Salem High School Alumni Association 2022 Honored Alumnus Todd Olson, SHS Class of 1981, delivers words of wisdom to the Class of 2022 prior to the Scholarship Award Ceremony Saturday night in the high school auditorium. The SHSAA awarded $533,050 worth of scholarships to 80 members of the Class of 2022 and 31 past SHS graduates. Olson is the owner/president of BOC Water Hydraulics and a community advocate for all things Salem. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM — Honored Alumnus Todd Olson encouraged members of the Salem High School Class of 2022 to pay forward what they receive, to share their gifts and talents with their community.

He delivered that advice Saturday night when the Salem High School Alumni Association announced the awarding of a record high $533,050 in scholarships to 80 members of the Class of 2022 and 31 past SHS graduates.

As valedictorian of the SHS Class of 1981, Olson once sat where those students sat, preparing to embark on the story of his life. He shared with them three life lessons that have served him well, noting the path forward is a function of their choices for education, living locations and people.

“I encourage you to take those choices seriously,” he said.

Lesson number one: “Be flexible and be prepared to adapt a plan.”

When Olson went to the United States Naval Academy, his plan was to be a Navy flier. Unfortunately, he learned his eyesight wasn’t up to the task, so that plan was scrapped. Instead he focused on nuclear power, which served him well during his time in the Navy.

Lesson number two: “Take some risks, don’t go with the flow.”

After being honorably discharged to enter the private sector, Olson earned a master’s degree in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. He took a job with telecommunications giant MCI in strategic planning in Washington, D.C.

He and his wife Julie had two children, they were living the dream, but he decided to go against the flow. In 1996, he called his dad, Don, told him he quit his job and they were coming home so he could work with him at BOC Water Hydraulics.

Don said he couldn’t pay him, but little by little, the company started growing enough for him to have a small salary. Olson said that was probably the best decision he could have made. He was back around his home community and the people he grew up with, along with his family, which included his Dad and mom Bea.

In 2005, he became the owner and president of the expanded company, located at the corner of state Routes 45 and 165.

Lesson number three: “Be gracious and never stop giving back.” Olson called this lesson the most important, “the secret sauce for life.”

He told the students it’s not all about them, prompting a quick lesson within the lesson, using the Dead Sea as an illustration of how not to be. With the Dead Sea, everything flows in and nothing flows out, life cannot be supported. By giving back and focusing on others, life becomes joyful.

Outgoing SHSAA President Frank Zamarelli couldn’t attend due to COVID-19, but his daughter, school board president Brittany Maniscalco, accepted his award as an outgoing alumni board member and delivered his comments.

A 1982 SHS grad, he decided to pay back the $1,500 scholarship he received from the alumni association. He advised the graduates they don’t have to pay the money back that they receive, but if life treats them good, pay it forward. Olson referenced that message when he spoke.

Since returning to the area, Olson has lived his advice of giving back, supporting the technical trades at Salem High School and hiring Salem grads at BOC Water Hydraulics.

He’s also active in the community, supporting the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and serving on multiple boards, including SHSAA, Salem Regional Medical Center and the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center.

SHSAA Executive Director Audrey Cleveland Null, Class of 1976, said the breakdown for scholarships included 28 named scholarships and 72 academic merit scholarships to the Class of 2022. The record high dollar figure included 31 postsecondary scholarships awarded to past SHS graduates.

“This was an exceptional class this year and a much larger class. We’re proud and excited to award scholarships to 80 members of the Class of 2022,” she said.

This was the 141st annual meeting of the SHSAA, which first met in 1882 and awarded the first scholarship for $60 in 1908. The first investment was a $1,000 bond and has since grown to a portfolio of more than $12 million. Since 1908, more than $8.3 million has been awarded to nearly 2,500 SHS graduates.

During a brief business meeting, the association re-elected board members Shane Harding (2003), Tim Harrington (1984), Nate Mullen (2004), Wendy Storey Saltsman (1977) and Mickey Cope Weaver (1960) to new three-year terms and elected new board members, Dr. Peter Apicella (1982) and Karli Utt Dennison (2012), to three-year terms.

Besides honoring Zamarelli, the association also honored outgoing board member Maggie Berthold Fearn (1999). Thanks was offered to outgoing secretary Madeline Patton Shivers (1977).

The slate of officers for 2022-2023 includes President Mary Winch Korff (1991), 1st Vice President Jean Kiliman Esposito (1971), 2nd Vice President Mickey Cope Weaver (1960), Secretary Tim Harrington (1984) and Treasurer Wendy Storey Saltsman (1977).

Following the award ceremony, an open house was held in the high school cafeteria where the Class of 1972 was recognized for its 50th year. The Class of 1972 will celebrate with a golf outing July 22 at Salem Hills Golf Club, a Trolley Tour Down Memory Lane at 10 a.m. July 23 to drive by still standing elementary schools, Sebo Stadium and SHS, followed by the reunion starting at 5 p.m. July 23 at the Salem American Italian Club.

To learn more about SHSAA and upcoming class reunions, visit www.salemohioalumni.org.

mgreier@salemnews.net