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Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education

If Not For Career-Tech Ed...

Career-technical education serves all students and recognizes that there are multiple intelligences and nurtures and inspires students to find their career calling and use their individual gifts and attributes.  From students recognized for their scholarship, to students who may have dropped out  and adults impacted by industry exiting their community - career tech ed serves them all. 

The following students/graduates of career-tech programs represent the successes starting every day in career-tech programs across Ohio.

Joseph Bowman attended the Upper Valley Career Center and completed the Welding Technologies program in Piqua, Ohio. He received an opportunity to work with Nidec Minster as part of their Welding Internship Program. As a successful apprenticeship student, he had many accomplishments, including maintaining a 4.0 GPA, becoming the youngest employee to pass all six welding qualification tests required in order to weld at Nidec, and being nominated for a 20 Under 20 Award. In addition to these accolades, Joseph received the Outstanding Job Placement Award, the Matthew D. Zimpfer Award, and was also recognized by Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and The General Assembly of the State of Ohio with an Outstanding Attainment Award.

 Currently enrolled at Edison Community College, Joseph continues to work full-time at Nidec while pursuing his Mechanical Engineering degree. His ultimate goal is to own his own weld shop on his family farm. Of his time at the Career Center, Joseph said, “Looking back, my choice to further my education at the Upper Valley Career Center in a trade program, such as welding, was the greatest choice of my high school career. I would not be this far along in my skills of welding without the wonderful teachers and staff at the school.”

Randy Davies graduated from the Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center accounting and computing program in 1981. Randy is now the CEO of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce and is a leader in the county. Choosing a career-technical program in high school launched his career for success.

Starting off as a radio DJ, public speaking became Randy's forte. He stayed with radio until 1987, when he became a newscaster. He then served as the Communications Manager at Horizon Telecom before taking on the role of CEO and President at the Chamber. He is also a self-proclaimed "MC" of southern Ohio. "It seems I have MC'd everything!" he said. He also serves on the Pickaway-Ross Board of Education.  Randy is a true supporter of career-tech education and wants to see every kid succeed in a career they love.

Tammy Klein graduated from the Knox County Career Center in 1989, when it was known as Knox County Joint Vocational School. She attended the secretarial careers program and used her skills in various roles, including secretary at Knox County Adult Education, secretary to the treasurer for Knox County JVS, and then secretary for the Director of Knox County JVS.

Later in her career, Tammy decided to go to college. She now has her Bachelors in Business Administration, attained an M.A.Ed. at Ashland University and will complete her MBA at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the summer of 2018.

Tammy still works at Knox County Career Center, but is now a teacher of Accounting Computing. She is an excellent educator and inspiration to her students, proving that attending a CTE school can take you anywhere you want to go.

During his senior year, Trevor Stage took part in the Cooperative Advanced Placement Program, also known as School to Work. This program allowed him to take classes while gaining real world experience. Trevor graduated in 2016 from Tolles Career & Technical Center from the Welding & Fabrication Technologies program and became one of only 17 individuals out of 70 candidates to be selected into the Plumbers/Pipefitters Union Local #189 in Columbus, Ohio.

As a student at Tolles Career & Technical Center, Trevor was a problem-solver, hard worker, and a great team player. His nominator, Tolles Career & Technical Center Instructor Bill Pencil, said, “His personal skills are what employers hope to have in their employees. Trevor works extremely well in a team environment with the ability to communicate effectively.” Trevor is a prime example of the successful career-tech programs that allow students to learn important skills while putting them into practice in the workplace.

Joe Miller is C-TEC Adult Education Center’s first adult diploma graduate. The program is designed for students age 22 and older to get their high school diploma, as well as train for a career in select C-TEC programs for free.  Joe says he struggled in high school, and with no diploma he decided he needed to take steps to improve his life if he was going to pursue a career. Joe is incredibly grateful for the opportunities offered by C-TEC for adult learners, adding, “C-TEC made me feel like I could be something, when I was starting to lose hope that I could be.”

Joe currently works at Ascena as an IT Analyst. He enrolled in the NetTech Adult Education program while at C-TEC and found his niche. His nominator, Brian Wilfong said, “This young man is motivated and positive. A great example of not giving up.” This is exactly what career-tech is all about; giving students opportunities to succeed that are outside of the normal high school route.


