drug free banner

Drug Free. Hire Me!™ Rally planned for October

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A Drug Free. Hire Me!™ Rally will be held in downtown Marion in October. Watch for details.

For this event Tri-Rivers is working with the Marion mayor, county officials, law enforcement, area agencies and many others. Along with the Tri-Rivers Drug Free. Hire Me!!™ club members, students from area city and county schools will be invited to participate in the rally.

What is the Drug Free. Hire Me!™ club?
Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion, OH created a Drug Free. Hire Me!™ student club. The club is an organized approach to encourage drug free lifestyles. It offers ongoing
incentives throughout the year to motivate students to speak out against drug use, become an example to their peers, and establish themselves as “work ready” to potential employer.

The medical lab, that Tri-Rivers contracts with for the drug testing, predicted Tri-Rivers would have around 100 students participate the first year (2017-18); however, over 220 students chose to join the club. That’s over 47% of our students. This year we have over 260 students, or over 50%, participating with students still
signing up as they recognize the value of the club.

The members sign contracts, are randomly tested during the year and receive certificates in their career passports designating their Drug Free. Hire Me!™ status/participation. Plus, the Drug Free. Hire Me!™ club helps our students meet the first and most important of 15 professional skills required to earn the OhioMeansJobs
Readiness Seal.

We plan special events where members wearing their drug free T-shirts receive fun incentives and can attend educational activities. The incentives and T-shirts through a $6,000 grant from the Marion Community Foundation.

The ultimate goal of the club is to provide students with a safe environment and prepare them to be ready for employment. The students are vowing to say no to drugs and understand they need to in order to be hired.

At the Career Center’s Annual Advisory Committee meeting, business and industry members fully endorsed the club, emphasizing having drug free employees is their number one goal.

shear class

Shear Class Extravaganza March 2

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Tri-Rivers Total Reflections Cosmetology & Esthetics presents Shear Class Extravaganza Saturday, March 2, 2019. This event showcases the talents of the students in these two programs.

From 11am to 2:30pm the public can stop by the Talent Showcase in the front hallway and watch students demonstrate their skills, view their tabletop displays and enjoy refreshments.

Then at 4pm there will be a Style Show in the Multi-Purpose Room (Cafeteria). The doors for this event will open at 3:30pm.  The stylists and models will dazzle you!

This event is free and open to the public.

Questions contact instructors:

Mrs. Becky Salyer: 740-389-8567
Mrs. Sheri Wells: 740-389-8568

 

 

hayley

Congrats to NTHS New Inductees

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Ten Tri-Rivers students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) during the Senior Winter Ceremony Thursday, January 10, 2019 held in the Giauque Auditorium.

Congratulations to the 2019 NTHS Winter Inductees: Abigail Boyd, Culinary Arts, River Valley; Dakota Farris, Criminal Justice, River Valley; Brittney Frye, VISIONS, Highland; Macie Gross, Cosmetology, River Valley; Cassidy Helton, Health Careers Academy, Highland; Ashley Hickman, Criminal Justice, Marion City; Christina Irvine, Advanced Machining, Pleasant; Caitlyn Lilly, Esthetics, Elgin; Tresten McCarl, Digital Media & Entertainment, Elgin and Blake Newsome, Computer Networking Electronics Technology, River Valley.

Below are the new inductees, along with the current members.

 

The guest speaker for the evening was Tri-Rivers Vet Science Graduate
and the 2017-18 NTHS president, Hayley Stiverson. Below is Hayley’s inspirational speech:

Good evening everyone. Tonight I was hoping we could do a little time traveling. First, let me take you all back to when I was in eighth grade. Preparing for high school, worried about the end of the year dance, and not even thinking about my future beyond the next week. The annual field trip for the eighth graders came for us to visit Tri-Rivers Career Center and Marion Technical College. I wasn’t impressed with MTC but I also didn’t really care about anything except hey, I didn’t have to sit through classes that day. Then we arrived at TRCC. Just waking inside put me in awe. The ambassadors lined up to greet us, the excitement, the energy all had me very excited. We went from lab to lab hearing different facts and I listened to just about everything. Then we got to veterinary science. I couldn’t believe all of the animals. There were big ones and small ones, fuzzy and scaley too. The instructor, Carrie Heimlich, I already knew from participating in 4-H with her daughters. She was very welcoming as well and as ever so excited to see us all. After that first visit, I knew I would be attending Tri-Rivers for veterinary science. I had no idea when I had made that decision all of the wonderful things that would follow.

