Michelle Brunson, Executive Director of Upper Valley Career Center, welcomed students; their families and guests to Hobart Arena, Thursday, May 24, for the 2024 Convocation.
Eva Goubeaux, a UVCC Top Scholar from Russia High School, gave the student address. She reminded her classmates of all they have learned and accomplished, their competition victories in career technology organization and their collective earning of over $3 million dollars through Apprenticeships, Early and Advanced Placements. “All of us passed hard tests, struggled through classes and were determined to show up and work hard - even when we didn’t want to…and here (we are) today. Four hundred seventy-three of us are graduating.” Gouboux asked the graduates to take the time to smell the roses, show appreciation, be kind and enjoy this moment together.
School Board President Bill Ankney spoke words of encouragement to the parents as well as the graduates. “According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 42.3% of Career Tech students have gone on to pursue a college degree within two years of graduation….and that many of the companies employing Career Tech students will help pay for their degree.” Ankney also said, “the accomplishments you achieve in the future won’t be through luck. They will come by doing the work and doing the work better than your peers. You will earn success.”
The following awards and special recognitions were announced:
Special Awards and Recognition
Award of Appreciation - two local businesses were recognized for their outstanding, continued support of UVCC students. Haines Ivanowicz and Brooke Ruenkamp accepted the award on behalf of MidMark Corporation. Millie Woryk and Angela Westfall represented the Council on Rural Services Headstart.
Upper Valley Career Center Top Scholars - Addison Swearingen, Katarinia Burger, Brayden Kohler, Eva Goubeaux, Samantha Marlow, Owen Walters.
Perfect Attendance - Two Year: Chase Joyal, Hunter Shoffner, Ashln Sullivan. One Year: Matthew Deats, Levi Delaet, Korey Grigsby, Tommy Grise, Michael Hagan, Russel Hoying, Chase Joyal, Abby Lamm, Kayla Lamm, Jacob Lewber, Zoie Longbrake, Kylie Mack, Stas Maksimov, Mann McKay, Meet Patel, Karter Poque, Justin Price, Haden Quinter, Conner Roane, Aidyn Sarson, Hunter Shoffner, Ashln Sullivan, Troy Zimpfer, Lily Swiebel.
Also recognized were Red Cord Donors, UVCC Honor Society members, and all who received an OSHA, STNA, Serve Safe, Prostart, CPR, EPA or any other industry-recognized credential and/or students who earned college credit.
Work Based Learning/Outstanding Job Placement
Two hundred eight seniors participated in Apprenticeships, Early Placement or Advanced Placement. The following students were recognized for excellence by their Career Tech instructor and their employer. Braeden Bohman, A.L. Smith Trucking; . Luke Gilbert, Absolute Automotive; Ashlin Sullivan, Glamour on Main; Paige Langenkamp, Council on Rural Services’ Matthew Kitchen, Stoller Machinery’ Wyatt Royse, Slagel Mechanical; Owen Beachler, Agtivation LTD; Carter Owens, Miami County Parks District; Amie Burtrum, Versailles Rehabilitation and Healthcare; Simon Baker, Lincoln Electric; Alexander Frohna, AIDA; Logan Aufderhaar, LACAL.
Award of Distinction - This award recognizes the top 10% of each career-techical program combined with an earned rating score or at least 130 of possible 160 based on personal qualities, school activities and skill proficiencies: Braeden Bohman, Ryan Bennett, James Hess, Luke Gilbert, Lucas Jacobs, Stas Maksimov, Owen Walters, Andy Peele, Kayla Lamm, Payton Oehlerts, Eric Sampson, Janessa Coverstone, Paige Langenkamp, Kila Stephan, Bradon Frilling, Ethan Sherman, Landon Adams, Jackson Lambert, Clara Brown, Cooper Gambrell, Tommy Grise, Eli Boerger, Maria Hohenstein, Analyse Fitch, Ava Woodruff, Addison Swearingen, Hunter Shoffner, Jonathan Valentine, Trinity Shawhan, Jadeann Laux, Eva Goubeaux and Logan Aufdeerhaar.