Chavilah Bennett graduated from Tolles Career & Technical Center in 2008 from the Art, Design, and Communications program and attended Columbus College of Art & Design  (CCAD) following graduation. She graduated from CCAD and immediately began a career as a Junior Motion Graphics Designer and Illustrator, and was promoted to Art Director in November 2014.

Her nominator and former teacher Deborah Smith said Chavilah was a motivated and passionate student. “Chavilah was an exceptional student in the Art & Design program. Her work ethic, skill level, motivation and maturity surpassed expectation at all times,” she said. Chavilah was very active as a student at Tolles Career & Technical Center. She was President of SkillsUSA, named Senior of the Year, and was the Mock-Interview Contest Winner. She is now a Freelance Designer and Animator in the Los Angeles area.

As a freshman, Jacob Wolf already knew he had to make decisions about his future. He began investigating different career paths and ultimately decided on pursuing Building Construction Trades at the Sentinel Career and Technology Center. He set specific goals for himself and worked to accomplish them. He graduated in 2016 and is now a carpenter with Clouse Construction in Tiffin, Ohio.

Jacob continues to stay involved with Sentinel Career and Technology Center. He keeps in touch to see what projects current students are working on and volunteers his time on the weekends to help students prepare for SkillsUSA competitions. He motivates students to set goals, create action planes, and achieve success, just like he has done as a successful CTE graduate.

Ashlinn Anthony fully embodies an outstanding Career-Tech student. She visited Tolles Career Center as a sophomore. She was interested in several labs, but discovered her love of the medical field and decided to pursue the Pharmacy Tech program. “Ashlinn was quite simply a joy to have in my Career-Tech Pharmacy Lab for 2 years. She consistently pushed me to be a better instructor and she absorbed any knowledge and all experiences she could while she was a student at Tolles,” said Ashlinn’s nominator, Lorie Haskel.  

As a student, Ashlinn had many accomplishments, including first place at Ohio HOSA State Leadership Conference in pharmacology, being a Tolles Student Ambassaor, earning the Junior Roller Derby Association Player of the Game Leadership Award, and being named Tolles Outstanding Female Graduate in 2016.

Following graduation and after earning her Certificate from the Tolles Pharmacy Tech Lab, she was accepted into Ohio Northern University’s College of Pharmacy and began working as a pharmacy technician at Kroger Pharmacy. The skills she gained at the career center have set her up for success in the pharmacy field, and Ashlinn will go far in her career.

Growing up building houses with his dad, Garrett Thompson knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction. He won first place his senior year in SkillsUSA for carpentry and now works as Assistant Project Manager of Construction for the Haskell Company in California.

Garrett is one of those students who took advantage of all the opportunities presented to him. He attended Buckeye Career Center and graduated in 2013. While at the career center, he also took post-secondary classes at The Ohio State University. While attending Ohio State, he interned at Haskell and was ultimately offered a fulltime position. He continues to give back to the career-tech community by advocating for career-tech education and volunteering to help current students with their SkillsUSA projects.

Aleta Eberett Adams needed a career path that would allow her to support her new baby.  She enrolled in the cosmetology program at the Tri-County Joint Vocational School the year after her daughter was born, and flourished in the program. TCJVS made her feel like she belonged, and she was elected Class President her senior year.

Upon graduation, she enlisted in the Army. After serving for six years with the Army, she decided to return to cosmetology and went back to TCJVS to prepare for state board. She succeeded in obtaining her manager license and got a job at the Officer's Club Beauty Salon, eventually owning several salons.

Aleta decided to go back to school and obtained her bachelor degree in business. She held several different positions in the Army, and today Aleta is the Target Test Director for the Space and Missile Defense Command. Aleta learned so much at the career center, and said of her experience: “Being President of the 1977 senior cosmetology class taught me leadership, graduating with my class showed me I can do anything I put my mind to, and knowing how to cut hair afforded me opportunities to meet people I would have never had the chance to meet.”
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Dennis Vetter graduated from the Four County Career Center Electronics Program in 1981. After high school, he graduated college with an electronic degree and worked 10 years in the airline industry. In 2001, he started a company specializing in integration and service of industrial welding and plasma cutting systems. In addition to being an FCCC graduate, Dennis also currently serves on the Board of Education.

