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On Friday, April 17, Syntero and our generous sponsors, partners and supporters, honored 50 Central Ohio high school juniors and seniors who make a positive difference in their schools and communities every day at a special breakfast at the beautiful Brookshire Banquet Center.

 

For 35 years, Syntero’s Catalyst for Positive Change Awards have celebrated outstanding young people who embody Syntero’s core values of integrity, empowerment, innovation, and inclusiveness.

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This milestone year also marked Syntero’s 50th Anniversary, celebrating half a century of providing expert, compassionate behavioral health care and wellness services to individuals and families across Central Ohio. Under our 50th anniversary theme — “Together Forward” — we celebrate our collective impact: past, present, and future.

2026 Catalyst for Positive Change Awards
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Presented By:

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Syntero is Honored to Announce the
2026 Catalyst for Positive Change Award Recipients

To learn more about each of these outstanding honorees, click on their photo and then click the link.

2026 Catalyst for Positive Change Inspiration Award

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Linda Shetina Logan
CEO & President, Greater Columbus Sports Commission

Linda was honored for her visionary leadership and lasting impact on the Columbus community and beyond. Since founding the Commission in 2002, she has helped transform Columbus into a national sports hub, leading the city to host more than 1,250 events and generating $1.7 billion in visitor spending, while also launching the Community Youth Camp to provide children of all backgrounds access to sports and mentorship.​

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Linda delivered a deeply inspirational, encouraging, and heartfelt interview with NBC4's Crystal Mazza that reflected her lifelong commitment to service and community impact. She shared her story of turning an idea into reality through perseverance, mentorship, and leadership, highlighting how meaningful progress is built through vision, resilience, and the support of others — the same qualities that helped her launch The Greater Columbus Sports Commission 24 years ago and where she continues to lead with passion and purpose.

 

We are grateful for the wisdom and perspective Linda shared with our audience.

Special Thanks to our 2026 Co-Emcees:

We are also sincerely grateful to our emcees, Crystal Mazza of NBC4 and Christine Nardecchia of the City of Columbus, whose professionalism, energy, and thoughtful presence helped guide the evening seamlessly from start to finish. Their ability to connect with the audience, maintain the flow of the program, and elevate each moment of recognition added greatly to the experience, ensuring the focus remained where it belonged—on our students, their stories, and the achievements we gathered to celebrate.

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Crystal Mazza

Host, Columbus Living - NBC4

Christine Nardecchia

Director of Outreach and Engagement, City of Dublin

Sincere Thanks to the Sponsors Who Made the Event Possible

Syntero is deeply grateful to the sponsors of the 2026 Catalyst for Positive Change Awards. In a milestone year marking not only the 35th Anniversary of the Catalyst for Positive Change Awards, but also Syntero's 50th anniversary, this support made it possible to recognize outstanding students while also raising funds to serve more people with vital mental health services.

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The event was more than a celebration—it was a powerful moment of connection, inspiration, and impact. Through these partnership, student changemakers were elevated, and Syntero’s ability to meet growing mental health needs across the community was strengthened.

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Thank you to all sponsors for helping move this work Together Forward and for being part of this meaningful milestone year.

PLATINUM PRESENTING PARTNER

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CHANGEMAKERS

VISIONARIES

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CHAMPIONS

Becca Thomas & the

Thomas & Litchfield Familes

Stephen A. Wood, Former

Syntero Board Member

The Harrison-Mills Family

The Rick Amato Family

HEART SPONSORS

Krista Stark

Dominique Shepherd & Chad Gossett

Nationwide Children's Close To Home - Hilliard & Lewis Center

PNC Bank

Artina-Choose Kind Foundation

Firestone, Brehm, Wolf & Whitney

David & Julie Erwin Rinaldi ​

STAR SPONSORS

Educational Service Center of Central Ohio

Kathy Harter

Ohio Center for Adolescent Wellness

CRC Benefits

Tom & Jenny O'Donnell​

IN-KIND DONATIONS

COSI; Ian Alexander Photography; Napa Kitchen-Easton; Greater Columbus Sports Commission; Delaney's Diner â€‹

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FRIENDS: Inspire PR; Jonathan Alexander; Kelly & Rob Galindo; Mike Zysk

Join in on This legacy event

Syntero’s emphasis on positively changing lives for individuals, families and communities inspired the first Catalyst for Positive Change Awards, originally known as The Star Awards. This legacy breakfast event  honors Central Ohio high school juniors and seniors who  are making a positive difference in their schools and communities through volunteerism, service, and leadership.

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Since 1991, Syntero has honored more than 1,600 students for their exceptional character, service and community impact–for being Catalysts for Positive Change! These outstanding next gen leaders embody Syntero’s core values of integrity, empowerment, innovation, and inclusiveness.

2026 PARTICIPATING Schools

Big Walnut High School

Bishop Watterson High School

Buckeye Valley High School

Centennial High School

Central Crossing High School

Columbus School for Girls

Dublin City Schools-Emerald Campus

Dublin Coffman High School

Dublin Scioto High School

East High School

Franklin Heights High School

Grandview Heights High School

Grove City High School

Groveport Madison High School

Hilliard Bradley High School

Hilliard Darby High School

Hilliard Davidson High School

Northmor High School

Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA)

Olentangy Berlin High School

Olentangy High School

Rutherford B. Hayes High School

St. Charles Preparatory School

Thomas Worthington High School

Upper Arlington High School

Westerville North High School

Westland High School

Support a
worthy cause

2026 SPONSORSHIPS ARE CLOSED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING NEXT YEAR'S EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT OUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

 

This event is a fundraiser for Syntero, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All proceeds from The Catalyst for Positive Change Awards will support Syntero’s innovative programming and critical services provided to central Ohioans from all walks of life, in every step of their individual journeys. 

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Sponsorships help Syntero celebrate and inspire Central Ohio’s next generation of changemakers, while strengthening the mental health and resilience throughout the communities we all share.

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Experience the Impact

TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED!

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​​For questions or to be added to next year's invitation list, please contact our development department.

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