By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
May 12, 2008

Carrollton High School's two recipients of Buckeye Career Center Foundation scholarships presented at a recognition banquet held May 7 are shown in the above photo with the presenter, a Buckeye alumnus and a Carrollton school administrator. From left are Mrs. Linda Earley, a member of the Buckeye Career Center Foundation who announced this year's recipients; Amanda Cessna, who received the Steve and Suzanne Harter scholarship; Jaclyn Ott, recipient of the Larry Davis Memorial scholarship; Zach Ott, a 2003 graduate of Carrollton High School and Buckeye Career Center who spoke at the dinner, and Carrollton Schools Assistant Superintendent Palmer Fogler.

Two Carrollton High School seniors who are attending Buckeye Career Center were among 20 Buckeye students honored as recipients of $2,000 scholarships each awarded by the Buckeye Career Center Foundation, Inc. at its annual recognition banquet held May 7 at the Union Country Club in Dover.

The local recipients are Amanda Cessna, daughter of Clyde and Kim Cessna of Mineral City, who is enrolled in the Diversified Health Occupations program at Buckeye. Amanda received the Steve and Suzanne Harter (Notre Capital Management, Inc.) academic scholarship awarded annually by the Harters in honor of Vickie Harter, Steve's mother.

The other recipient from CHS was Jaclyn Ott, daughter of Dean and Donna Ott of 4030 Avon Rd. NE, Carrollton, who is enrolled in the Marketing Management program at Buckeye. Miss Ott received the Larry Davis Memorial Scholarship. Both Harter and Davis are graduates of Carrollton High School and Davis is a former instructor at Buckeye.

The scholarship recipients were introduced by Mrs. Linda Earley, a former Director at Buckeye Career Center and John Stratton, both Foundation members.

Mrs. Earley noted that Amanda served as treasurer of the Leadership Club at Buckeye. In the Skills USA competition, Amanda was a gold medalist at the national level as a nurse aide.

Mrs. Earley said Amanda has given many hours of volunteer work at the Fairfield Township Fire Department and is currently serving as  a junior fireman. She is currently employed at New Dawn Retirement Center in New Philadelphia as a state tested nurse assistant. Her goal is to become a paramedic flight nurse.

Upon graduation, Amanda plans to attend Stark State College of Technology, pursuing a paramedic/nursing degree.

Miss Ott is enrolled in the post-secondary program at the Tuscarawas campus of Kent State University. She served two years as president of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and volunteered as a tour guide at Buckeye where she was employed as a secretary of the Buckeye Career Center Adult Ed program and a receptionist for the Advantage Tax Services.

Jaclyn plans to attend Kent State University this fall in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in communications.

Both Jaclyn and her brother, Zach, 2003 graduate of Buckeye Career Center and Carrollton High School, were selected to speak at the May 7 banquet.

Miss Ott gave remarks on the 2007-08 school year and her brother gave remarks as a 2002-03 Buckeye Career Center Foundation scholarship recipient.

In her remarks, Miss Ott said Buckeye provided her with the opportunity to learn a trade that is not only relevant in today's economy, but relevant to her personality. "This vocational school presented a different atmosphere, new experiences and new people to help transform me into the well-rounded person I had hoped to become," she added.

Miss Ott said she found that she could take college courses, completely free, as a post-secondary student at Kent State University Tuscarawas campus, while attending Buckeye across the street. "This was a great opportunity to meet even more people, experience the college atmosphere and earn credit towards my bachelor's degree," she related.

During her two years at Buckeye Career Center, Jaclyn said she has learned all about entrepreneurship, marketing  products, advertising, customer service and most importantly, communication. "It is a great opportunity to meet other students with similar interests and gain positive interviewing experiences," she added.

In his remarks, Zach said: "Buckeye was without a doubt the best place for me to spend the last two years of my high school career. I had very little direction or ambition to do anything at this point in my life and for the most part, I had no plan for life after high school," he told the assemblage.

"My two years at Buckeye Career Center in the Computer Assisted Drafting lab changed that. I had learned not only a trade that has helped me become successful, but also how to be a leader through various role models there, and activities that I had opportunity to participate in," he said.

Since graduation, Ott has completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Akron, is employed as a design engineer at Dover Hydraulics, Inc. and plans to complete his goal of becoming a mechanical engineer.

"As for the future, I plan on becoming a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio and I am considering pursuing a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering.

"More importantly though, no matter what I decide to do, I know that I can attain those goals because of the drive and confidence instilled in me during those few critical years at Buckeye Career Center," Zach added.

Attending the recognition banquet from Carrollton were parents of both scholarship recipients and Carrollton Assistant Superintendent Palmer Fogler and her husband, Robert.