Dennis attributes what he was able to accomplish to attending a career center, and the opportunities they offer all non-traditional students. “Since their inception, more students have access to a platform that allows them to excel and be successful in life, benefiting all of society,” he said. FCCC showed Dennis that knowledge and learning can be exciting, and can open doors to new opportunities he never thought possible.

Christine Benitez has relied on Career-Technical Education in high school and as an adult when she needed more skills to keep up with the changing job market. Her experience at the Warren County Career Center as an adult student in the Medical, Executive, Legal Secretary program led to a position at WCCC as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Adult Education.

As Christine began looking for positions after being laid off, she realized she did not have the computer skills required to be a competitive applicant. As a busy mother and wife, she needed a program that was flexible and could be completed in a timely manner. “I saw an ad for training at the Career Center, called and ended up enrolling. I had also looked at programs at UC, but didn’t want to make a four-year commitment. I wanted training in less than a year, and job placement, and the Career Center was my best option,” she said.

During her year of training, she worked part-time, took the full-time program and was an active wife and mother with three children in many school and community activities. She finished the program in 2002, and received a full-time job right away. “It just shows that you are never too old to go back to school,” she said. If not for career-technical adult education programs, Christine would not have had the opportunity to enhance her skills and grow in her career.

Donnie Powell remembers his education at the Warren County Career Center fondly, and tells everyone he talks to how it changed his life and sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. He graduated in 2000 from the WCCC Landscape program and Little Miami High School, and worked for two years in a landscape company before starting his own business in 2003, Finer Lawn & Landscaping, which he continues to operate.

Landscaping is not something you learn in the common high school classroom, and the opportunity to attend a career center fueled his desire to own a business doing what he loves. “My instructor, Mr. Schlosser, asked me how I wanted to make money. I said I loved landscaping but wasn’t sure I could make money at it. He showed me how. Enrolling in the landscape program was the best decision I ever made, and I don’t think I would have started my own business if I hadn’t been there,” he said.

Because of the opportunities offered at the Warren County Career Center, Donnie is a successful entrepreneur with a thriving business. Donnie has recently earned his real estate license in order to buy houses and fix them up to resell them. He is always looking for new services to offer to his clients, using his foundation of knowledge from WCCC in his work every single day.

Olivia Shaw graduated in 2015 from the Buckeye Career Center cosmetology program and has been a successful hairstylist ever since. She is currently a stylist at Thee Signature Salon while continuing her education at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. She wants to obtain her degree in education and teach cosmetology.

While attending Buckeye Career Center, Olivia competed in SkillsUSA competitions and received a $1,500 scholarship. She loves doing hair and sells makeup and is glad to have been given an opportunity to pursue a career she loves.

As a student at the Upper Valley Career Center, Tyler Robinson completed the Manufacturing and Machining Technologies program and worked during his summers at Detailed Machining Inc. as part of the pre-apprenticeship program. He graduated in June 2017 and enrolled in Sinclair Community College to pursue a Precision Machining degree and a Computer-Aided Manufacturing degree.

Tyler was sponsored to attend Sinclair Community College’s apprenticeship program by Detailed Machining Inc. Once Tyler completes the apprenticeship program, he will be recognized as an Apprentice in his field.  With the support of his career-tech educators and his employer, Tyler has gained vital skills and has been given the opportunity to attend college. These opportunities for Tyler, as well as many other career-tech students, would not be possible without the partnerships between career centers, employers, and colleges. Tyler is thankful for the chance to pursue a career he loves.


Young women pursuing a career to be in the electrical trades is generally not the norm, but Monica Betts, who attended the Career Technology Education Center of Licking County (C-TEC) is flourishing in the field. As a 2014 C-TEC graduate, Monica is not just pursuing a career in electricity, she is excelling in her chosen trade. “This young woman is a brilliant example of the type of student who truly elevates career-technical education in our communities,” said Monica’s nominator, Dr. Joyce L. Malainy. In her time as a student, Monica was named an Outstanding Career Tech Student, the highest honor given to students at C-TEC. She was also a member of the Student Leadership Team and Student Council, as well as competed at the state level with SkillsUSA and was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Monica is employed by the Roberts Service Group, an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers employer out of Columbus, Ohio. Monica is currently enrolled in the apprenticeship program, through the IBEW, where she will also receive her associate’s degree through Columbus State Community College. Monica is also on a track to earn her bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, with the support of her employer. She is thriving in the electrical industry, just as she did at the career center.

