Eleven area residents recently received their certification as marine mechanics at the graduation ceremony of the Skills for Life Marine Mechanics training program in Ottawa County.

Of the 11, six received scholarships to participate in an advanced training program provided by Volvo Penta, one of the largest manufacturers of marine engines.

“The skill these graduates receive in this program is a mobile skill,” said Roger Fisher, Employment and Training Services Coordinator at WSOS. “It can go anywhere in the country.”

Earning Marine Mechanics certificates were Jeff Byington, Mark Feldman, Allan Kromer, Jerry Wilburn, Craig Damschroder, Dale Norris and Monica McMannus all of Port Clinton; Jamie Klavinger, John Wright and Sean Young, all of Oak Harbor; and Matthew Schenk of Marblehead.

VOLVO Penta scholarships went to Feldman, Kromer, Norris, Klavinger, Wilburn and Damschroder. Five others received recognition for perfect attendance during the 16-week course.

This graduating class, taught by Instructor Greg Sharp, is the 10th since the program was established. It is one of a kind in the nation and those involved in establishing it have made several presentations at national conferences to explain its design and operation.

The Skills for Life Marine Mechanics program is a partnership of the Ottawa Improvement Corporation (OCIC), Penta Career Center and WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. It is also supported by area marinas and Volvo Penta of the Americas. Classes generally start in November each year and runs for 16 weeks.

For more information about the program, call Roger Fisher at 419-334-8911.

Poets published
Toledo Christian School students Dan Ackerman, Nick Rightnowar and Kellan Phillips, of Oregon, and Ryan Hecklinger, of Millbury, have had poetry accepted to be published in “A Celebration of Poets,” a publication by Creative Communications. They are among 33 junior and senior students from Toledo Christian School whose work was selected to be published.

Their poems will be entered into a contest and be judged to see if they are of enough literary merit to be in the top 10 percent in Ohio. Their work was done in Mrs. Carol Chivalette’s English classes.

Toledo Christian is a non-denominational college preparatory school, offering programs for students from pre-school through 12th grade. The school is located at 2300 Brookford Dr. off the Anthony Wayne Trail in south Toledo.

Academic honors
Grand Valley State University: Kasandra Fought, of Toledo; Ashley Rife, of Woodville.
Ohio Northern University: Rachel Pioch, of Northwood.
 
Penta students earn top awards
High school students enrolled in career-technical programs at Penta Career Center earned top awards at the Regional SkillsUSA Competition held at Terra Community College in Fremont Feb. 19.

Four Penta students earned first place and received gold medals, including Wes Brinker (Eastwood), a senior in the Welding program for the Welding contest; and Dustin Fincher (Lake), a senior in Public Safety/Criminal Justice program for the Public Safety contest.

Four Penta students earned second place awards and silver medals at the competition, including Steve Schwab (Northwood), a senior in the A+ Computer Technology program, for the Computer Maintenance contest; and William Beasley (Oak Harbor), a senior in Public Safety/Criminal Justice, for the Job Skill Demo A contest.

Among four students earning second place and silver medals for the Team Works contest was Nick Timmons (Lake), a senior in Construction Remodeling.

Matt Travis (Woodmore), a senior in Public Safety/Criminal Justice, earned a third place award and a bronze medal for the Criminal Justice contest.

The students qualify for the Ohio SkillsUSA Championships in Columbus, April 23 and 24. SkillsUSA is a national organization for high school students who are training for careers in trade, industrial, technical and health-related occupations. The organization provides quality educational experiences such as leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development skills.

Coca-Cola Scholar
Waite High School senior Santoria Sawyer has been selected as a member of the 22nd Class of Coca-Cola Scholars.

Sawyer was selected as a finalist from more than 2,000 semi-finalists for having demonstrated academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement.

On March 25, Sawyer joined 252 other finalists in Atlanta, international headquarters for the Coca-Cola Company, to compete for 53 four-year college scholarship of $20,000 and 200 four-year scholarships of $10,000. The finalists will interview with a National Selection Committee, tour local landmarks and participate in a range of activities, including a community service project.
 
The Eastwood Mini and Middle School dance team, now known as L.A. Superstars, recently competed at Findlay High School.

Placing fifth in the Youth Solo Division was Krista Evans (Webster fourth grade). Placing second in the Mini Ensemble Division was Hannah Young (Webster second grade), Haley VanCamp (Luckey first grade), and Jodi Eschedor (Luckey second grade).

Members of the team include middle school students Alisha Runnels, Jordan Eschedor, Kelsey Hilt, Kayla Russell, Jayme Evans, Allyson LaCourse, Elly Schnitker, Haven Flores, Jenna Selhorst, Jonelle Nissen, Lauren Veryser, Autumn Grimes, Katelyn Rhodes and Alexis Ward. Elementary school team members include Elisabeth Brickner, Jonna Nissen, Jolynn Nissen, Jerica Eschedor, Jodi Eschedor, Haley VanCamp, Krista Evans, Paige VanCamp, Meghan Melcher, Alyssa Veryser, Hannah Young and Katelyn Schling.

As a team, they brought back four trophies for Youth Hip Hop, Junior Jazz, Youth Pom and Junior Varsity.

Honoring veterans
For Valentine’s Day, Denise Bortz’s Art I and II classes at Woodmore High School completed a project for the veterans at Ohio Veterans Home.

The projects were done for many years by the elementary students. Bortz said she got her ideas from a Dear Abby column 15 to 20 years ago, which Yvonne Darling of Elmore told her about. This year being the first year at the high school, Bortz got together with industrial arts teacher Chad Miller and together they helped the students in the art classes make wooden plaques. Miller donated the wood and his woodburners and helped the students decorate them.

The students planned and designed each plaque as a group effort. The art classes also designed a Valentine to go with each one. Before they were taken to the Veterans Home, the plaques were put on display at Harris Elmore Library.

There will be one plaque hung in four units in the Giffin Center for veterans and visitors to see.

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