Day 28: Thank you for choosing Ohio Hi-Point Career Center

Signs hung throughout the high school during the month of February in honor of National Career-Technical Education Month thanking the students and staff for choosing OHP.  Over the past month this blog has given you a look inside Ohio Hi-Point--Adult Education, career-technical programs, our alumni, our partnerships, our satellites and more.  Hopefully if you followed along you learned more about our school district and more about career-tech and the life-changing impact it makes on student after student.

Day 27: Find Your Hi-Point, Restart Tomorrow

This year you may have seen our television commercials promoting our high school and adult education either on Time Warner Cable throughout our five county region or online on YouTube or Facebook.  We invited people to "Find Your Hi-Point" or "Restart Tomorrow" in the spots.  Here you can get to see inside the high school and adult education divisions a little better with these two mini-documentaries, produced by 1978 alumnus Carol (Smith) DelGrosso's Ozone Studios in Columbus.

ADULT EDUCATION:



HIGH SCHOOL:

Day 26: Showing appreciation for choosing OHP

Last week the high school administration wanted to show the students and staff how much they appreciated them and to thank them for choosing Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.  So, in honor of National Career-Technical Education Month they created certificates of appreciation and passed them out to all students, staff and even the board of education at the monthly meeting.  Instructional Supervisor Glenn Smith (right) is shown presenting a certificate to Auto Collision Instructor Bob Newland (left).

Day 25: Partnerships, collaborations abound between OHP, communities

A cornerstone of career-technical and adult education schools, and big part of OHP, are strong partnerships with businesses and organizations and collaborations amongst the programs to give students real-world experiences or to contribute to the betterment of the community.
Business and industry and education are three areas that combine to make OHP unique and innovative.  These partnerships are highlighted in each and every program at the school district, as each program is shaped by an advisory committee of industry experts, business owners and community leaders.  Their expertise helps each program know exactly how to shape curriculum and practical experiences for the students to create the kind of real-time educational experiences that make career-technical education highly effective in preparing students for life after their program.

Here are some examples of partnerships/collaborations at OHP:

• Construction Trades at the Bellefontaine campus partners with Dave Duff's companies in Logan County each year to design, plan, and construct a full-scale house that then is sold.  Students work on every facet of the project and it is possible because of this partnership with Duff
• The Health Technology and Teaching Professions Academy Satellites in Marysville were recently featured for their collaboration and their partnership with the Union County Health Department to teach 4th and 6th grade students about healthy eating and the importance of exercise to combat obesity
• The Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing, part of OHP's Adult Education Division, launched one of the first dual-enrollment LPN to RN Program through a partnership with Clark State Community College.  The program, which is offered in Marysville allows students to earn their STNA and LPN certifications at OHP and then seamlessly transition into the community college setting to obtain an associate's degree in preparation for RN licensure
• The Adult Education's Diversified Industrial Training program partners with Honda of America and provides an instructor to train Honda employees at the manufacturer's site. OHP's DIT lab on the Bellefontaine campus is modeled after the Honda training facility and provides training to workers as well
• The Architecture and Mechanical Design program in the high school designed the Urbana Skate Park last year
• Due to the economic downturn the last few years, job loss has hit the area hard.  Adult Education worked with Logan County Job & Family Services to house the JFS Transition Center on the OHP campus providing students with a full-service location for the unemployed to explore career and college opportunties
• OHP has partnerships with many colleges and universities, but actually hosts branch campuses on it's Bellefontaine campus for Urbana University and Clark State Community College
• The Construction Technology Satellite in Marysville is housed in U-Co Industries. The partnership allows students in the program to build a full-scale home on-site over two years for a family with disabilities
• Just this week, OHP became the site of Logan County's 11th recycling center, a partnership with the Logan County Solid Waste District (see ribbon cutting picture above).  This continues OHP's commitment to becoming a "Green" campus, as the campus already has embraced solar and alternative energy solutions and recycles and uses composting in the Animal Management program

And these are just some of the unique partnerships and collaborations. There are many more throughout any given school year in all divisions at OHP!  

Day 24: Teaching Professions students get to experience Texas during FEA trip

Several Teaching Professions Academy Satellite students had the opportunity of a lifetime when they were able to travel to San Antonio, Texas, earlier this month to take part in the Future Educators' Association (FEA) National Conference.  The students from the Marysville TPA Satellite were accompanied by their instructor, Mrs. Judy Fletcher, who submitted this report about the trip:

The students, Amber Short, Allie Mazza, Halie House, Danika Morse, Brady Pickford, visited The Alamo and learned a bit about the history of Texas. We enjoyed the sight-seeing boat ride along the San Antonio River, which runs right through the downtown area.  There were many beautiful things to see on the River Walk. The San Fernando Cathedral was breath-taking!

