Five Bexley graduates were recognized as distinguished alumni and honored for their accomplishments during an assembly attended by upperclassmen Monday, Nov. 24.
The five awardees were pediatric gastroenterologist and nutritionist Dr. Stan Cohen, computer scientist and professor Dr. Nathaniel Borenstein, founder and executive chairperson of Trove Andy Ruben, Executive Director of Ohio State’s Student-Athlete Support Services Office and Senior Associate Athletics Director Kacy King and City Council member and attorney Sam Marcellino.
Vice Chairperson of the Bexley Education Foundation Angela Mugler introduced each inductee, who then gave brief remarks and advice to attendees.
Cohen graduated from the high school in 1965 and explained he works as a pediatric gastroenterologist and nutritionist because he wanted to make a positive impact on kids.
“I chose medicine because I wanted to help people,” Cohen said. “I thought I could better some lives.”
Cohen said he founded Nutrition4Kids, a foundation that provides information about nutrition and advice on how to make healthier eating choices.
Cohen told students to find their passions and strengths and give back to others.
“Do good and great things,” he said. “Appreciate those who have helped you along the way and who share this planet with you.”
Borenstein graduated from the high school in 1975 and attended Grinnell University for religious studies and mathematics, later receiving a PhD in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. He co-founded the world’s first cyberbank, helped design the software used to send email attachments and has taught at the University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University and Grinnell University.
During his time in high school, Borenstein said he was an activist and regularly got in trouble for organizing protests and violating the dress code.
“Administration hated me early on,” he said. “I probably got kicked out of this place 50 times for dress code violations.”
Later in life, Borenstein said he faced a number of personal hardships. In 2020, he said, he felt like the world was ending after the deaths of his daughter and son-in-law and the discovery that he would possibly need open heart surgery.
Despite these tragedies, Borenstein said he stayed hopeful, and things got better. He explained he entered a clinical trial, which helped him avoid surgery and begin a better chapter of his life.
“The world can change wildly,” he said. “And it should.”
He added students need to push through adversity and should live life to the fullest.
“The more expectations you have, the more likely you are to be disappointed,” he said.
Ruben graduated from the high school in 1991 and received a degree in structural engineering and an MBA from Washington University. He has worked in retail for over 25 years and said he aims to promote sustainability in the industry. He also led corporate strategy for Walmart and founded Trove, a company that offers resale solutions and helps brands market their products.
Ruben said he struggled while starting Trove. He explained funding for the company fell through initially, but he was able to resolve the issue.
Ruben said he shared the story to demonstrate how obstacles are inevitable and explain how important it is to overcome them.
“We get to write the next scene,” Ruben said. “Sometimes you are stuck, but you get to tell the narrative about what being stuck means.”
King, who graduated from the high school in 1997, helps student athletes at the Ohio State University manage athletics and classwork. She attended Wittenberg University and played field hockey there.
King said her experience growing up in Bexley was very meaningful, so she was thrilled when a position in her field opened up at Ohio State. She added the position was very competitive, and she wasn’t hired the first time she applied.
King said it is important to take every opportunity given and look for solutions during difficult times.
“We make sacrifices to have these opportunities,” King said.
Marcellino, who graduated from the high school in 2005, is a City Council member, attorney and advocate for equality. He was also honored with the Emerging Leader Alumni Award at the assembly.
Marcellino said Bexley was very welcoming to him, even when he felt out of place after moving from Massachusetts his freshman year. He said his classmates’ warmth showed him the importance of kindness in everyday life.
“Kindness is not small,” Marcellino said. “It’s a superpower that changes people’s lives. It draws people to you instead of immediately pushing them away.”
Marcellino explained he leads through compassion and encouraged students to do the same in their own lives.
“You truly represent the future of our country,” he said.
Senior Olivia Green said she appreciated the assembly and the experiences shared by the alumni.
“I thought that their stories were good to hear,” Green said. “Especially as a senior, it was inspiring to see just how many different paths everybody took.”
Principal Jason Caudill gave closing remarks at the end of the assembly.
“You don’t get to determine the size of your impact,” Caudill said. “But you absolutely get to determine the direction.”
Published and digitized December 2025.
