Former teacher and coach Phil Bova to be inducted into the Buckeye Local Schools Hall of Fame

YORK TWP. — Phil Bova, a former teacher and coach at Buckeye High School, was announced to be the 2022 inductee into the Buckeye Local Schools Hall of Fame during the school's graduation ceremony. Bova taught at Buckeye High School for 35 years as part of the Occupational Work Experience program, where he was the vocational director. As a teacher he started the Coats for Kids program in the school district with the help of his students and WTAM 1100 AM. Also throughout his time at the school district, he and his students would dress up as Santa and elves during the Christmas season. The group would then visit the district's elementary schools and a few nursing homes. Donna Frank nominated Bova because of his contributions to the community. She has known him for many years from attending the same church and she is an alumnus of Buckeye herself. "I was so thrilled when they accepted him," Frank said. "I'm so excited and honored and I know he is too." Over his teaching career, he has won several awards such as Outstanding Certified Employee of the Year, Medina County Teacher of Excellence and the Coach of the Year in golf for the Inland Conference. He has also helped write a book titled "Throwing Back the Chair," in which he describes his experiences officiating college basketball in the Big Ten Conference. "The committee was impressed with Mr. Bova's achievements and peer recognition in heading up the OWE program at Buckeye High School," said John Coyne, chairman of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. "His accomplishments while teaching at Buckeye set the bar for excellence in teaching. It was clear to us that Mr. Bova's passion to be the best did not stop with officiating basketball games, but transcended to educating Buckeye School District youth, receiving numerous awards along the way." During the Buckeye Alumni Association's annual "50 Years and Beyond" luncheon, the "Special Honorary" award will be presented to Bova. This will take place Aug. 10 at St. Martin's Community Center in Valley City. Buckeye alumni who graduated from 1954-1972 are welcome to attend the event. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.