Outstanding Senior Award - Selected from each National Career and Technical Student Organization: Eva Goubeaux and Ava Woodruff , SkillsUSA; Jadeann Laux, FFA; Kila Stephen, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Trinity Shawhan, Educators Rising and Kellie Cromer, Explore Transitional Access Program.
Scholarships
One and a half million dollars in scholarships for the pursuit of post-secondary education have been awarded to the UVCC Class of 2024 to date. Those announced during the ceremony include the following:
Upper Valley Career Center Foundation Scholarship - Trevor Huber, Ava Woodruff, Jada Fint and Camdyn Paul.
Scott Naill Excellence in HVAC/R Education Award - This is a first-time award given in memory of 27-year UVCC staff member, Mr. Naill, honoring his unwavering dedication to his students: Nolan Cramer
Presentation of the Award of Career-Technical Certificates
Ag & Power Technologies: Ryan Bennett, Braeden Bohman, Luke Brown, Levi Delaet, Francis Owen DeLoye, Bradley Douglas, Isaac Fishel, Aaden Grewe, Michael Hagan, Russell Hoying, Dwayne Hubbard II, Tytus Kress, Brant Mills, Brody Paylor, Karter Pogue, James Puthoff, Hayden Quinter, Grant Schultz, Max Shafer, Seth Smedley, Gabriel Walling, Troy Zimpfer.
Auto Collision Repair Technologies: Conner Branscum, Dillon Christian, Joshua Clark, Caine Darby, Alanna Demoss, Caleb Dugger, Aiden Harris, James Hess, Hayden Jones, Travis Landreth, Thomas Malone, Jordan Maynard, Lucas Rexroth, Zane Roesser, Parker Ward, Wyatt Ward.
Auto Services: Jessie Brown, Bentley Green, Harley Puckett, Nicholas Rudy.
Automotive Technologies: Bryce Allen, Ethan Brogan, Stephen Colon Sandoval, Jeremy Davis, Matthew Deats, Gavin Duke, Phoenix Dysinger, Hunter Emans, Landynn Fogt, Luke Gilbert, Skylerdale Graham, Lucas Jacobs, Daniel Lucente, Matthew McCall, Zavier Morrison, Gavin Palkovic (posthumous), Gabriel Quinter, Aidyn Sarson, James Saunders Jr, Mason Saunders, Jacob Schweitzer, Landon Sekas, Jason Siegel, Maddison Ward.
Building Maintenance: Bryce Davis, Conner Glenn, Gaberial Gorman, Cole Grice, Cameron Huffgarden, Kamden Hughes, Stas Maksimov, Sy Payne, Daniel Rose, Ayden Sorrell, Cody Workman.
Computer Information Technologies: Austin Baker, Alex Beam, Caralyn Boyer, Cameron Graber, Kaden Hill, Alayna Johnson, Nevaeh Jones, Jayden Macy, Fernando Muniz, Devan Myers, Bernard O’Reilly, Terri Peele, Justice Price, Connor Roane, Douglas Rork, Ayden Smith, Keegan Stutz, Owen Walters, Brenden Welbaum.
Construction Technologies: Jacob Anderson, Brady Arnett, Donnivyn Bonnoront, Stephan Bowerman, Johnathan Bruggeman, Dameon Daniels, Kyle Folsom, Gabriel Foote, Camron Homan, Jakob Jackson, Chase Joyal, Kyler Long, Jordon Monnin, Kevin Newton, Kellen Purkeypile, Zachary Roades, Zachary Swiger, Jacob Tipps, Cason Worley.
Cosmetology: Kristen Alexander, Naelynn Arnett, Ava Casto, Britney Couch, Harley Cox, Olivia Dilworth, Ava Earl, Taylor Geise, Faith Gray, Lillie Howell, Bryanna Kenworthy, Zoe Kesling, Brooklyn Klosterman, Kayla Lamm, Halie Loy, Breanna McClish, Hailey Messer, Katie Meyer, Jadaan Miller, Liann Morris, Payton Nicholas, Lillia Noon, Alizah Pence, Addisyn Pitman, Emma Preston, Sarah Schroer, Triston Skinner, Haleigh Smith, Ashln Sullivan, Maddison VanDeGrift, Ava Wehtje, Whitney Welch.
