Kyle Smith, Columbiana County Career and Technical Center’s December Student of the Month, is pictured with Chef JR Straley, Culinary Careers instructor. (Submitted photo)

LISBON — Kyle Smith is the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center’s December Student of the Month.

Kyle is a senior from Leetonia High School and is enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program (CA) under the instruction of Chef JR Straley. At the CCCTC, he is a member of SkillsUSA.

Kyle currently works in the back of the house at R’s Pizza Place in Columbiana. He has been employed there since June of 2023. He has earned certifications in OSHA 10, ServSafe Person In Charge, and has completed and passed the first half of ProStart Certificate of Achievement with the expectation that he will earn the second half at the end of his senior year.

Upon graduation, he plans to attend Kent State University’s Salem regional campus to pursue a degree in social work with the intent to pursue a career in clinical social work. His goals include graduation from both Leetonia and the CCCTC. From there he would like to have a successful future in clinical social work so that he can use his education to help others that struggle with behavioral and psychosocial disorders as well as contribute to the ever-expanding field of mental health.

Kyle stated, “Attending the CCCTC was a good choice for me because it provided new experiences that forced me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to find confidence to do things I never would have done prior to attending. In addition, it allowed me to thrive in school for the first time in my life and granted me a second chance in my education.”

Kyle was nominated by Straley, who stated, “Kyle has made a positive impact on his classmates since he decided to enroll at the CCCTC. He admittedly did not see a place for himself in the program upon enrollment, but became engaged, stayed enthusiastic, and continued to apply himself. He excels academically in both his Culinary Arts program and core academic courses. Kyle was unanimously voted as the Culinary Arts CTSO (career and technical student organization) president and does an excellent job communicating with Chef Straley, fellow classmates and students from prior classes. It has been a great experience to have Kyle in Culinary Arts and to be able to watch him develop and work towards his goals after graduating from the CCCTC. In addition, Kyle will be representing the CCCTC’s Culinary Arts program this spring at the SkillsUSA state competition in Columbus for Restaurant Services.”

Kyle is the son of Christina Longo and Daniel Smith.