2015 Outstanding Alumni Celebrated in October

Tri-Rivers Career Center celebrated Outstanding Alumni at the 2015 Board Dinner held at Tri-Rivers, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Recipients included: Career Center graduates Brent Crum and Becky Diamond. The Adult Center winner was Keith Severns.


Brent Crum

By Dan Hayman, retired Ag Mechanics Instructor.

Brent Crum is from the Ag Mechanics class of 1990. I remember Brent as an energetic, let’s get her done, kind of student. He was always showing respect to his academic teachers, as well as to Mr. Messenger and myself. As a teacher you would love to have a class full of Brents. Always interested in mechanics and learning all he could about it. Brent’s father had already taught him quite a lot about mechanics. And I could always count on “show and tell stuff” from his dad’s business to make our shop learning more productive.

Brent earned his State FFA degree his junior year. Only 2 percent of FFA members earn a State Degree. Brent enjoyed field trips as a student, so it was no surprise he volunteered to help chaperone trips the National Tractor pulls and Farm Equipment Show in Louisville, KY.  Brent has been active in the community after graduation. He was a firefighter on Battle Run Fire Department. He also has been on our the Ag & Industrial Power advisory board for about 20 years.

His work resume reads like this: Started at Isler Farm while in high school. Then Worked at Double “A” Trucking in 1993, which is his father’s business In 1999 he got half ownership of Double “A” and changed it to All State Road Service In 2004 he purchased his own service truck In 2011 Brent left All State and was hired a road technician for Ohio Ag Equipment, now called Ohio Cat…where he is now the Service Supervisor  Brent is definitely a success story.

I’m proud to have had Brent as a student and happy to call him a friend.

Michelle Rawlins, Science Instructor, reading message from Jim Rittler, current Ag & Industrial Power Instructor:

Brent’s dedication to the Ag Industry and to Tri Rivers Ag Industrial Power Program has been unmatched and strong. Whenever we call him for help with Sophomore Career Day he always finds a way to make it in with the newest equipment industry has to offer for students to learn the latest technology. Brent has been a pillar of support the past 20 years as an advisory member. He always has new ideas and opportunities for students and myself. Through the years Brent has become a true friend to me.


BECKY DIAMOND

By Treasurer Steve Earnest

It was with great pleasure that Mrs. Curtis and I had the opportunity to nominate Becky Diamond as an “Outstanding Alumni” recipient. Becky exemplifies why Tri-Rivers and other career centers are an integral part of the Ohio educational system. After suffering a significant personal loss in her life, Becky was not sure if she wanted, or could, continue her high school education. With some encouragement, Becky decided to enroll at Tri-Rivers.  As Tri-Rivers seemed a better alternative than returning to her home school at that time in her life.

Becky initially enrolled in cosmetology and quickly realized that cosmetology was not for her. She subsequently switched to the business program and has never looked back. As I have heard Mr. Speelman say numerous times, “not all of our graduates leave Tri-Rivers knowing what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but many learn what they do not want to do.” Becky experienced and learned both while attending Tri-Rivers. Becky has been a life-long learner, first working towards an Associates degree, then a Bachelor’s degree and most recently her School Treasurer’s license.

While I know Becky is proud of her educational accomplishments, I also know they pale in comparison to her greatest accomplishment….her family. Which makes Becky’s sacrifice even more admirable as she had to sacrifice precious time with her family in order obtain her educational goals and thus, professional goals. Professionally, Becky has worked her way through the ranks in the fiscal office at Tri-Rivers and currently holds the position of Assistant Treasurer. Becky has the responsibility of processing more than $7 million dollars worth of payroll and fringe benefits for Tri-Rivers and overseeing much of the accounts payable processing as well. With the exception of a brief stint with Mt. Gilead schools, Becky has never left Tri-Rivers Career Center and Tri-Rivers is better for it.

Again, congratulations to Becky Diamond…..well deserved.

Message to Becky by Debbie Curtis

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you one of our outstanding alumni, Becky Diamond. Becky came to Tri-Rivers as a Junior Cosmetology student in 1994. After her Junior year in Cosmetology, she realized that program was not the best fit for her talents, and she transferred to the Accounting program her Senior year. Many of Becky’s teachers at her home school tried to persuade Becky not to come to Tri-Rivers because she was “too smart” for Tri-Rivers.