 

Fast forward to my sophomore year of high school. I was ready for that Exploring Careers Day where fellow students and teachers talked to us and demonstrated everyday tasks in the two labs we could choose to attend. I chose The Healthcare Academy and Veterinary Science. After that day, I couldn’t wait for the application to open online so I could apply. Then I waited and waited for my acceptance letter which eventually came. My mom was very hesitant. She thought I didn’t want to go to college, she thought I didn’t care about the rest of my high school career. After much discussion, persuasion, and a dinner with the teacher where she learned more information it was finally agreed that I would attend TRCC my last two years of high school.

Fast forward one more time to my first day of TRCC. I had originally attended Pleasant Local Schools because that’s where my mom teachers. Ever since kindergarten I had went there. Living in Ridgedale school district, it wasn’t ideal for me to drive over 20 minutes to Pleasant to hit maybe 15 minutes of a choir class and drive back in the direction I had just came from to then start my day at Tri-Rivers. So, I transferred to Harding High School. I had taken voice lessons from the choral director there, Jami Rawlins, since 6th grade. So finally being able to be in her class was like a dream come true for me. I was able to attend 30 minutes of class and still make it to TRCC on time and not miss anything. I’m rushing in my first day at TRCC and couldn’t remember where I was headed, what class I had first, or who my teacher was. I quickly pulled out my schedule and it said Mrs. Gentkowski who would later become known as Mrs. G. I am honestly so blessed to have had her as my first class at Tri-Rivers and I’m not just saying that to suck up. Mrs. G made me feel so much better about my first day. She quickly filled the room with laughter and ease as she explained her class to us and briefly mentioned National Technical Honor Society or NTHS. I was hooked. I was determined one day to wear that purple shirt. With lots of studying, no misconduct reports, and an application that passed, I was in. I knew what NTHS was about, but I had no idea what I was getting into.

Beginning of my senior year we received news that NTHS was in charge of Prom that year at TRCC. I was beyond excited. Before that could happen we had to elect officers. We wrote our speeches on canvas and voted with Mrs. G before school one morning. Later on the results were announced during the morning announcements, and I had been elected President. At this point, I was in shock. I was now president of NTHS and the FFA chapter here at Tri-Rivers. Senior year had instantly become a lot more meaningful and slightly stressful.

My time in NTHS helped me become me in so many ways. Aside from the 4-H, FFA, Marion County Junior Fair Board, 4-H Camp Counselor, Dance, and Musicals at Harding I was also currently in, NTHS played a very important role my senior year. I helped plan and put on a Prom. A WHOLE prom. My fellow NTHS members and I put on one of the best proms I have ever been to. Our decorations, music, and response we had was more than we could have ever imagined. Aside from prom, we also hosted a Christmas party through the Angel Tree Christmas program for children in our area with incarcerated parents. This hit me and several of my fellow classmates hard. Being able to go out and shop for these kids, one of them being my second cousin, Chloe. I had never heard of this organization until coming to TRCC and had never even thought about my cousin being apart of this. Her dad had never really been involved and it just never crossed my mind until we received the list of names for those kids we were sponsoring that year. My cousin and her mother, Lindsay, has given her kids everything they’ve ever needed and I’m very proud of her for all she has accomplished. This is simply a way for Chloe’s dad to show her he still cares and thinks about her and her younger sister. This organization made my holidays just a little more special that year.

NTHS is so much more than something that looks really good for college or a job, but shapes you into an adult showing you the good and the bad. It helps open your eyes a little more and to be grateful. It also teaches you about working alongside others you may not have always gotten along with. It taught me that community service is actually fun, planning a prom is stressful and exciting, but that all those good grades meant something. Through NTHS and my grades I was able to apply and receive the Jon H. Poteat scholarship. I was one of 250 students in NTHS across the nation to receive this. Yes, NTHS does have its benefits. Wearing purple shirts some Wednesday, having meetings that felt more like hang outs, and yes it looks good for college and jobs and so on.

