DENMARK TOWNSHIP – Planes weren’t the only thing taking off Saturday, July 11, at the Ashtabula County Regional Airport.
So were the futures of students.
They launched themselves into the Great Blue Yonder of their careers at the Ashtabula GRIT Summer Academies Awards Ceremony.
Certified Nursing Assistant, welding and aviation students who took part in the academies were honored.
Although not all the students could make it to the ceremony, there were several who stepped up to receive their certificate of completion for finishing the academy they were enrolled in.
Here were the students listed in the program:
• Certified Nursing Assistant: Lilliona Lynch, Olivia White, Ella McAdoo, Ahmiera Sawyers, Brooke DiBell, Kaleigh Hyer, Breona Palinkas, Tony Brown, Nazaliah Jakovac, Dwayne Lewis, Myla Vencill, Myla Smith, Alexis Conrad, and Brooklyn Haley
• Aviation: Nora Spronz, Jacob Weber, Juju Anderson, Jefferson Smothers, Joseph Misinec, Caleb Marrison, Peyton Schmiege, Evelyn Schillace, Karl Lunneborg, Scarlette Thompson, Darius Redding, Lauren McFarland, Bryce Ayers, Lillian Hobe, Blake Harchalk, Kylie Addair, Tyler Holbert, and Talmage Bang
• Welding: Thomas Gilchrist, Giana Gilchrist, Lucas Fassett, Jackson Harchalk, Sarah Misinec, Havynn Anderson, Lucius Whittington, Abigail Anderson, Aiden Toth, John Dickey, Chester Arcaro, Belaynesh DeBarr, Angel Pagan, and Griffin Stacy
A-Tech Special Grants Supervisor Shaelynn Ballard opened up the ceremony with a welcome and introduction.
She said the students chose to take the first steps toward a career pathway and discover the possibility of their futures.
Ballard said the academies represented more than training.
“They represent hope, confidence and the beginning of careers that can change individuals’ lives,” she said.
Ashtabula GRIT Coordinator Debi Zander said the students were amazing.
“I want to start by saying how proud I am of your children, your grandchildren, whoever you’re in charge of and whoever you take care of, they really are our future, so I can’t say enough amazing things about them,” she said.
Havynn Anderson, the welding student speaker, said welding has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember, noting her grandfather was a gas line welder.
As a kid, she asked him about his career. He showed her pictures of the work he has done.
“Since that day, I’ve been hooked,” she said.
She signed up for the GRIT Summer welding program immediately.
“This program has helped prepare me for the next step in my career, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible,” she said.
She plans on attending Missouri Welding Institute in June 2027.
She urged everyone to take pride in what they’ve learned through GRIT and continue improving their skills.
CNA student speaker Dwayne Lewis said he always wanted to be a nurse and being a CNA was the first perfect step to start his career off and help people.
“It’s just a great feeling,” he said.
Karl Lunneborg, the aviation student speaker, said the class was a blast.
He was excited about all the experiences in the program, like going to Youngstown to tour the airport, Pittsburgh’s Institute of Aeronautics campus, and the control tower, and being able to fly in assorted Cessnas and Pipers.
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