Titus Lochotzki presented Port Clinton High School senior, Caden Hanson, a $500 scholarship at the 80th Annual Honors Banquet on April 29. Shown are, from left, Ashley Lochotzki, Titus, and Hansen. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – Some kids get bored and amuse themselves by causing trouble. Some kids get bored and find mindless entertainment in front of a television or computer. Ten-year-old Titus Lochotzki got bored and started a successful business. Titus owns Lochotzki Designs, a Port Clinton spirit gear business that offers shoes, t-shirts, long sleeved tees, blankets, tumblers, and owales.

The business, which exploded in Port Clinton, started one day when Titus was looking for something to do.

“I was bored one day and wanted to make something and thought, ‘Wait! I can make shoes,’” he said.

Titus designed the spirit gear in Port Clinton’s signature bright red.

“They’re colorful – black and red and white. I like that,” he said. “I just wanted to make something creative. I wanted something colorful.”

Titus isn’t just an artist and an entrepreneur. He’s also a successful Port Clinton athlete who is a state alternate in wrestling.

“You travel all over the world to wrestle. I went to Tiffin, Woodville, Akron – a lot of places,” he said. “I like wrestling because I really like contact. I like to slam people a lot, and I like competition.”

But…Titus isn’t just an artist, an entrepreneur, and an athlete. He’s also a philanthropist. Lochotzki Designs had such a successful first year that Titus decided to give back to the community.

Over $175,000 in scholarships was awarded at the 80th Annual Honors Banquet hosted by Port Clinton Rotary Club at Port Clinton High School on April 29. That evening, Titus walked up on stage in front of the big crowd and awarded senior Caden Hanson a $500 scholarship.

Hanson was one of over 200 students who applied for the Lochotzki Designs scholarship, so Titus and his mother, Ashley Lochotzki, had a big decision to make. Hanson, Titus said, was the best choice.

“He has a good GPA and good grades, and he’s a famous soccer player for high school,” Titus said.

What motivated a ten-year-old boy to donate some of his first-year profits?

“Kindness,” Titus said.

His mother wasn’t surprised by his generosity.

“He’s very kind,” Ashley said. “He wants to be very giving.”

Titus will continue to add products to his business as requests come in.

“We’re wanting to step things up. A lot of people are asking for sweatshirts,” Ashley said.

For more information, visit the Lochotzki Designs Facebook page.