Of course, the Future Educators Association National Conference was the Main Event and we got to the Opening General Session early enough to get third row seats! Grant Baldwin was the first featured speaker.  He was motivational and very funny.  He reminded us that we need to take action and make a difference in the world.
Dr. Marcus Nelson was the second featured speaker.  He is a young superintendent in the Texas school system, who believes that “hard work pays off” and inspired us (and made us laugh) with his life story.  Since he was determined in the 4th grade to become a "principal and a rap star," he proved that dreams can come true with hard work.  Not only was he a principal by the age of 28, but frequently raps with students to help them learn!
We also attended a variety of breakout sessions, where we learned about things like:  Strategies to Keep Groups Actively Engaged; Uplifting Projects; Approaches to Diversity in Classrooms; Tapping IntoYour Heart Song—bringing personality to the classroom; So You Want to Be a Teacher. Why; Getting to Know Your Students Better. 
Brady Pickford already applied something he learned and stated, “I have been teaching my intern teachers' Consumer Science class. I have been wanting some activities to do with them [the students]. The unit we are about to go into is about Self Confidence and Communication skills. Today, I did the 'knot game' that we played at nationals in one of the sessions.”
Many schools from around the country didn’t make it to the conference because of weather complications and flight cancellations.  While the students pretended for the camera to be sad because of a plane delay in Atlanta, in all honesty, the students represented Ohio Hi-Point, their home schools, and themselves very well with their positive attitudes and willingness to meet people and participate.  Though from different home schools, they bonded with each other and had a great time.  They met students from all over the country and enjoyed doing the familiar, “O . . H” cheer, hoping for that happy response of “I . . O."  They even went above and beyond to cheer up and help a distressed young mother and her baby at the airport after their flight was canceled.

Day 23: Where Are They Now?

In the final post highlighting several alumni of Ohio Hi-Point, we would be remiss not to showcase some of our staff members who once graced the hallways, classrooms and labs of the Career Center as students.  Here is a look at a few of them:

Ryan Mulholland/Class of 2004, Animal Management/Current Educational Aide at OHP and College Student
I wanted a head start on a great career and a great future, and I made many new friends, had an instructor who took her job seriously in making her students succeed, and am now a successful college student. I am still in college majoring in education and plan on taking some addition agricultural classes.  I also am now employed by OHP in which I am an assistant for the program, Animal Management Technology, in which I came out of.  It is great to be able to refresh my mind on a daily basis with things that I had learned when I was a student and new things now that I am a staff member.
OHP gives people from all over the chance to get a head start on a future career or even start over.  In the high school setting, you feel that you are welcomed by all the staff, get to make new friendships, and get the help that you need.  There is always someone that is willing to help out to see that a student who has potential to succeed exceeds that goal and this is still evident years later as a staff member.  You feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth knowing that people take their time to ensure that you reach the top.  OHP impacted my life tremendously and motivated me to want to do the same for others who attend the facility."

Cindy (Coleman) Harlan, Class of 1991, Cosmetology/Current Cosmetology Instructor
"I graduated from Cosmetology in 1991.  I went on to college right after graduation and graduated from Urbana University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, with fields of emphasis in marketing and human resource management, and I also played softball on a scholarship while at UU.   Hi-Point was a place that allowed me to focus on my career goals and learn something of interest.  Looking back, it was also a way for me to get recognized for my strengths, which in turn boosted my confidence, and that has been something that stayed with me throughout college and the workplace.  I came back to work at OHP because I wanted to influence others in a positive way.  It feels like home."

Day 22: Teaching Professions/Health Tech Satellites featured on NBC4 news

Editor's Note: This story appeared on NBC 4 Columbus and NBC4i.com on Monday, February 22nd.  Changes were made to accurately reflect that the program is being taught by Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Satellite students, who attend the program at Marysville High School.
 MARYSVILLE, Ohio—Sometimes hearing from one of your peers can make all the difference, even if they’re a bit older. 
That’s the idea behind a new program in Union County. 
Teenagers from Ohio Hi-Point Career Center/Marysville High School are volunteering their time for the program called “5-4-3-2-1-Go! Take off Union County!“  The teens talk to 4th and 5th graders about healthy foods and actually let them taste the foods. Students at Northwood Elementary School tasted fruit and vegetables Monday afternoon. 
Some of them made funny faces when they ate the radishes.  “I didn’t like the radish because it burnt my tongue and it was kind of spicy,“ said Anna Weigand, a 10-year old 4th grader.  She liked the Kiwi though and plans to share that new discovery with her family.  “First, I’ll tell them I found a different fruit and that I want to keep eating it more and I’ll also tell them that I learned more ways how maybe if I don’t like fruit, how to mix it with other fruit to
like it.“ 
Shalyn Cantleberry is one of the student teachers.  She says she is in the nursing program at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center's Satellite in Marysville High School and she likes kids.  She says what the kids learn is more important if the whole family participates. “It makes the kid more happy and it’ll make the whole family more healthy.“  She says they’re also trying to teach the kids to drink more water and watch less television. 
Memorial Hospital of Union County received a $25,000 grant from the Ohio Hospital Association’s Foundation for Healthy Communities. It was awarded to only
four hospitals in Ohio and is being used to provide materials to train local teen leaders and future health care professionals.  The money purchases refrigerated cases for school cafeterias and interactive exercise equipment. 
The goal is to teach and reinforce healthy lifestyles among all children, not just those who are obese or at-risk for obesity.  Families opt-in to the program and so far about half of the 1000 4th and 5th graders in Union County have signed up.