Culinary Arts: Ahnalise Ellis, Jaden Grody, Johnathan Higgins, Matthew Lockhart, Faith McKee, Blake Nelson, Payton Oehlerts, Zachary Reed, Mallory Rosenbeck, Lan Roudebush, Eric Sampson, Marissa Schleinitz, Gabrielle Schmackers, Kameryn Sherry, Tayler Storehalder, Ryan Woods.
Design & Digital Print Technologies: Brianna Baker, Janessa Coverstone, Skylar Demoss, Skyler DeNise, Christopher Driskell, Mabel Francis, Genevieve Holden, Olivia Hutman, Reece Lawhorn, Olivia Massengale, Austin Moreno, Emily Ray, Emma Smith, Keiren Thorpe.
Early Childhood Education & Care: Destyni Amerine, Alexis Caplinger, Alicia Crawford, Bethany Dooley, Jaelynne Gray, Maci Hauschild, Paige Langenkamp, Lydia Lee, Brooke Phillips, Samantha Reese, Melissa Shoemaker, Madison Slife, Riley Stanfill, Kila Stephan, Olivia Stollings, Nicole Tucker, Helen Vlahos
Electrical Trades: Ethan Blindauer, Alex Boerger, Triston Butt, Jack Crawford, Mason Davis, Joseph DeVincenzi, Alexander Frew, Bradyn Frilling, Samuel Hill, Garrett Hobbs, Nicholas Holthaus, Caleb Kenton, Matthew Kitchen, Owen Klinker, Zander Mason, Fletcher McKinney, Jericho Quinter, Quinten Reimer, Carter Schrubb, Ethan Sherman, Jacob Taylor, Wesley Vondenhuevel, Dylan Westfall.
Explore: Seth Bajwa, Jack Barker, Jacob Biehn, Austin Bliss, Kaitlyn Chaffin, Kellie Cromer, Christian Dahs, Korey Grigsby, Autumn Grossnickle, Damien Hahn, Cass Hensley, EmmaLee Jones, Kalup Lavey, Manna McKay, Abigail McNeal, Noah Rocke, Avery Wurstner.
FAST: Bryce Davidson, Cody Hicks, Jessica Ireton, Aiden Leugers, Jordan McCafferty, Ayden McFarland, Daphka Peters, Corbyn Redmon, Zane Webber, Havanna White, Aidan Williams, Taten Wintrow.
HVAC/R Technologies: Landon Adams, Karsen Blain, Nathan Brewster, Nolan Cramer, Connor Doty, Owen Edger, Treighton Edwards, Brett Epley, Zachary Griffith, Ethan Krieger, Jackson, Lambert, Gavin Landrey, Jacob Lewber, Bronson Libecap, Gavin McClintock, Maddox Nash-Mowery, Payton Pooler, Wyatt Royse, Mark Wolfe.
Interactive Media: Owen Beachler, Kaylyn Bertke, Clara Brown, Kylie Clark, Truman Depinet, Lilonda Falls, Alivia Hancock, Brandon Laughman, Molly Lavins, Rita Schroer, Landon Stallings, Johanna Welborn.
Landscape & Natural Resources: Jarod Barnhart, Cheyanne Bowman, Tessa Caruso, Bryce Detrick, Rylan Egbert, Becca Flory, Cooper Gambrell, Tommy Grise, Jackson Hemmert, Michael Hohenstein, Evan Johnson, Marymar Martinez Elliott, Zion McReynolds, Zachary Meyer, Devan Nix, Carter Owens, Darius Pultz-Wolaver, Chase Quinter, Boston Sherman, Paige Steinke, Joshua Young.