Like her older sister Monica, Annie Betts is excelling in the electrical trades field.  She graduated in 2017 from the Career Technology Education Center of Licking County (C-TEC) and is currently working with Mid-City Electric as part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers apprenticeship program. She was honored with the Outstanding Career Tech Student at C-TEC award and took college level courses while attending the career center. She also participated in the Student Leadership Team and in Student Council, as well as earned the right to compete at the state level in SkillsUSA and was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Annie is performing estimates for large-scale electrical projects and redesigning inventory software, a role rarely given to someone so young. As her nominator, Dr. Joyce L. Malainy said, “Estimating has largely been a male-dominated field. Annie has bid multi-million dollar jobs in her young career. It took special permission from the IBEW to allow this path, concurrently taking apprenticeship classes and college courses and working part time in the office, but Annie has proven up to the challenge.” Both Annie and Monica are great examples that with hard work and determination, anyone can do anything they set their mind to, and C-TEC played a major role in supporting them on their journey in electrical trades.

Jeff Blevins attended the Portage Lakes Career Center and graduated in 2008 from the Public Safety program. He wanted to follow his childhood dream of being a police officer or a firefighter, and was bored in his regular high school classes. The career center offered him an opportunity to do something he was really interested in, and build a career.

After graduation, Jeff immediately chose to follow the fire protection career path and joined the U.S. Air Force.  With the knowledge he gained at PLCC, he went straight through the military fire academy without being held back for training issues.  He was a firefighter in the Air Force for six years and deployed twice as a fireman. The PLCC allowed him to find an adventurous career path, and he made the switch to the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), which is a battlefield airmen career.  The training is intense and the job tough, but rewarding. Jeff currently lives in El Paso, Texas with his wife who is also in the military, and their border collie, Knoxford Ulysses Blevin.

Drew Joseph knew since he was a young child tinkering with his dad’s truck that he wanted to work with cars as a career. He attended the Portage Lakes Career Center’s automotive technology program and graduated in 2015. Attending a career center gave Drew the opportunity to do something he loved while learning brand new skills he could use in his future career.

As a senior at PLCC, Drew participated in Skills USA and took second place, which earned him a scholarship to attend the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) in Mooresville, North Carolina. He took core automotive and NASCAR classes while volunteering with Young’s Motorsports where he spent over 1,600 volunteer hours learning how to build race cars and get them ready for the racetrack. Drew was immediately hired by Young’s Motorsports following the completion of his NTI training. He then received an offer to work for Roush Yates Engines, the exclusive Ford engine builder for NASCAR. He is one of the youngest people to ever work for the company and now works with Ford’s top engineers. Career centers open doors to opportunities students like Drew may never have, and he is now living life in the fast lane and enjoying a rewarding career!

Alex Sepesky graduated in 2017 from Choffin Career and Technical Center. His hard work and dedication in the public safety program led him to pass his state firefighter certification exam on his first attempt, and he was hired by the Youngstown Fire Department. He wanted a career that would allow him to do something important, and the career center gave him the opportunity to pursue just that.

During his tenure in high school and the career center, Alex was a four-year Letterman in football and baseball. He won the Coach’s Choice Award in 2018. He took every opportunity to volunteer with fire department fundraisers and worked for the Youngstown Fire Department throughout his summers off to gain experience. His nominator, Kristy Olinik, says that Alex is a true leader and will go far in his chosen profession. “Alex is a great leader with the attitude and skills to accomplish whatever dreams he wants.  His likable hard working personality will allow him to develop the skills he will need to no doubt be one of the best firefighters to come out of his career tech class,” she said.

Zack Cook excelled in all areas of his Public Safety program at Choffin Career and Technical Center, but his dream was to be a firefighter. After graduating in 2017, he joined the Youngstown Fire Department. His strong worth ethic and desire to help others make him an excellent example of what it means to be a successful career-tech student.

During his two years as a public safety student, Zack placed second in SkillsUSA for police work. Upon completing the program, he passed his state certification on the first attempt. Along with his accomplishments at the career center, Zack was also a four-year Letterman in football and baseball, a member of National Honor Society and Key Club, and won many awards for baseball. He also won a Distinguished Christian High School Student Award as well as spent many hours volunteering.




Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education

690 Taylor Rd., Ste. 220, Gahanna, Ohio 43230
(614) 890-ACTE (2283)
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