June 6, 2023

For the Class of 2023, the final week of school was filled with excitement and pride as students completed their high school careers. But, for Alice Chambers, the week also had one final surprise for her and her family.

On Monday, May 22, Chambers learned she received $75,314.13 from the H. Ronald Pottorff and Nancy B. Pottorff Scholarship. This local scholarship supports Fairview High School students who intend to major in education at a four-year university or college.

“While Alice majoring in education was a part of the decision to award the honor to her, she also met the criteria set forth by the Pottorff family when they established the scholarship fund,” Fairview High School Principal Christopher Vicha explained. “Through Alice’s scholarship application and FAFSA submission, the committee determined that Alice fit the basic eligibility requirements.”

The Pottorff family has deep roots in Fairview Park. Dr. H. Ronald Pottorff taught math and coached football at Fairview High School beginning in the 1960s. He later taught math at Cuyahoga Community College, becoming the dean of the Math department. In addition, he was one of the founding members of the Fairview Park Education Foundation in 1984. He was always active in the Fairview Park schools, helping and volunteering at many events.

Nancy Pottorff was a second-grade teacher in the Fairview Park City School District, first at Garnett Elementary and later at Gilles-Sweet. Because she loved purple, students lovingly called her “Purple Pottorff.” In 1989, she was nominated for Ohio Teacher of the Year. She was named the Fairview Park City School District Teacher also in 1989. The Pottorffs were Fairview Park residents and had been married for 55 years.

Chambers filled out the Pottorff scholarship application in May after hearing about it from FHS English teacher Craig Cohan. Then, on the morning of May 22, Alice and her mother, Marie, were called to Vicha’s office for the surprise announcement.

“You don’t know what blessings you’re going to get until they happen,” Marie added. “One way or another, we would make it work. But to not have to worry about where that tuition money was going to come from - I’m still a little in shock.”

“I told [Cohan] at our commencement practice, and he high-fived me, and he was jumping up and down,” Alice explained. “He gave me a big hug. He was so excited. I don’t think he even knew how much money was on the line. He was pumped. He’s a big supporter.”

Alice described the Fairview Park City Schools as a place she loved, one of the main factors in her decision to major in education at Bowling Green State University. She served on Student Council, was a section leader for student fans at football games, was captain of the cross-country team, and competed for the indoor and outdoor track teams in addition to basketball.

“Especially with Fairview being such a small school, everyone knows each other,” Alice explained. “All the teachers are willing to help everybody they can, even if they don’t know you. It’s just such a close community.”

“The selection committee was well aware of Alice’s commitment to the Fairview Park Schools over the past thirteen years and what she has done to immerse herself in various clubs and activities,” Vicha added. “Alice is a very well-rounded student who is respected by the FHS staff because of not only her academic skill set, but also her drive and personality.”

With the scholarship in place, Alice looks forward to not worrying about finances when she attends BGSU in the fall. She feels she can focus on her studies more to become the best teacher possible rather than potentially finding a part-time job to help make ends meet. 

“That’s what I wrote in my thank-you letters,” Alice added. “They’ve given me the opportunity to become the best. I’m just very grateful - super grateful. I mean, out of all the people…it’s just a blessing.”

“We just have a lot of gratitude, obviously, to the Pottorffs, who felt that their legacy would be best served to help children who could then help other children,” Marie added. “To know that they were that invested in this town is just phenomenal. You hope that maybe one day, she will eventually end up back teaching here at the school.”