Ball Scholarship winner is announced

Rhylee Shepherd, a 2021 Newcomerstown High School graduate, was announced as the winner of the Larry F Ball scholarship. She was chosen as the recipient of the award out of hundreds of applications, based on her work on her senior project.

Shepherd experienced an unhealthy, abusive relationship at age 16, which lasted for a year before she was able to get help and end the relationship. After escaping the situation she was in, she had a desire to help other teens avoid unhealthy relationships and see the red flags she missed. Her senior project was born as the result of wanting to help other teens like herself. She created the “Know Your Worth” project. Her first step was to speak to her youth group at church, and she told her story for the first time.

Shepherd created a Facebook page called KNOW YOUR WORTH, where she shared information. She also made and sold bracelets with the slogan and donated all proceeds to a local domestic violence shelter.

As part of her project, she made a video detailing her experience, red flags and where to go for help if you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship. The video was played for all grades in the high school. She also made posters that were placed around the school for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February. She received a lot of praise for her project and a Community Impact Award from Newcomerstown High School.

Shepherd plans to continue her work and would like to raise money again to donate to a local domestic violence shelter.

Shepherd graduated and will attend Kent State Tuscarawas in the fall. She plans to major in early education.

Know Your Worth campaign can be found at www.facebook.com/ncthigh/, where Shepherd is raising awareness about teen dating violence.