Day 21: Scenes from Ohio Hi-Point

Here are some shots from around Hi-Point taken by our student bloggers:

Day 20: Our students are the model of 21st Century Education

There's a lot of buzz out there in this day and age about 21st Century Learning.  All of the sudden, government leaders are beginning to realize that the "old" way of student learning has gone out the window.  No longer do teenagers learn best by sitting in desks all day, taking notes and listening to lectures.  Now, leaders understand that to compete in a global economy and to create a powerful workforce that balance has to be in place between solid academic preparation for college and hands-on learning and training for a skill.  While some are just understanding this model for education, career-tech schools have been doing it for years.  At Ohio Hi-Point, strong academics mix with practical, hands-on learning in labs that train students in a specific skill set.  Add that mixture to leadership, speaking and teamwork skills learned in extra-curriculars and community service taught through projects in both years at OHP and it is truly 21st Century Education at its best.
Our students showcase it every November when sophomores from our 14 partnering school districts come to visit.  They take the lead and display what they are learning.  Take a look at this slideshow from this past Sophomore Career Days to see them in action:

Day 19: Students get to manage real-world project as new paint booth gets installed

When the time came to replace the outdated paint booth in the state-of-the-art Auto Collision Technology lab in the high school, Facilities and Grounds Supervisor Robert Walker saw the opportunity for OHP students to once again receive hands-on training and real-world experience.  Walker approached the Construction Trades Masonry class about handling the giant hole that would be in the wall of the Auto Collision Lab once the paint booth was removed and the new one, funded by the Sloan Trust, was installed. 
Students were given the opportunity to utilize their training and get to work on the project by placing bids to Mr. Walker.  Students had to estimate costs and project time and Mr. Walker selected the student whose bid was best.  Senior Brandon McCoy was selected and took over the project, including interviewing and selecting crew members, meeting with state inspectors and architects and working with Mr. Walker on planning.  McCoy explains exactly what the project is all about, what other projects Masonry students are working on and what he hopes to accomplish in the future in this video:



You can also see the new paint booth that will be used by students in the Auto Collision program and see the Masonry class at work on their wall project:

Day 18: Alumni & Friends Association helping connect graduates, partners

In May of 2008 the first-ever Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Alumni & Friends Association was formed by the school to link current and former high school and adult education students with business and community leaders supportive of the Career Center’s mission and help build new traditions for students and others associated with OHP.
“This is a major undertaking, but one we feel is important. This organization will help us support the outstanding educational process in all of our programs even further, while also creating a network to spread the tremendous opportunities available here,” said district spokesperson Shane Haggerty, who is also a member of the board of directors.
The board of directors is made up of alumni, former staff members, business leaders, community supporters, students, staff and the administration to help guide the organization, which is still in its early stages. In the fall of 2008, during the school's 35th Anniversary school year, the Association officially kicked off with four counties and four cities (all which OHP services) proclaimed September 24th as OHP Alumni & Friends Day.
The organization hopes to one day host reunion events, fundraisers and eventually building into a networking arm connecting students with alumni and business partners to better facilitate internship and job opportunities. So far, the group is planning to support high school student and adult education student scholarship and in the future support the Showcase of Success Distinguished Alumni Honors.
Alumni of OHP and friends of the school district (parents, business leaders and partners and others) can connect with the Association online:

Visit Est.1974, the official online social community of the Association. Here you can connect with other graduates or friends and set-up a profile and receive special messages about Alumni & Friends events and news.

Become a friend of the OHP Facebook page and keep up-to-date with everything OHP.

Day 17: Adult Education announces 2010 Spring & Summer Offerings

The uniqueness of adult and continuing education programs are their ability to meet the demands of the workforce, both by offering long-term programs such as practical nursing and short-term programming such as computer training courses.
But adult education also encompasses opportunities in Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE), which help remediate students on basic skills courses in preparation for college and can help prepare and administer the GED to adult learners.



At OHP, adult education also offers short-term enrichment courses for the community that are simply for enjoyment or to "enrich" one's experience.  From learning how to become a master pizza chef from a world champion pizza thrower to tracing one's family tree in geneology to cake decorating and digital photography these offerings help adults pursue the hobbies or interests that help them enhance their lives.
The 2010 Spring/Summer Course Offerings have been announced and are now available to explore.  Registration has also began for many of these classes and programs.
You can check out the new offerings, learn more about financial aid and learn how to register by viewing the catalog as an online digital flipbook or you can download it as a PDF.  You can also visit the website here and look at the different opportunities.

Day 16: Where Are They Now?

Ohio Hi-Point honors its alumni by inducting them into the Distinguished Alumni Showcase of Success.  The Showcase was started in 2004, continued in 2005 and inducted its newest class during last year's 35th Anniversary events in 2009.  Three alumni were selected from seven nominees to be inducted.  The next class will be inducted in 2011.  Hearing their stories straight from them is the best way to get a feel for how OHP helped shape their lives.  This video showcases Aaron Wren, Carol DelGrosso and Beth Brentlinger being interviewed by a WPKO/WBLL radio reporter during the pre-induction events.  All three excelled into careers and professions from their experience at Ohio Hi-Point. 

