Two-Hour Delay, Friday, March 4
Due to road conditions, Tri-Rivers Career Center is on a 2-hour delay, Friday, March. 4.
Culinary Arts Grad Receives Top Chef of the Year Award
Executive Chef Matt Smith of The Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square was honored to be recognized as the Columbus Chapter’s American Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year. Smith is a graduate of Tri-Rivers Culinary Arts program and Hocking College, according to his former Tri-Rivers Instructor Chef Sheila Hamm.
Smith said, “I’m truly humbled to be recognized at this level by fellow chefs and colleagues—many of whom I respect and have known for years. There are truly talented chefs on this list including those that were instrumental in molding my career. I couldn’t have accomplished any of these feats without the direct support of my crew at the hotel, family, and friends.”
“When Matt was a student, he had the drive and passion to be great in the culinary industry,” said Chef Hamm. “As an adult, he still has that same drive, energy and passion. Over the years, he has refined his great talent to become an amazing chef. This award recognizes that.”
The award pays tribute to the member whose culinary expertise and exemplary dedication have enhanced the image of the chef and the American Culinary Federation—a person who commands the respect of this organization because of their character and performance, according to Chef Hamm.
For Smith and his culinary team, 2015 was a stellar year, according to release from the Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square.
His team was recognized with multiple awards including receiving the Golden Spoon from Children’s Hunger Alliance, and a National ACF Presidents Medallion in Orlando, FL this past August. He was also credited with hosting a very prestigious American Academy of Chefs Dinner at the hotel in June. Additionally he achieved his goal of becoming a Certified Executive Chef in September 2015.
His culinary experiences include working with Westin Columbus and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts for about 10 years, as well as some of other fine establishments before that. He was formally trained at Hocking College in southern Ohio and under Chef Hamm at Tri-Rivers Career Center. He said he has been led on his culinary journey by some extremely talented chefs.
With compassion for service, desire to learn, and a lot of long hours, Chef Smith is no stranger to what it takes to deliver more than what the customer is asking. With strong ties in the Columbus community through his work with the American Culinary Federation, other local chefs, and farmers, he finds himself consistently striving to bring fresh, seasonal, local, and organic menu components to his tables in Plaza Restaurant and Wine Bar. He has built a team of proven chefs that are complimented by an award-winning banquet staff.
Chef Smith is comfortable in all areas of the kitchen; however, he truly enjoys being able to see the steps of service from interaction with the client and development of menu proposals to the final execution of a successful event. Being able to poke his head in through the ballroom doors and seeing a room full of “smiling faces and empty plates” is really what brings him back to work the next day to make new memories and menus.
He is supported by his wife Jessi, son Korgan, and daughter Kilynn, who know firsthand the kind of passion and dedication Chef Smith has for his trade.
Great Turnout for 40th Anniversary Event 3
Thanks to all who came to our 40th Anniversary Series Event 3—alumni, business partners, retirees, students, parents, area leaders, staff and friends of TRCC…What a wonderful night! Our featured labs looked great—Culinary Arts, Cosmetology and Digital Media & Entertainment.
During the open house event the following programs were featured and open to visitors: Cosmetology’s Salon Total Reflections: Culinary Art’s C.C. Bistro, C.C. Buns and C.C. Bakery; and Digital Media and Entertainment’s Art Design Studio.
Special thanks to Culinary Arts for the refreshments!
Priority Enrollment Deadline Feb. 16—Today!
Priority Enrollment Deadline is TODAY—Tuesday, February 16!
Your best chance of getting into your primary choice program is to apply online by today!
More parents and students are realizing the career-tech route offers more opportunities for all pathways–into the workforce, into college, or into lucrative apprenticeships and additional training programs.
NEW Health Careers Academy—Check it out!
40th Anniversary Event Feb. 25, 2-5pm
Tri-Rivers 40th Anniversary Celebration continues with the third event in a 5-Part Series. Thursday, February 25, 2-5pm. During the open house event the following programs will be featured and open to visitors: Cosmetology’s Salon Total Reflections: Culinary Art’s C.C. Bistro, C.C. Buns and C.C. Bakery; and Digital Media and Entertainment’s Art Design Studio.
The event is open to the public. There will be door prizes and giveaways. Businesses and individuals involved in these career fields, as well as students interested in these programs, are encouraged to attend.
“We divided our anniversary celebration into a series of events so we could feature various areas,” said Ellen Messenger, Director of Communications. “All of the events are open to the public; however, we sent out invitations to individuals and businesses directly associated with the programs featured at each event. We are hoping that people will not only come to the events not only to learn about what we are doing, but will also ask questions and give their input so we can better serve our communities.”
Upcoming 40th Anniversaries Events at the Career Center include:
• Event 4—Thursday, March 24 featuring Healthcare Professions, Criminal Justic and CNET—5-7pm
• Event 5—Monday, April 25, featuring the Adult Education program—2-5pm
For details, contact Messenger at 740-272-6015 or EMAIL
Video features RAMTEC Vex Robotics
“This is a video of what hundreds of area students do in their free time,” said Ritch Ramey, RAMTEC Coordinator, talking about the most recent RAMTEC Ohio Vex Robotics League Video.
The video, created by Meta Solutions, has received over 10,000 views since it was posted on Facebook. Ramey said through Vex Robotics contests and camps, as well as trailer-based exploration programs, we have created an education outreach that reaches into the 144 schools that feed our Career Tech centers.
Vex Robotics offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich in career opportunities spanning science, technology, engineering and math. The VEX Robotics Competition, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, is the ultimate STEM activity for middle school and high school students (ages 11-18).