Manufacturing & Machining Technologies: Eli Boerger, Rylan Dorsten, Jaxon Douglas, Carson Fogt, Evan Fogt, Gage Gambill, Jerry Heffner, Hunter Hicks, Landen Jones, Zayne McFadden, Jace Minniear, Richard Ordean, Trey Schmelzer, Isack Smith, Quintan Stevens, Jonathan Venrick, Grayson Wills.
Medical Careers Academy: Allisen Anders, Abigail Brookhart, Amie Burtrum, Vanessa Fitzgerald, Jada Flint, Kaitlyn Garber, Lillie Heitkamp, Maria Hohenstein, Trevor Jess, Abby Lamm, Shaylyn Lucas, Emily Martin, Allison McDermitt, Nailette Medina, Olivia Murphy, Rebeckah Partin, Camdyn Paul, Kasi Rinderle, Sophia Rowles, Sophia Schilling, Brayden Selhorst, Kiandra Smith, Faith Sollenberger, Emma Tittle, Tyler Toves, Natalie Valentine, Kara Vultee-Freels, Kylie Wilson, Cerenity Wise, Rizlyn Yaqub.
Nail Technologies: Madison Achs, Alani Canan, Libby Chaney, Lily Coffman, Raelynne Dershem, Analyse Fitch, Onikah Graves, Janet Heath, Kaylee Heck, Dakota Martin, Hope Nill, Serenity Sowers, Layla Spangler, Alayna Stachler, Jadyn Stambaugh, Mary York.
Pre-Engineering & Design Technologies: Anthony Allenbaugh, Simon Baker, Keyon Bargar, Marcus Berger, Ashton Calcut, Brady Downing, Lincoln Frilling, Trever Huber, Julia Huelskamp, Tristan Hughes, Brayden Kohler, Cameron Leach, Carson Lundy, Joseph Mangen, Wyatt Marrs, Grant Poeppelman, Aizik Robeyzachariah, Madison Rose, Addison Swearingen, Peyton Wendel, Ava Woodruff.
Robotics & Automation: Devon Abshire, Duane Amerine, Ethan Bolin, Nikolai Bollinger, Jack Chappie, Reece Cioffi, Madison Copeland, Miranda Evans, Jerome Fisher, Alexander Frohna, Joshua Ganger, Eric Keener, Aaron Lewis, Aiden Miller, Brandon Nutt, Meet Patel, Andrew Powis, Jayden Reisinger, Teegan Shoe, Hunter Shoffner, Layne Spradlin, Tristan Springer, Carter Strunk.
Sports Medicine: Lily Anderson, Marissa Corner, Taylor Fullenkamp, Ashlyn Geise, Lucas Hartle, Aiden Haynes, Talan Johnson, Samantha Marlow, Danny Murray, Jonathan Valentine, Lily Zwiebel.
Teacher Academy: Cecilia Klinger, Kylie Mack, Alani Marshall, Peyton Melgaard, Trinity Shawhan, Lance Staley, Carly Supinger.
Veterinary Science: Gracie Albers, Alexis Biddlestone, Keaton Fisher, Leighann Francis, Sienna Greene, Emma Heffelfinger, Macenzy Hemmelgarn, Emily Huff, JadeAnn Laux, Zoie Longbrake, Amaya McCoy, Elena Mendoza, Gisele Michaels, Karissa Rush, Lukas Smith, Aliyah Taborn, Selena Travis, Brayden Wise.
Welding Technologies: Logan Aufderhaar, Cayden Barnett, Calder Bergman, Connor Bollinger, Eathen Boyd, Katarinia Burger, Hunter Collins, Eva Goubeaux, Logan Harvey, Devon Hawes, Joseph Hepner, Kole Homan, Lane Howell, Roger Hoying, Emma Hutchinson, Isaac Koenig, Braiden Kuch, Quentin Lear, Mason LeMaster, Ray Lewis, Xavier Lowe, Noah Mannier, Nickolas Ortiz, Colton Rittenhouse, Xavier Robinson, Alex Ruhenkamp, Maddox Schutte, Elijah Sowers, Jackson Steinke, Owen Steinke, Keegan Thorpe, Coyah Tolbert.
Congratulations to all!
Photo courtesy of Mike Ullery.