CCCTC celebrates students’ next steps

LISBON -- The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center celebrated its seniors on Thursday as those students prepare to step into the future and pursue their "E" -- whether that next step is enlistment, employment or enrollment.

"Today is our signing day and it's part of In-Demand Jobs Week," CCCTC Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Corbisello said. "We have folks from the military for students, folks from institutions of higher learning like Kent State for students who are going to enroll and we have students here with their employers so they can get started in their career field."

In-Demand Jobs Week is an initiative that Clauida Kovach, vice president of City Machine Technologies in Youngstown, helped spearhead. The initiative is a statewide celebration of the jobs, industries and skills that are in-demand in Ohio. According to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's office, the week is to "inspire excitement and awareness among students and job seekers and highlight Ohio's top jobs that stem from career tech center educations, and the different paths Ohioans can take to land a successful career."

"It's important for us as educators to inform parents and students about the high-paying careers that are out there," said Corbisello. "And to let those students know that they can come here, earn a skill, they don't have any debt and can go right into the workforce and make a living wage."

Forty-four students made their future plans known during the annual event. Several students will head straight into the workforce at various businesses. Those students and businesses are Hannah Wood and Isabella Zimmerman (Casal's Spa and Salon), James Boston and Dillon Figueredo (MAC Trailer), David Harding (Ohio CAT), Colton Hickman and Wyatt Morris (Hall Industries), Seth Brown (Beaver County Auto Group), James Walter (Village of Lisbon), Rachel Barton (Discount Drug Mart), Shane Venezia (Jet Excavating), Anakin Boyd and Blake Mann (Boardman Steel), Ashton Parrish, (Hancock County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram), Cane Foley (Walt's Auto Body), Kaydon Bobby and Dylan Ferguson (Stevens Engineering), Lois Marco (Mercy Health) and Joe Pecor (P&P Services). Ethan Davis joined the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters Union. Bayllee Dasher and Colton Hickman will serve in the United States Armed Forces, enlisting in the Marines and Army, respectively.

Several other students made the decision to further their education. Moving on to CCCTC Adult Education programs are Alexis Brand, MacKenzie Duffield, Linsey Evans, Dana Halstead and Hannah Styen, Shirley Adkins, Troy Williamson, Daniel Hammon, Kamdyn Stacey and Andrew Fase are furthering their education at Eastern Gateway Community College, while Duffield, Zoey Clark, Maggie Sell, Mackenzie Huddleston, Zoey Almy, Ashley Neffner, Brooklyn Brophey, Madison Stacy and Mikayla Merriman plan to continue their studies at Kent State. Onya Gishbaugher and Ava Patrone will pursue education opportunities at Full Sail University.

All of the senior students were photographed with representatives of their future colleges, employers or branches of the military.

"It's kind of mimicked after signing day for sports, and it's to give our students the recognition they deserve," Corbisello said. " It's just a great opportunity to celebrate our students and their successes and show them how much we appreciate them and support them as they are ready to move to their next step after high school."

selverd@mojonews.com