Day 15: A White February

Sometimes the best laid plans go awry.  It's tough to do 28 days of stories when school has been impacted by an incredibly snowy and cold February!  Yes, the OHP campus is getting hit by another snow storm at the moment (the third this month) and it has kept us from getting our photos and video and story information.  So, today, just enjoy this view of the high school and the depth of the snow to see what February has been like.  Tomorrow, come back for another "Where Are They Now?" feature, as we continuie to celebrate National Career-Technical Education Month and the 28 Days of OHP.

Day 14: Hi-Point IS continues...

The second week of HI-POINT IS continued last week, but due to the snowstorm and the fact that school was canceled three days, our student bloggers weren't able to get a full week's worth of photos.  You can see the photos in this slideshow, along with last weeks.

Day 13: All in the family

Brittany Godfrey, a senior Medical Care Services student from Triad High School, graduated from OHP in 2008 and went onto Clark State Community College on a full scholarship to earn her associates degree in nursing, along with future plans to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to eventually work as a registered nurse. It is a common path for OHP students to go down after high school, but for Brittany, it is a path that she uniquely shares with her mother.
Carla Stier, Brittany’s mother, was part of OHP’s Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing Adult Education Program, graduating from the practical nursing program in 2006. She is working towards her R.N. degree and plans to have it completed within the next year. Following that, she too has plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree.
Stier is currently an orthopedics nurse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is completing her nursing degree through Excelsior College.  It is the opportunity and flexibility afforded by OHP's Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing that encouraged her to continue on with her dreams of becoming a nurse.
"OHP did prepare me for work in nursing and to further my education," offered Stier.  "The nursing program is very aggressive.  OHP has the program down to a science, and I will say the program runs like a fine-oiled machine.  It definitely prepared me for my future in nursing."
For Stier, seeing her daughter graduate from OHP and follow in her footsteps only adds to the mother-daughter success story.  Brittany decided to attend OHP to get a head start on her college education and enjoyed her time in the lab with her instructor and doing what she enjoys.
"I knew that I could get college credits and become an STNA (State-Tested Nurse’s Aide) before I graduated," stated Godfrey.  "With my STNA license I can get a job that will work around my college schedule and pay more than minimum wage.  I am passionate about health care, so it's easy to enjoy the program.  I know a lot of high school students get bored with classes because they just aren't interested in them during their junior and senior years.  I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to do what I like."
Brittany's mom also sees the benefit of OHP's high school and adult programs.  She notes the open, interactive, and hands-on approach to learning and is thrilled that OHP equipped her with the education to financially support herself and her family.
"I now have the independence I've always wanted.  I can get a job anytime, anywhere," said Stier.
And it has been a joy to watch her daughter follow in her footsteps.


Written and published in April 2008 for our district’s Hi-Lites Newsletter mailed to over 64,000 homes

Day 12: OHP Student Incentive Program rewards positive behavior

Students at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s Bellefontaine campus were recently rewarded for perfect attendance, no tardiness and no disciplinary issues through the high school’s special incentive program. 
    “The students who had perfect attendance, no discipline or tardiness were treated to a movie day where the cafeteria was set up like a movie theater and they were treated to an array of snacks to enjoy before the movie,” said JoEtta Spain, recruitment and placement coordinator.  “After the movie the students were involved in drawings for prizes such as Wal-Mart cards, tubing passes to Mad River Mountain, Burger King cards and t-shirts.”
    The program was started several years ago to reward students for committing themselves to strong attendance and appropriate behavior during the school day.  86 students at the high school were eligible during the second nine weeks for the incentive program with 60 students participating in the movie day.

Day 11: Representative Dave Burke visits campus

As part of Ohio Hi-Point's on-going mission to communicate the positive happenings here on campus, Ohio State Representative David Burke was invited to tour and meet with administrators and learn more about the high school and adult education programs.
Adult Education Director Darlene Chiles and High School Associate Director Shelly Swaney led the tour, specifically showcasing the Integrated System Technology lab and the Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing.  Burke was particularly interested in how OHP is helping displaced adult workers re-enter the workforce and learned more about the high school’s academic and career-technical programming.  The visit was part of  Ohio Hi-Point’s celebration of National Career-Technical Education Month.
Take a look at this Flickr slideshow or view the photo gallery on our Flickr page of Rep. Burke's visit:

