Knox Educational Service Center (ESC) has announced that Christopher Hawthorne has been named Knox County’s 2025 Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award winner. The announcement was made in a news release on March 20, 2025.
Hawthorne, a senior at Mount Vernon High School, has been recognized as the recipient of the award established in 1989 to honor high-achieving high school seniors across Ohio. He is ranked second in his class with a 4.521 GPA and has been accepted to Ohio State University, where he plans to study physics and engineering. According to the press release, his selection was based on a review process conducted by a five-member ESC committee evaluating nominations from county school districts.
The student is actively involved in various academic and extracurricular activities. He plays piano with several jazz bands, performs viola with the Knox County Symphony Orchestra, and is part of the high school tennis team. Additionally, he participates in environmental monitoring with the Knox County Park District and serves on the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council. He also programs for a VEX robotics team and has received recognition in a national French exam. Hawthorne, along with his family and school representatives, is set to attend the state Walter award luncheon on April 14.
"I have had some very strong teachers here," said Hawthorne. "They and my parents definitely pushed me. They have been a big part of what I think about and the way I think about things. I am very grateful to them."
The Knox Educational Service Center (ESC) is one of 55 agencies in Ohio dedicated to enhancing education by supporting public school districts with specialized services. Originally established in 1914 as part of the County School Districts, ESCs were renamed in 1995 and have since evolved into regional support systems. The Knox ESC serves several districts by providing special education, student enrichment programs, employee training, and community services. Its offerings include psychological evaluations, alternative education, gifted programs, staff recruitment, and mentorship initiatives aimed at improving instruction, expanding access to resources, and reducing costs for participating schools.
