Career center recognizes alumnus and students
Brienna Woodward, cosmetology, Ashland High School, accepts her National Technical Honor Society award.
A Tiro man who graduated from the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center during the school’s early years is the most recent recipient of its top alumni honor. Robert Moorman was presented with the Merle C. Plank Outstanding Alumni Award at the career center’s annual awards recognition program on Tuesday, May 15 in the school’s commons area.
The award is given annually to a career center graduate for his/her significant contributions to the community and success in the world of work. The person also must have graduated at least five years prior.
Moorman graduated in 1976 from the graphic communication program, which was taught at the time by Harry Robertson and George Allman. He has worked in various roles in the print industry and has spent the last 17 years at PV Communications as a five-color press operator.
Robertson attended the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Columbus State Community College after graduation to gain additional expertise in his industry. He also has been a Lions Club member for 20 years, serving in various offices and working with the club’s eye-related and other charitable programs.
Superintendent Mike Parry said Robertson has “dutifully” served on the advisory committee for the graphics communication program. “It is through individuals who have graduated from the programs and come to assist us regularly on our advisory committees that we are able to maintain the level of career technical programming we have here at the career center,” he said. “They are an asset in keeping our curriculum on track and in tune with the 21st century.”
Moorman was nominated for the alumni award by current program instructor Barry Sponsler, who also put together supporting information.
“The education I received at the career center got my foot in the door with the career I had chosen,” Moorman said. “I actually had a job before I graduated from school at an in-house print shop at the F.E. Meyers Company.”
The other major recognition during the awards program was the induction of new members in the National Technical Honor Society. The 22 inductees — 10 juniors and 12 seniors — was the largest number honored in recent years.
The goal of the NTHS is to see that deserving career technical students be recognized and people of the community become aware of the talents and the abilities of the young people and adults who choose vocational education as their path to success. The organization also promotes seven attributes including leadership, service, honesty, knowledge, skills, scholarship, responsibility and citizenship.
Nearly all of the students inducted into the Honor Society were recognized for being involved in some type of leadership role at the career center.
School counselor Jamie Garverick pointed out special achievements of several students including Kailyn Ritenour from Mapleton High School, who received a $9,000 Tuition Freedom scholarship; Casey Freeman from Triway High School, who received a $1,500 Strive scholarship; and Isaac Miller of West Holmes High School, who scored 97 percent on his Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery tests.
This year’s National Technical Honor Society junior inductees were Madelyn Abbruzzese, sports medicine, Mapleton High School; Emily Dalton, health technology, Hillsdale High School; Blake Gilmore, criminal justice, Ashland High School; Malorie Kinney, health technology, Clear Fork High School; Martin Maynard, engineering, West Holmes High School; Isaac Miller, engineering, West Holmes High School; Leah Miller, animal and veterinary science, home-schooled; Kaycee Newlan, animal and veterinary science, Ashland High School; Brienna Woodward, cosmetology, Ashland High School; and Chloe Wright, graphic communications, Mapleton High School.
This year’s National Technical Honor Society senior inductees were Sydney Anderson, health technology, Loudonville High School; Autumn Breslin, criminal justice, Ashland High School; Felicity Etzwiler, graphic communications, West Holmes High School; Casey Freeman, auto body, Triway High School; Gordon Herndon, criminal justice, Loudonville High School; Makayla Keene, culinary careers, Ashland High School; Samantha Raubenolt, auto technology, Hillsdale High School; Kailyn Ritenour, graphic communications, Mapleton High School; Wylynn Skelly, cosmetology, Loudonville High School; Helen Swaisgood, graphic communications, Ashland High School; and Hanna Yerian, graphic communications, Hillsdale High School.
The Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center also presented student activity awards for Interact Club officers, outstanding technical achievement in each of the school’s programs, perfect attendance, perfect honor roll achievement and students of the month.