Day 10: In tough economic times, Adult Education responds

During her annual review to the Board of Education several weeks ago, Adult & Continuing Education Director Darlene Chiles reported that the division served well-over 3,000 adults in their various programs and classes during fiscal year 2009.  Even better news: Chiles reported that the division is looking at a fund balance of over $240,000, a stark increase from the June 30, 2006 balance of just over $58,000.
The growth of Adult & Continuing Education can be tied directly to the hard work and dedication of the staff committed to serving the area’s adult population, especially those faced with a dire economic situation that has resulted in job loss and tough financial times.  Many adults are returning to school and moving forward in a whole new direction with their careers with the realization that the workforce is shifting and many of the jobs lost will not be returning.  With that realization, OHP is charged with meeting the demands of a new workforce faced with new possibilities.
What has the new economy meant for Ohio Hi-Point’s Adult & Continuing Education Division?
•    Increased programs and services in adult workforce education, business education, health careers, industrial and engineering programs, marketing education, public safety services, special interest courses and Adult Basic Literacy Education
•    Continued growth in the Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing, where 65 students graduated in 2009.  The nursing program now hosts programs on the Bellefontaine campus, the Urbana campus, in Marysville and will open up a program in Kenton in 2010
•    The addition of a pharmacy technician program in Health Occupations
•    An increased presence in Champaign County after the opening of the Urbana campus this past summer.  OHP’s Adult Division now services adults from Clark County, as well
•    An increase of offerings in the Adult Basic Literacy Education section, where adults can receive GED training and testing or take remedial coursework in preparation for college
Since the very nature of adult education is based upon the needs of the workforce and the demands change quickly, the rapid response methods OHP has utilized in meeting the needs of the area is impressive. 
Even more impressive is the high quality of the academics and training being provided.  Chiles noted during the annual review that the 2008-2009 performance measures were released with Ohio Hi-Point meeting all eight required targets, including a 91% program completion rate, up from 88.4% in fiscal year 2008.  Chiles also reported that the division has a high 95.3% positive post-program completion rate.  This was up from 88% in fiscal year 2007.  There was no report done in fiscal year 2008.
There is no doubt that Adult & Continuing Education is soaring at the moment and for the staff within this division there is no rest, as they prepare to explore increased programming in Hardin County, as well as programming in green technologies to meet the expected high-demands of the future alternative energy job market.
How can you connect with Ohio Hi-Point and discover a career pathway that is right for you?

• Visit the Adult Education Student Services web page for information on financial aid and admissions
• Visit the Adult Basic Literacy Education web page for the latest information on GED testing, Work Keys testing, career assessment opportunities and remedial classes
• Become a fan of the Adult Education Facebook page or OHP's Twitter to get more frequent updates
• Watch for the Spring/Summer 2010 Course Guide in the mail in the coming weeks and on our website in the coming days and explore career development programs or short-term enrichment opportunities

DAY NINE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Editor's Note: This is part two of "Where Are They Now?"  Throughout the month of February we are catching up on where many of our alumni are at now and how Ohio Hi-Point helped shape their pathway to success.

High School:


Ciera Snyder, Class of 2008/Health Technology
Ciera Snyder is a recent graduate of Ohio Hi-Point's Health Technology program and is currently attending Rhodes State College studying to become a registered nurse.
"Hi-Point helped me not only become a better person, but also made me want to make more of myself," said Snyder.  "I didn't want to go to college at first, but it really made me see that it is the best thing that anyone can do."
Snyder is thankful to OHP because the rigors of the Health Tech program prepared her well for college, and it also helped her earn college credits before even graduating high school.

Adult Education Alumni:

Persie (Bolling) Nelson-’97 Phlebotomy
Senior Phlebotomist
Hardin Memorial Hospital-Kenton, Ohio

"Before I went to Ohio Hi-Point, I was taking classes in Lima, Ohio.  I wanted to get started with my life, but I didn’t want to spend a long time in school.  After some research, I discovered that after being in school for two years, I wasn’t going to be making enough money to cover the school loans.  At Ohio Hi-Point, the coursework didn’t take long and the cost was fair.  It definitely prepared me for my job as a phlebotomist in the Hardin Memorial Hospital Lab.  The instructors were wonderful and always had time for me.  With the program an adult class, the instructors knew that we all had other responsibilities with jobs and families and they worked with us on our personal needs.  Not only did my time studying at Ohio Hi-Point prepare me for the hands-on portion of my job, but also for the business part of my career."


William “Oscar” Baldwin-’06 Practical Nursing
LPN
Mary Rutan Hospital-Bellefontaine, Ohio

"Up until the time I began attending the Ohio Hi-Point Adult Education Nursing Program, I had spent my most of my adult life in the pastorate for 25 years.  While serving as a pastor, I went to school and earned my doctorate of ministry, my Ph.D. in counseling, and, finally, my Ph.D. in religion!  Still, while I may have been able to assist people spiritually and emotionally, I could do nothing for them physically.  I had always wanted to work in the medical field, and the time came in my life when I could get schooled as a nurse, and I took the opportunity to do so.  The courses were tough, but the teachers were tougher and demanded we learn the material expected to become good nurses.  The Ohio Hi-Point nursing program expects its graduates to be GOOD nurses!  I was 56-years-old while I attended the nursing program and had many, many questions.  We older folks seldom take things at face value and want to know why it is the way it is, so I am sure I tried the instructors’ patience on more than one occasion, but they were very knowledgeable and their answers were forthcoming.  Another part I appreciated is that we start and finish the program with the same group, and we could lean and depend on each other for moral support.  You give up a lot of yourself during the time you are in school, and the classmates become an extended family."