From NTHS I was able to take even stronger leadership skills to college, quickly learn about money management from prom, and how much more our NTHS group can actually do. All the different events and activities that out NTHS group put on, only sets the bar higher for this current school year and years to come. Current and new inductees, your remaining time here will go by fast. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the memories and most importantly that you will survive. I hope you all top everything the seniors last year accomplished and set the bar even higher. If I could rewind a year, I would. Everything flew by for me during my time here. TRCC was one of the best experiences of my life, thus far. Thank you for inviting me here tonight, I wish you all the best of luck in your career with National Technical Honor Society.

—Hayley Stiverson

NTHS is the acknowledged leader in the recognition of outstanding student achievement in career and technical education. Thousands of schools and colleges are affiliated with the Society. Member schools agree that NTHS encourages higher scholastic achievement, cultivates a desire for personal excellence, and helps top students find success in today’s highly competitive workplace.

 

 

college credit plus

College Credit Plus (CCP) Meeting Feb. 4

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Tri-Rivers College Credit Plus (CCP) Information Night will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room (Cafeteria), Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, 6-7pm.
Representatives from area colleges will be present.

Any student attending Tri-Rivers currently or next year that is interested in CCP opportunities should attend.

This meeting is for CCP in the 2019-20 school year and is MANDATORY for College Credit Plus. Students who have previously participated in
CCP MUST also attend a meeting annually to receive updates and important documents.

If you have questions, please contact Allisun Lauthers, MA, LPSC, Tri-Rivers High School Counselor

open house

Open House Dec. 6—5:30-7:30pm

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Join us for Tri-Rivers Open House, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, 5:30-7:30pm.   See what your career center is doing to help develop the 21st century work force! All the state of the art labs will be open with activities, holiday refreshments and door prizes.

Ready to Enroll? We encourage sophomores and those who care about their futures, to attend this event. It is a great opportunity to visit the program a teen has chosen for next year. Plus, our school counselors will be available in the Student Resource Center to assist students with the online application.

Modern Career Tech Schools, like Tri-Rivers, are designed to prepare students for success. “We empower students to learn a skill while in high school, in addition to opportunities for earning FREE college credits and industry-recognized certifications. This sets students on a career pathway that gives them options after graduation. Career Tech is now viewed as a smarter pathway to career success,” said Superintendent Chuck Speelman.

True Skills. Amazing Futures. Visit our career tech labs:
• Advanced Machining @ Tri-Rivers RAMTEC
• Ag & Industrial Power Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Computer Networking Electronics Technologies (CNET)
• Construction Trades Academy *Open to Sophomores
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Arts
• Digital Media & Entertainment
• Engineering Technologies
@Tri-Rivers RAMTEC
• Esthetics (Skin Care)
• Health Careers Academy
• Physical Therapy & Exercise Science Academy— New!!
• Teacher Academy—New!!
• Veterinary Science
• Welding @ Tri-Rivers RAMTEC

 

 

 

 

 

santa shoppe

Santa’s Lil Shoppe Dec. 6, 7, 8

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Santa’s Lil Shoppe 2018 at Tri-Rivers Career Center is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 6—3:30-7:30pm; Friday, Dec. 7—3:30-7:30pm and Saturday, Dec. 8—10am-4pm. This event has become quite a tradition! Just bring your young ones and have our elves help them do their holiday shopping at the budget you set.

Santa will be there for pictures 5-7 pm on Thursday and Friday and from Noon to 3pm on Saturday. Photos are $5 each.