Thankfully, Becky did not heed their advice. Becky’s father passed away February 17, 1993 and she needed a change. As Chuck has said before, many of our students are either running to something or away from something and Becky said this was her, she was running away from her home school. She needed a change after her father’s death. Becky excelled in the Accounting program and was hired as a part-time employee in the Treasurer’s office. Becky worked part time for approximately four years, after which she was offered a full time position. Becky has served as our Payroll Coordinator for many years until assuming the role as our “Assistant Treasurer” in September, 2014.

Becky has dealt with many health issues in her life, but they have never prevented her from doing her job. Whether she comes in even though she is not feeling well or processes payroll from home, she always get the job done. We are always paid and all of us are extremely grateful for that. Her knowledge of the payroll process, insurance, and other benefits have helped numerous employees. As her home school stated, she is very intelligent and we are very lucky that she shares her knowledge with Tri-Rivers and it’s employees. Becky completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University in June, 2012. She then continued her education at Ashland University to complete the additional coursework to become a School Treasurer, and now holds a Treasurer license.

Becky is married to Justin Diamond and they have 2 children, Max and Molly. She is accompanied this evening by her husband, Justin Diamond, her mother, Clara Horlocker and her father and mother in-law, Buzzie and Diane Diamond.

 


keithKeith Severns

by Adult Director Richard George

The mission of Tri-Rivers Career Center is to prepare secondary and adult students to contribute, advance and succeed in the 21st Century workforce…to be responsible community members, and to embrace learning as a life-long process.

It is my pleasure this evening to introduce a very special alumnus who has certainly fulfilled that mission.

Our Adult Education honoree this evening is a graduate of several of our Public Safety Services training programs. His first experience with our Adult Programs was completing the Emergency Medical Technician training back in 1987. He returned to Tri-Rivers in 1990 for an EMT Refresher Program and then completed our Tri-Rivers / Marion General Hospital Paramedic training program in 1996. Keith passed both his Practical Skill Exams and the National Registry Paramedicine certification exam and received his National Certification as a Paramedic on August 30, 1996.

Since his initial training at Tri-Rivers Keith has used his skills to assist our community as an Emergency Medical Services provider. His work history includes time at Marion Township Fire Department, Mifflin Township Fire Department, Stofcheck EMS and is currently serving the community at Marion General Hospital.

Keith is the EMS/ACLS/PALS/SIM Coordinator at Marion General Hospital.  He was instrumental in bringing a simulation, experiential training lab to Marion General Hospital. Keith serves as the American Heart Association Coordinator and is regional faculty for ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support, CPR, and PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Keith gives back to the community. He is a not only a Paramedic, an ACLS and CPR, and PALS instructor, but is also a firefighter and is qualified as an Arson Investigator. Keith has been an active participant on state committees and work groups. He conducts regular continuing education training classes for our North Central Ohio EMS council. Keith serves on the Tri-Rivers Program Advisory Committee for Public Safety and in his role at Marion General Hospital provides critical support and training for our Paramedic Students.

I know personally that for many years Keith was responsible for the planning of and then hosting an EMS Week Breakfast at Marion General Hospital where all our community EMS personnel were honored. I attended several of these events and I was always impressed by Keith’s organization, leadership and the ever present enthusiasm for Public Safety Services that Keith shares.

Dr. Larry Lewis is the EMS Medical Director for Marion General Hospital and works closely with Keith. I’ll tell you one thing that distinguishes Emergency Medical Personnel, is that they are always busy, always, giving back to the community. Dr. Lewis could not be here this evening as he is down in Columbus today conducting specialized EMS training.

I spoke with Dr. Lewis and he shared some comments about Keith and Keith’s work ethic with me. He shared that Keith is one busy person. He’s not only the EMS Coordinator at Marion General Hospital, but he is heavily involved with the North Central Ohio EMS Council meetings and protocol. Keith teaches continuing education training for area Medics and EMTs, he reviews squad runs at Marion General (you may not realize it, but Marion General Hospital gets an average of 5,000-6,000 squad runs each year). Keith is the primary liaison between Medics and the Hospital.

Dr. Lewis shared with me that he could not do his job effectively without the assistance that Keith gives him. Keith is not only working in Marion County but is assisting with EMS County Protocols in Hardin County. Dr. Lewis described Keith as a “go to person” and noted that he can always count on Keith to get done what needs to be done.

Keith is here tonight with his wife Paula Severns, who is also a Distinguished Alumni of Tri-Rivers Center for Adult Education..