PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI … Benjamin Lang (left) and Abby (Kolodziejczyk) Wolfrum (right), the 2025 inductees into Swanton High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, pose with their awards after a recognition ceremony and luncheon at the school.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
A pair of Swanton High School graduates were inducted into the school’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Friday.
Benjamin Lang of the Class of 1994 and Abby (Kolodziejczyk) Wolfrum of the Class of 2002 were selected by the Swanton Local School District and Swanton Schools Foundation as its 2025 honorees.
Lang went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering with high honors from the University of Cincinnati in 1999 and Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School in 2003.
He initially worked in New York City before relocating to Tokyo in 2005, and since 2013 has been a partner at global law firm Jones Day focusing on the life sciences industry, “facilitating cross-border mergers, acquisitions, licensing agreements, and other transactions that support the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and medical devices,” according to the induction ceremony brochure.
Lang also supports non-profit organizations in northwest Ohio, across the U.S., and in Japan, through pro bono work. He also supports the Swanton Local Schools Foundation, Swanton Band Boosters, and the Swanton Public Library.
Along with his wife and five daughters, Lang returns to Swanton every year for the Swanton Corn Festival. “I’m very honored to receive the award,” Lang said. “I’ve always been extremely blessed to grow up in Swanton.”
“It means a lot to come back and see everybody, especially all the people who helped me get to where I am today, so all of my teachers – many of whom are here. It really is a special, special treat.”
Lang and one of his daughters flew more than 13 hours to be at the ceremony, and were able to spend three days in town.
Wolfram earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry in 2006 and her Master of Arts in Education in 2014, both from Defiance College.
She also worked for the college for nearly a decade, serving in enrollment management as an admissions and financial aid counselor and eventually as assistant registrar, while earning her master’s degree.
Since 2021, Wolfram has served as executive director of United Way of Defiance County, overseeing such programs as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Backpack Buddies, Kindergarten Camp, and the Defiance RIDES transportation initiative.
She is a recipient of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce’s 4 under 40 Award, is a member of the Defiance and Hicksville Rotary Clubs and volunteers with several organizations and on medical mission trips to Mexico.
“It’s a true honor to be recognized by my alma mater. I still feel like I’m young enough yet that I have a lot more to accomplish, but it’s very sweet of them to recognize what I’ve done so far,” Wolfram said.
Lang and Wolfram addressed the student body during an assembly later in the day, before being recognized again during halftime at the basketball game that evening.
Swanton Local School District Superintendent Chris Lake said the program is meant to honor alumni who have gone on to do special things.
“This hall of fame is about showing our kids … what you can do, having gone to Swanton,” Lake said.
“Just because you’re from a small town doesn’t mean you can’t literally travel the world, you know, you can’t go and do great and extraordinary things.”
He encouraged Lang and Wolfram as well as attendees and the community to reach out to the district to nominate potential future honorees.