Proceeds from this fun event help to pay for Tri-Rivers’ Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) activities. Come join the fun; Come see what’s going on!! It’s a great time at the Career Center.

brick set

Construction Trades Project Earns Certifications, Beautifies TRCC Campus

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Tri-Rivers Construction Trades Academy students have completed the removal of the driveway project on the Career Center campus. This project included removing 250 yards of asphalt and 250ft of concrete curb. They fine grated and installed 425 yards of dirt. Then removed and raised an inlet structure for proper drainage. They will excavate, place and finish a concrete curb that is 150 ft long. To complete the project, they raked and spread grass seed, 100 straw bales and installed netting over all of it to hold the straw down.

All completed using various different means and methods with heavy equipment. This earned 10 students with NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations level 1 certification. These students completed the book work application and summer school.

This is the first-ever, heavy equipment operation certification in Tri-Rivers’ history! Way to go CTA students and Mr. Willey. Drive by and take a look.

tririver flats

Veterans: Call TRCC for Service Day appointments on Nov. 9

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Tri-Rivers Annual Service Day to thank Veterans is Nov. 9
To thank area veterans Tri-Rivers Career Center will be providing complimentary services to Veterans furnished by our students in their career labs Friday, November 9, 2018. “We believe our Veterans have given so much for us, it is important for us to give back,” said Roy Schweinfurth, social studies instructor and one of the event coordinators.“In order to accommodate Veterans attending the event, we ask that they make appointments or reservations in advance for each of the services,” said Schweinfurth.

                                                Pet Grooming is one of many services that Tri-Rivers Career Center students will provide for

                                                   Veterans on Friday, November 9, 2018 as part of their Service Day to thank area Veterans.

The services available to Veterans on Friday, November 9, include:
• By reservation: A Soup & Salad Bar lunch provided by our  Culinary Arts students in CC Bistro serving from 10am-1pm

• By appointment: A Wash, Wax & Vacuum vehicle service provided by our Auto Technology students, vehicle drop off between 8-9am, vehicle pick-up 2:15pm

• By appointment: Manicures, Pedicures, Shampoo and Syles, Scalp Treatments provided by our Cosmetology students, appointments to begin at 9:15 and run through 10:30; and 12:15 and run through 1:30

• By appointment: Face and Body Waxing, Facial Treatment with limited makeup application if requested by our Esthetics students, appointments to begin at 12:15pm and run through 1pm for facials and 1:30 for waxing

• Servicing Lawn Equipment including: lawn mowers, chain saws, weed eaters, snow blowers and power washers by our Ag & Industrial Power students. Drop off from 8-10:30am and pick up from 12-2pm

• By appointment: Pet Grooming provided by our Veterinary Science students, 8:30am drop off. 1pm pick-up. Pet to be groomed must be up to date on vaccinations—distemper, rabies, bordetella.

• Portraits taken by our Digital Media & Entertainment students from 9am- 2pm

• Vital Signs Readings provided by our Healthcare Academy students from 8:30-10am and 12:30-2 pm

• A Computer Safety Inspection performed by our Computer Networking (CNET) students from 8:30-11am & 12:30-2pm

All Veterans in attendance will be entered into a raffle for a prize built by our Construction Trades students.

To schedule appointments for services please contact: Nancy Epley at 740-389-8598.

For pet grooming please contact Veterinary Science Instructor Carrie Heimlich directly at 740-389-8565.
yaskawa

RAMTEC Robotics Summit Addresses Manufacturing Skills Gap

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Participants call on educators, manufacturers to continue collaborations

Educators, state officials and manufacturing leaders united Thursday, October 11 to discuss how robotics is transforming manufacturing and what’s needed to keep the momentum going in Ohio.


The inaugural RAMTEC Robotics Summit celebrated the success of the Tri-Rivers Career Center Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC) now duplicated across the state. Attendees addressed the issue of how to address a looming skills gap and its potential economic repercussions.

“There’s 2.5 million jobs that need to be filled,” said Tri-Rivers Superintendent Chuck Speelman. “We understand the need that’s out there and we continue to push forward.”
Participants said solutions must rely on continued collaboration to produce a workforce ready to fill the gap between numbers of retiring engineers and younger skilled workers ready to take their place.

RAMTEC Ohio at Tri-Rivers opened in 2013 to help address that need. Partners created the program to train students on equipment like FANUC, Yaskawa and Universal robots most widely used in industry settings. The facility trains both high school students and adult learners.