Day Eight: Girls explore careers in engineering, technology

Freshman and sophomore girls from Benjamin Logan, Marysville and West-Liberty Salem High Schools attended Ohio Hi-Point Career Center on February 3, 2010, for Women in Technology & Engineering Day. Girls participated in hands-on activities such as Multimedia Presentations, Electronic Soldering, 2D Animation, Photo Editing, Architecture Design and a CSI Science Lab. These activities allowed girls to explore possible careers in Technology and Engineering fields.

Since men in these fields outnumber women, this day provided girls the option to see if technology and engineering was a good fit. According to Tech News World, only 27% of workers in the computer field between 2000–2005 were women. The National Center for Women & Information Technology explains that women hold more than half of all professional occupations in the U.S. but fewer than 24 percent of all computing-related occupations. NCWI further explains that only 16 percent of Fortune 500 technology companies have women corporate officers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that “Employment of computer and information systems managers is expected to grow 17 percent over the 2008-18 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations. It’s important to have gender diversity in this field to promotion innovation and competiveness." 

Amanda Blackburn, Information Technology instructor at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, stated that, “it’s important to get girls excited about jobs in science, technology and engineering because it’s currently one of the fastest growing fields. This day provided these students with the opportunity to explore these fields.”

Day Seven: Hi-Point is...

Our Hi-Point Journeys bloggers have been given the assignment of asking students and staff what HI-POINT IS to them in honor of National CTE Month.  Here is the first week of photos that are posted daily on our Facebook page.

Day Six: The case for career-technical education

So why career-technical education?  Because the facts speak for themselves:

• CTE students achieve academic success. According to the research cited in an Association of Career-Technical Education (ACTE) fact sheet, students at schools with highly integrated rigorous academic and CTE programs have significantly higher student achievement in reading, mathematics and science than do students at schools with less integrated programs
• CTE students experience increases in earnings. A 2004 study showed that students who took four high school CTE courses showed an average increase in earnings of $1,200 immediately after graduation and $1,800 seven years later.  Also, secondary students who graduate with a career and technical education concentration are 2 ½ times more likely to be employed while pursuing postsecondary education than are “college prep” students
• CTE students achieve postsecondary success. Career and technical education (CTE) students enter postsecondary education at approximately the same rate as all high school graduates debunking the myth that by choosing to attend a career-tech school means you can't go to college. Studies also show that students who were in CTE programs in high school have better college attendance and are more likely to actually obtain their degree

So why does career-tech remain such a mystery and secret and why do people still associate it with the "vocational" schools of the past?  Vocational education has changed significantly and transformed into career technical education, providing high-quality academic opportunities combined with strong career training, which better prepares students for life after high school. According to an ACTE fact sheet, the federal role in “vocational” education began as a way to prepare students for the newly industrialized workplace. The program has since changed to match the needs of the changing economy, focusing on postsecondary as well as secondary education while giving students skills they can use throughout their careers.  In 2006, the language “vocational and technical” was updated to “career and technical” education. This transition was more than just name change. It represented a fundamental shift in philosophy from CTE being for those who were not going to college to a system that prepares students for both employment and postsecondary education. The integration of academic and technical education programs was strengthened, further emphasizing the goal of ensuring that students who participate in CTE are taught the same igorous content aligned with challenging academic standards as all other students, according to the ACTE.

At Ohio Hi-Point the impact is evident is our student body and increased enrollment as more and more students and their parents realize the impact of earning college credits while in high school which can result in cost-savings on tuition.  Students and parents also realize the impact of earning industry certifications and being able to work in career fields that are viable, meaning they are careers that are still in demand, needing employees. 

A few examples of this:

• Ryan Cole, a 2005 graduate of Ohio Hi-Point who studied in the Diesel Technology program, won the National SkillsUSA gold medal in Kansas City and received a full scholarship to Purdue University, where he studied and graduated with a degree in engineering
• Andrew Deans was a 2005 graduate of the Information Technology program and carried more than 30 college credits with him to Clark State Community College, which gave him advanced standing and saved him money
• Breigh-Ann Zimmerman, a 2006 graduate, chose to come to OHP for Cosmetology knowing she wanted to go to college for radiology.  Why? By entering the Cosmetology program she knew she could get her state license and then would be able to work her way through college as a hair stylist (going to school to get licensed after high school can sometimes cost as much as $20,000).  Zimmerman enrolled in Rhodes State College

CTE is not what is was in the past.  It engages high school students in hands-on learning with state-of-the-art technology and rigorous academics and has become the model for what high school education should be doing to prepare students for the future.

Want to learn more?

