to the Columbus District, Mount Gilead Post.

Rickey A. Jenkins III, of Portsmouth, assigned to the Piqua District, Springfield Post.

Christopher M. Jewell, of Coal Grove, assigned to the Jackson District, Athens Post.

Xiaoxiang Ji, of Beijing, China, assigned to the Columbus District, West Jefferson Post.

Alec M. Kalis, of Youngstown, assigned to the Warren District, Chardon Post.

Chase A.S. Lucas, of Cambridge, assigned to the Wilmington District, Hamilton Post.

Lewis P Marino, of Cleveland, assigned to the Cleveland District, Medina Post.

Eduardo A. Mateo, of Poland, assigned to the Columbus District, Delaware Post.

Allen W. McCall, of Lancaster, assigned to the Columbus District, Granville Post.

John A. Meluch, of Diamond, Ohio, assigned to the Warren District, Canfield Post.

Zachary E. Morris, of Defiance, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Fremont Post.

Joshua D. Muck, of Portsmouth, assigned to the Jackson District, Chillicothe Post.

Nickolas B. Myers, of New Vienna, assigned to the Piqua District, Xenia Post.

Benjamin P. Rackley, of New Richmond, assigned to the Wilmington District, Batavia Post.

Randis L. Ramsey, of Willoughby, assigned to the Columbus District, Mount Gilead Post.

Christian M. Reed, of Bellville, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Marion Post.

Alec Robinette, of Milford, assigned to the Wilmington District, Lebanon Post.

Quintin A. Sandlin, of Mount Orab, assigned to the Wilmington District, Batavia Post.

Draven D. Schaefer, of Temperance, Michigan, assigned to the  Findlay District, Findlay Post.

Philip E. Schaffter, of Millersburg, assigned to the Columbus District, Mount Gilead Post.

Sabrina P. Schneider, of Leetonia, assigned to the Piqua District, Dayton Post.

Tyler P. Smith, of Akron, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Sandusky Post.

Shane D. Spieth, of Toledo, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Fremont Post.

Dalton M. Surbey, of Edon, assigned to the Findlay District, Defiance Post.

Daniel T. Telehany, of Corning, New York, assigned to the Cleveland District, Medina Post.

Matthew K. Walker, of Lexington, assigned to the Bucyrus District, Marion Post.