Since opening, the RAMTEC training center has certified students in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, advanced machining, robotics and welding careers. Ohio Department of Education Straight A grants have funded the creation of 22 more RAMTEC facilities throughout the state.


Ohio Department of Education Senior Executive Director of Student Supports and Education Options Steve Gratz said education must continue to blur the lines between college prep and career tech to ensure the state’s future workers have the skills required by employers.

As an example of potential solutions, he referred to the creation of the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal that indicates students have the personal strengths, strong work ethic and professional experience needed by businesses. The state is working to make sure industries know what the seal indicates when they see it on high school graduates’ transcripts.

Ryan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, called on businesses to support a culture of continuous learning to ensure workers keep up with ever changing skills.“If you’re not willing to roll up your sleeves as business people and work with education, not much is going to happen,” he said.

Stephen Catt, deputy director of education and workforce development for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing collaborative, said education and workforce development must build the right ecosystem for developing technology. He warned a failure to act would lead to threats to the United States’ industrial base like a lack of skilled workers, reduced global manufacturing dominance and an overreliance on overseas technology that could even impact national security.

Along with partnerships, the summit involved what must take place to attract students to manufacturing careers. Participants attended learning sessions that let them talk to RAMTEC instructors and students who demonstrated the robots they use in the labs.


Paul Aiello, director of C.E.R.T. sales and operations for FANUC America Corporation, said part of the solution must be to “paint a picture of what opportunities are available in manufacturing” today rather than what’s found in history books

Dan Mantz, CEO, for Robotics Education & Competitive  Foundation shared how the REC Foundation prepares students for #STEM industry and helps build the  future workforce,


“It’s the curriculum that’s the glue that holds it all together,” said Robert Graff, senior sales manager of Yaskawa Motorman’s robotics education workforce development division. He suggested designing curriculum that attracts younger students through means like augmented reality and videos.

 


Honda North America, Inc. is among manufacturers already answering the call as technology workforce development manager Scot McLemore praised RAMTEC, which assists in training Honda workers. He pledged Honda would continue supporting educational pathways that lead students to high-paying jobs.

You can also contact Ritch Ramey at

 

10th Annual Make A Difference Day, Sept. 28

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Ten years ago with a special collaboration between Tri-Rivers and United Way of Marion an event where our students give back was created—with an annual Make A Difference Day.

“Tri-Rivers students continually give back to the community through numerous service projects, including today’s special event,” said Jodi Gaietto, assistant principal for Tri-Rivers.

Approximately 275 Tri-Rivers Seniors and staff members will participate in the this annual tradition, today, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018.

Gaietto continued, “This is an excellent opportunity for our community to observe all of the many talented and giving young people who attend Tri-Rivers. The students’ goal is to make an immediate and positive impact in the area.”

Tri-Rivers gives special thanks to the United Way Team for all of their coordination in making this event happen.

Tri-Rivers students and staff volunteer services will include:
• Ag & Industrial Power will be at the Farmers Coop in Green Camp cleaning and painting
• Advanced Machining will be at the Huber Machining Museum on the Marion County Fairgrounds—moving tractors and doing general cleaning
• Auto Technologies will be here in their lab servicing cars for Turning Point clients, 9am-1pm
• Criminal Justice will be downtown with Lt. Gruber doing beautification projects
• CNET will be at United Way helping them with campaign work and beautification
• Cosmetology will be hold a spa day for Turning Point clients in their lab at Tri-Rivers
• Culinary Arts will be at the Salvation Army in Downtown Marion preparing meals in the soup kitchen
• Construction Trades Academy will be at Children Services working on projects
• Digital Media & Entertainment will be creating a commercial for downtown
• Engineering Tech students will be at the Center Street Health Clinic in downtown working on outdoor projects and other items
• Health Careers Academy will be at Kingston working with residents there
• Health Careers Academy will also be at Primrose
• Vet Science will be at Providence Therapy Horse Farm in Morral cleaning stalls and doing barn work
• Welding will be at the Women’s Club Home doing outside work and inside projects.