• More facts and research on the benefits of CTE at the ACTE website
• View Ohio Hi-Point's college credit agreements and see how much credit you can earn by program
• Visit our website and explore our programs

Day Five: Allowing our students to tell their story

10 People. 10 Months. One Amazing Journey.  And with that, the Hi-Point Journeys campaign was launched as part of our high school recruiting and awarness efforts.  A first-of-its-kind marketing campaign within an Ohio public school district, the Journeys campaign puts to use social media, the new way both teenagers and adults are communicating in increasing numbers.  More than the tools of social media, however, the Journeys campaign does what social media is meant to do: empower our "customers," our students.  10 of our high school student ambassadors were armed with FlipCams, digital cameras and blogging assignments and were made the faces of OHP.  Not just to represent themselves, but to represent the lives of all students and their experiences and give the most open look at a year in the life within the high school of Ohio Hi-Point.



The Bellefontaine Examiner did a front page story on the campaign back when it launched in September that you can read here.

We also learned that the campaign recently was named an award-winner by the Dayton Creative Syndicate's Hermes/ADDY Awards, which will be passed out later this month, and the campaign has been featured in various blog postings and presentations, not only in Ohio, but from around the nation.
The students are also featured in various print ads and in our television commercials.
You can follow their journeys at hipointjourneys.com.

Day Four: Adult Ed provides "The Gift of a New Career"

 

EDITORS NOTE: In December, Bellefontaine Examiner reporter Sue Pitts wrote a feature story about a graduate in OHP's Adult Education Health Information Technology program.  Pitts' story brought attention to the storyline that can apply to the lives of many adults in this current economic climate.  Job loss, recession, foreclosures, loss of benefits, a shift in the global workforce and demands for employees.  These are the issues facing adults everywhere, especially in Ohio.  Ohio Hi-Point's Adult & Continuing Education Division has responded rapidly to the needs of thousands of adults, helping them gain new skills, refresh old ones, or, like Karen Russo in this story, blaze a pathway to an entirely new career. 

 

With mixed emotions, former Middleburg resident Karen Russo stood in 2007 among sobbing Siemens Energy & Automation co-workers as they learned they were losing the jobs they expected to retire from, wondering what the future held for her.

After 14 years of service to the local factory, the 40-something single mother of two found herself starting over, but while she faced losing her only source of income, she saw it as an opportunity to find a new direction and new hope.

"I had been expecting it for five or six years, or maybe I was hoping, but it didn't really surprise me when they said it," she recalled. "I had people standing around me crying, because they were losing their jobs. They were devastated."

After the announcement, she said attitudes changed and the stress level was so high, she hated going to work. And to add insult to injury, the soon-to-be jobless had to train their Mexican counterparts who would take over their work in Mexico.

The closing was actually a sort of blessing in disguise, she said.

"Standing all day on a line, using screw guns with too much power was really killing my body," Ms. Russo said. "Deep down inside I was thanking God. Finally I could get out of this dead-end job."

While some may, Ms. Russo doesn't harbor resentment for her former employer or the foreign workers brought in locally for her and others to train on their jobs that were headed south.

"They were really nice people," she said, "it wasn't their fault they were getting our jobs.

"And Siemens could have just closed the doors and said, 'Sorry about your luck,' but they didn't."

Instead, the company offered employee buyouts, continued their insurance for several months and steered them toward additional employment and assistance

services. And because the job loss fell under the North American Free Trade Agreement, federal assistance with education, insurance and unemployment compensation also was available to the displaced workers for two years, she said.

A year later, she took the buyout and a big step forward. With five other freshman students, most of whom who also lost their factory jobs, she started a yearlong journey in January through the Health Information Technology program at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

Everything was covered through one entity or the other; tuition, books, etc. "There is no way I could have ever paid for that.

"This was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Free education and I get to do something else besides stand on a line and do a mindless job.

"I thought I would really stress over it, but when I no longer had to go (to the factory), I felt great. My stress was over even though I didn't have a job."

Out of the uncertainty, she has found a new career in the field and in the process made five new friends in classmates and fellow graduates Kevin Anderson of Belle Center, and Gena Francis, Brenda Hodges, Michelle Owens and Mary Ann Smith, all of Bellefontaine. Some of her fellow graduates plan to continue their education, teach or are already utilizing their new skills in new positions.

"It's been a wild ride; going back to school. My old brain had to adjust to learning again," Ms. Russo admitted. "But the subjects were interesting and it kept me occupied."

Her goal for the next five or six years is to work for The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, where she was raised.

"I feel like I am starting all over again, but you know 50 is the new 40," she joked.

Adult and Continuing Education director Darlene Chiles recently reported an increase in enrollment in adult programs, noting that more than 3,000 adults were served in Fiscal Year 2009, eclipsing previous years. Additionally, the Department of Job & Family Services has located a temporary satellite office on the campus as the number of residents looking for another line of work continues to grow.

HIT classes for the next group of 15 began in January. Contact ACE at Ohio Hi-Point, 599-3010, for more information on a wide range of adult class offerings.

 

For more information on our Adult Education programs, visit us online at ohiohipoint.com.

 

Special thanks to Sue Pitts for allowing us to reprint this story. 

