BUCYRUS — At least five seniors from Crawford County schools are ready and highly-equipped for higher education.
The five; Keith Smith, from Bucyrus Local Schools; Madeline Assenheimer, from Wynford Local Schools; Ashlee Stander, from Buckeye Central Schools; Alex Brause, from Colonel Crawford and Ellen Dailey, from Crestline endeavored to narrow their career options beyond high school by participating in the Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development.
Earlier this week, each gave a short presentation to stakeholders, teachers and family members at the Partnership’s Senior Project event.
According to Project Coordinator Steve Mohr, the initiative began four years ago as a program aimed at offering high school seniors an opportunity to gain experience in the fields of their choice.
Mohr, former superintendent of Wynford schools, founded the program in an effort to send more Crawford County high school students to college.
According to CCEEDP’s website, of the 31,379 individuals over age 25 who graduated from Crawford County schools, only seven percent earned a bachelor’s degree and less than six percent earned an associate’s degree. That number decreases to three percent for those who earned a master’s degree.
“It’s a great opportunity to explore career options through project-based learning,” Mohr said after the students gave their presentations.
Students enter the grant-funded program as they enter into their senior year in high school and pick a topic to research. The program is comparable to a college course Capstone project, Mohr said. Each school tailors the program to their seniors in their own ways.
Stander, 18, began her senior project in August and finished in December.
She said she always knew she was interested in nursing as a career. Her frequent visits to the hospital as a child most likely influenced her. But her school’s program confirmed — even narrowed — it as a field of study.
“I was able to job shadow at Galion hospital and Wyandot Memorial,” she said.
Stander plans to attend the University of Toledo in the fall and she wants to focus on neonatal nursing.
“I love babies and working with them,” she said, smiling.
Smith, 17, wants to pursue a degree in accounting from Cleveland State University. His senior project delved into the issues surrounding embezzlement.
“No matter what, you always get caught,” Smith said after being questioned on what he found through studying the topic.
Mohr said the senior project program was made possible through a renewable Community Connectors Grant from the state.
“This is one component of that grant,” Mohr said of the senior project program, which includes funding a mentor for each participating student.
CCEEDP received $85,000 for the 2015-16 school year then raised $70,000 of local funds.
“All that money is used to support the program (senior project),” he said.
