Class of 2026 graduates carry on Pottorff legacy in education

For decades, Ronald and Nancy Pottorff dedicated their careers to educating students in Fairview Park and Northeast Ohio.

Today, their commitment to education continues through a scholarship at Fairview High School that helps the next generation of teachers pursue the same calling.

This spring, FHS Class of 2026 graduates Lillian Cepulo and Caitlin Pesta were named recipients of the H. Ronald and Nancy B. Pottorff Scholarship. Awarded annually to Fairview seniors pursuing degrees in education, the scholarship honors the legacy of these two longtime Fairview educators who devoted their careers to serving students and the community. 

Nancy Pottorff taught second grade at Gilles-Sweet Elementary for 25 years, while Dr. H. Ronald Pottorff taught mathematics and coached football at FHS before later becoming chair of the mathematics department at Cuyahoga Community College. The couple called Fairview Park home for 55 years.

This fall, Cepulo will attend Bowling Green State University to study music education, while Pesta will attend Cleveland State University to pursue a degree in early childhood education. Pesta was awarded $15,000 from the Pottorff scholarship, while Cepulo was awarded over $82,000.

"I've always been into music," Cepulo said. "It's a huge passion, and it's one of the things I've pursued a lot compared to maybe some of my other subjects. I enjoy helping people, and I also want to spread my passion."

"Teachers that I've had through elementary school, middle school, and high school have always been a big inspiration to me," Pesta said. "I've always done babysitting, and I've always been around younger kids because I have younger brothers, cousins, and younger neighbors. I feel like that just fueled my passion for education, especially early childhood education."

For Cepulo, the award also carried a personal connection. She learned that Dr. Pottorff had coached her grandfather in football during his time at Fairview High School.

"It was kind of a full-circle moment for us," Cepulo said. "My grandpa really liked him when he was a coach."

Both students said the scholarship will immediately make a positive impact on their future college careers.

"This money is very, very life-changing for me," she said. "This money covers my whole first year of college, which is very, very nice and takes a lot of stress off my back."

"I'm eternally grateful for everything that I received," Cepulo expressed. "I hope I can put it to good use and continue to show why it was really needed for me. With our family medical expenses and other stuff, it'll be very, very useful."

Neither graduate expected the emotions when their names were announced at the annual Scholars Reception on May 13, nor the support they received from family and friends for their accomplishments. 

"My Mom was just blown away when I got it," Cepulo explained. "It was kind of hard for her to believe. She ended up calling a bunch of family: grandparents, aunts, uncles."

"My Mom was sobbing and so was my neighbor," Pesta added. "I still get text messages from both of them with how proud they are of me. My Mom posted it on Facebook, and she texted and called everyone. She just loved to brag about it. We went to Chick-Fil-A, and she told the person who was getting us our food."

Looking back on their years at Fairview High School, both graduates said the people they met and the supportive school community helped prepare them for what comes next.

"I think the friendships I've made and the people I've met have helped shape who I am," Pesta said. "I feel like these people have helped shape who I am."

"I think the community is such a big part of Fairview," Cepulo added. "The adults here are really amazing. They definitely give a safe space for all of us and encourage us to pursue what we want, without being overbearing. They encourage us to get out of our shells and express ourselves."

When asked what they would say to the Pottorff's if given the opportunity, both graduates focused less on the scholarship itself and more on the opportunities it creates for future educators.

"I'd probably say thank you for paving the way for future teachers to be able to pursue education without the financial burden," Pesta said.

"They're continuing to give such a huge gift to Fairview Park as such a small community," she said. "It really shows how much they cared about the community and the people around them, and how hard they worked."