Day Three: Believing in service

 Ohio Hi-Point Career Center believes in developing the whole person, not just the academic side or the well-trained, career-oriented side.  Community service is an important part of the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center experience, something that is truly 21st Century Learning. 
Ohio Hi-Point staff and students in both the high school and adult education commit themselves to the communities and the people that support our district.  Just this year our students and staff have:

• Raised money throughout the year for the Logan County Relay for Life
• Led community awareness campaigns by contributing collateral made in the classroom
• Raised money for various charities
• Donated time and service to various community functions
• Collected toys during the holiday season for Toys for Tots
• And much more

Just last week the students and staff of early childhood education held a fundraiser during lunch to raise money for juvenile diabetes.  Not only to raise money for this great cause, but also because it impacts someone so close to the "family" at OHP.  Mr. Terry Hedges, who teaches in the construction trades academy masonry program, and his grandson were on hand to participate in the event.  Why?  Mr. Hedges' grandson suffers from juvenile diabetes.  Mr. Hedges, along with Mr. Rodney Peterson, auto collision teacher, took pie throws in the face for two hours during lunch to raise money and awareness of the disease.  You can check out the photo slideshow below.This month, also to raise money for juvenile diabetes, the male staff members of OHP have the opportunity to grow out their facial hair.
"Those who would like to participate directly in the contest donate $5. Then, during February, those who donate to compete in the competition grow facial hair. At the end of the month, pictures will be taken of those competing and posted. Staff and students will vote, via donating money, for the best facial hair. All money collected will be donated to fight juvenile diabetes," said Mr. Caleb Lang, social studies instructor. 
We will post pictures on this blog at the end of the month of the winner and participants.

DAY TWO: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Editor's Note: Every Tuesday of this month we will feature several alumni, updating you on what they are up to now and how OHP has helped shape their lives.

Jim Gilroy, Class of 1978/Printing and Graphics

Gilroy is currently a Printing Application Specialist with The Eastman Kodak Company within GCG (Graphics Communications Group), providing installations and training for both North and South America for packaging printers using Kodak Flexcel NX.

Gilroy states that OHP helped him reach his goal by preparing him for a career in printing. Gilroy attended Sinclair Community College and also earned his Project Management Professional certification through PMI.

Carol (Smith) DelGrosso, Class of 1978/Drafting (Bellefontaine High School)

DelGrosso continued her education in 1978 at The Ohio State University, where she earned her B.S. in Industrial Design Visual Communications. A successful career pathway has followed including positions at WCMH-TV, WSYX-TV, at SOS Productions and at Mills/James Productions. In 1998,DelGrosso joined her husband at Ozone Studios, an award-winning media production studio in Columbus, where she serves as
creative director and partner.

DelGrosso has contributed to projects that have won an Emmy Award, Addy Award and a Houston Film Festival Award. She has also been an advocate for children, volunteering her time with Franklin County Children Services and Prevent Child Abuse Ohio. Last year, DelGrosso returned to OHP to receive her induction into the Showcase of Success.

Michael Forhan, Class of 1978/Electronics (Urbana High School)

Forhan continued his education after OHP at Clark State Community College, earning an Associate’s Degree. He went on to Franklin University for his Bachelor’s Degree and Capital University Law School for his Juris Doctor. He began his career in the aerospace industry, first as a technician and ultimately as an engineer. He is now a partner in a Columbus law firm, practicing intellectual property law as a registered patent attorney.
Forhan returned to OHP in 2004 to receive his induction into the OHP Showcase of Success.

Do you have an alumni success story to share?  Email shaggerty@ohp.k12.oh.us and tell us about it.

Day One: Celebrating Career-Technical Education!

What is career and technical education (CTE)? According to the Association of Career-Technical Education (ACTE) website, CTE has a long and rich history in the United States. Today’s CTE has evolved from a limited number of vocational programs available at the turn of the 20th century into a broad system that encompasses a variety of challenging fields in diverse subject areas which are constantly evolving due to the changing global economy.
Today, CTE provides students with these opportunities:

• academic subject matter taught with relevance to the real world
• employability skills, from job-related skills to workplace ethics
• career pathways that link secondary and postsecondary education
• second-chance education and training
• education for additional training and degrees, especially related to workplace training, skills upgrades and career advancement

February is National Career-Technical Education Month and Ohio Hi-Point wants to help celebrate it by drawing attention to our students, our staff, our alumni, the career and college environment and our programs and services at both our high school and adult education divisions.  CTE has positioned itself as being the educational opportunity that is ahead of the game.  We hope you will discover this and spread the word of how vocational education is not what it was in the past and how CTE is now positioned to better prepare students for college and the workforce!

So what can you expect from the 28 Days of OHP?

• Features on OHP's high school, satellite and adult education programs
• Features on OHP's commitment to the communities it serves, including a look at our community service and fundraising efforts for various groups and charities
• Where Are They Now? features on our alumni every Tuesday
• Career Watch Wednesdays, which will highlight the nation's current economic and educational system and showcase how OHP can help high school and adult students better position themselves for a global economy
• Special videos and photos to highlight our different programs 
• The "Hi-Point is" photo of the day, where our students and staff and others will tell us what OHP is to them and what it means for their futures

We hope you will follow along during the 28 days of February as we celebrate Career-Technical Education and celebrate 28 Days of OHP.