INDUCTEES … Ben Gombash (left) and Linda (Novak) Chambers (right) stand following their introductions at the luncheon. They stand holding their plaques that will be put into the Swanton Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The Swanton School District congratulated their new inductees on Friday, January 27th. The inductees were selected to be included in the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
The program is put on by both the Swanton Local School District and the Swanton Schools Foundation in order to highlight graduates who have done interesting things in their careers.
As part of the induction ceremony, a luncheon was held that morning at 11:30 a.m.
There the distinguished alumni, along with school officials and distinguished guests, ate lunch together before the school introduced the two inductees.
First introduced was Ben Gombash. Gombash is a part of the Swanton Class of 2007. Since graduating from the school, he has gone on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science from THE Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from THE Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in Primate Behavior from Central Washington University, and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame.
Gombash has done extensive research and data collection on primate behavior and the rehabilitation of primates.
He has presented in Indonesia on “aggressive interactions between tourists and long-tailed macaques in the Ubud Monkey Forest.”
He has worked as an interim coordinator and site manager for the Alouatta Sanctuary dealing with various types of primates.
Ben has worked for the Toledo Zoo, the US Forest Service, the Orangutan Health Project as well as holding several teaching positions at the university level.
Next to be introduced was Linda (Novak) Chambers. Chambers is a part of the Swanton Class of 1984
Since graduating she has obtained her Associates Degree in Physical Therapy from Owens Community College, Bachelor of Science from the University of Findlay, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Findlay.
Chambers began her career in 1986 as a physical therapy aide and has moved steadily through various roles as a physical therapist and a manager to her current position as Associate Vice President of ProMedica Health Systems.
Her current responsibilities include oversight of rehabilitation services including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient clinics.
She is responsible for 400 rehab professionals across 31 locations that generate $190 million in revenue annually.
Following their introductions, each of the inductees stood for pictures before getting ready to meet students.
The students gave the two a tour of the building and also introduced them to the student body.
Gombash and Chambers were given the opportunity to speak to the students about their lives in Swanton, and the careers they have worked towards. They were then each honored yet again during the basketball game later that night.
Superintendent Chris Lake explained that there is an important point to doing all of this. “We want to highlight the career accomplishments of our graduates.”
“The whole point of this is to show our students that you can get your education here at Swanton and use it to do all kinds of things in your life.”
“We have all kinds of people in the hall of fame, and it shows students that you can come from a small town like Swanton and do anything you want with that education,” said Lake.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com