Each year, an engineering challenge is presented in the form of a game. Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, use the VEX Robotics Design System to build innovative robots designed to score the most points possible in qualification matches, elimination matches and Skills Challenges. In addition to having a great time and building amazing robots, through their participation in the VEX Robotics Competition and their work within their team, students will learn many academic and life skills.
Teams of students ranging from elementary to high school will spend months designing, building and programming a robot to compete in a series of games during the VEX Robotics Challenge.
Did you know that 6 out of 10 skilled manufacturing positions go unfilled due to the skills gap? The VEX Competitions expose students to the skills they’ll need to fill the estimated 2.5 million skilled manufacturing jobs that need to be filled over the next ten years. VEX Competitions aren’t just local. They’re worldwide: More than 10,000 teams from 32 countries play in over 750 tournaments.
RAMTEC – The Nation’s Only Provider of Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Industry Certifications — All Under One Roof
Contact:
Ritch Ramey
740-360-8156
Tri-Rivers RAMTEC concept to expand with $6 million in Straight A Funds
In the third round of Straight A Grants by the Ohio Department of Education, Tri-Rivers Career Center was the lead district in a consortium which was awarded six grants of $1 million each to expand robotics and advanced manufacturing by replicating the Marion RAMTEC (Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) in an additional 12 career centers. Earlier through the second round of Straight A Grants, 8 additional RAMTECs were created.
The recent additional RAMTEC sites include: Ashland County-West Holmes JVSD, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Mid-East Career and Technology Center, Lawrence County, Pickaway-Ross JVSD, US Grant CTPD, Delaware Area Career Center, Southern Hills, Vantage Career Center, Warren County CTC, EHOVE Career Center, Wayne County JVSD. Scioto County Career Technical Center also received a separate grant to create a RAMTEC for a total of 22 RAMTECs in Ohio.
“Business and Industry do not have the skilled workers needed to upgrade and automate,” said Chuck Speelman, Tri-Rivers superintendent. “These additional grants will help to replicate the success of what we are doing with RAMTEC in Marion, Ohio. Our best practices will be used by these additional career centers to expand advanced manufacturing career-technical learning opportunities in robotics for 6th grade through 16th grade.”
Ritch Ramey, as the RAMTEC Ohio Coordinator, is responsible for the development and coordination of the training programs at Tri-Rivers RAMTEC and the additional 22 RAMTECs made possible through Straight A Grants. “Because of the grants, elementary, middle school, high school, college, adults and incumbent workers have or will have access to credentialed courses in such industrial training programs as those developed by FANUC Robotics and CNC, Yaskawa Motoman, Parker Hydraulics, Rockwell Allen-Bradley Programmable Logic Controls (PLC) and Mitsubishi PLCs.”
RAMTEC on the Tri-Rivers Campus serves as the training center for all of the instructors of the additional RAMTECs providing the professional development needed to make the initiative successful. “As RAMTEC expands throughout the state, we will continue to enhance the training at RAMTEC here in Marion, making Marion the “Home for Robotics Education” in Ohio and the nation,” said Ramey. “The success of RAMTEC in Marion relies on highly motivated and skilled training staff, numerous partnerships we have developed, as well as the grants we have received.”
“Ohio Means Jobs has estimated that there is a 60,000 manufacturing gap in Ohio currently,” said Ramey. “Our RAMTEC mission is to help alleviate that gap by creating a seamless pathway that will allow students throughout Ohio hands-on exposure to high tech equipment starting in the 6th grade.”
Ramey said through Vex Robotics contests and camps, as well as trailer-based exploration programs, we have created an education outreach that reaches into the 144 schools that feed our Career Tech centers. “The Straight A Grants provide state of the art equipment and education technology so our students can earn industrial credentials before they leave high school.”
The grants also provide for training the teachers from each of the additional RAMTEC sites in robotics, PLCs, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, CNC and Vex robotics. “Each Career Center is linked to two and four year colleges in which students can earn college credit while in high school. While middle school students can gain exposure through the Arduino Sparkfun Inventor Kits (SIK), Vex Robotics, camps, competitions, and tours.”
“Our team of professionals have developed and assisted with Vex Robotics camps throughout Ohio this year. With the new grants, this initiative will continue to grow exposing thousands of young people to this ultimate STEM activity for middle school and high school students,” said Ramey.
“We also host several activities for elementary students, including the upcoming Invention Convention competition to be held at RAMTEC at Tri-Rivers Saturday, February 20,” said Ramey. “RAMTEC is opening doors for young people to use problem solving and critical thinking to develop their skills and to receive real world certifications and training that will lead them to high paying skilled positions.”
Speelman said because of Marion’s RAMTEC on the Tri-Rivers campus, “Jobs are coming to this area.” For example, Union Tank Car was able to expand because of the training provided through RAMTEC. “Tri-Rivers RAMTEC has also provided robotics, CNC and Automation training for employees companies including Bridgestone, US Yachiyo, Marion Industries, American Showa, MTD, PPG, Whirlpool, Nucor, FT Precision, and Honda.”
The Straight A Grant funds are for middle school through college; however, adult learners and incumbent workers also benefit greatly from the RAMTEC expansion, concluded Speelman.
Tri-Rivers Career Center
ADDRESS
2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd
Marion, Oh 43302
PHONE
Adult Ed: 740-389-4682
High School: 740-389-4681
RAMTEC: 740-389-4681
FAX: 740-389-2963
School Hours
Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Adult Education
Health Care Building
School Hours
School Hours
8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Summer Hours (HS and Adult)
Monday-Friday
7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed Fridays
Opening Hours
Mo-Fr: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
2023-24 calendar
