Celestino attends summit
Jessica Celestino, a 2010 graduate of Morrison R. Waite High School, was selected to attend the 2010

 National Council for Community Education Partnerships/GEAR UP Youth Leadership Summit held July 17-21 in Washington, D.C.

As one of 30 students from across the U.S., Jessica served as a youth spokesperson on the topic of education.

The summit provided an opportunity for students to express their concerns, suggestions and questions about education to a variety of stakeholders in education, including teachers, administrators, members of Congress, parents and community and business partners.

The overall goal of the summit report was to identify challenges students face within the educational system today and offer student-generated solutions to those challenges.

Scholarship winner
Oak Harbor resident Courtney Sanchez could not believe the news – she was one of two recipients of the statewide Curtis Brooks scholarships.

Two $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to two employees in the Community Action network by the Ohio Community Action Training Organization’s (OCATO) Board of Trustees. WSOS is a member of the community action network in Ohio and nationwide. This is the second staff person to win this award in the past 10 years.

“I’m ecstatic about the scholarship,” she said. “This will really help me with tuition and fees in the next year.”

Sanchez, who is a classroom aide at the WSOS Stricker Family Development Center, just completed one year at Terra Community College where she is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE).  

She said she chose the ECE field because of her background. As a child growing up in a low-income environment in Perrysburg, she saw education as the way out for her. She said she wants to be able to teach and show children the necessary skills and tools that they need to be successful.

As a high school student, Sanchez said she studied early childhood education at Penta Career Center. She has also volunteered with Wood County Children Services, Woodland Elementary School in Perrysburg and the Salvation Army. She intends to continue her education until she earns a master’s degree, she said.

The Curtis Brooks scholarship was established in honor of Curtis Brooks who was a pioneer in the War on Poverty in Ohio. He served as the executive director of the former Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization and inspired the development of several creative and innovative programs to continue to assist others every day. The scholarship is awarded to students who also demonstrate this spirit of helping to improve the lives of others and who work at a community action agency.

For information on the services at WSOS, call 419-334-8911 or visit, www.wsos.org

Peace officer graduates
Forty-one students from the Toledo and Findlay areas graduated from Owens Community College’s Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy Aug. 9.

As part of the seven-month program, students take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics and criminal investigation. They receive instruction from local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as from state and federal agents.

Following successful completion of the academy, graduates become eligible for certification as Ohio peace officers. Completed coursework also applies toward an associate’s degree at Owens in law enforcement.

Day Academy graduates included Adam Eilerts, Douglas Krouse, Jason Tate and Katrina Wilson, of Toledo; Brandon Gardull (sponsored by the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office), of Oregon; David Sims, of Millbury; Bradley Tristan, of Walbridge.

Night Academy graduates included Admir Muminovic, of Oregon; Shane Baumgartner, of Northwood; Peter D’Amore, Charles Kessinger, Jr., Matthew Moreland and Thomas Pitzin, of Toledo and Nicholas Migliori, of Woodville

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