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2021-2022: The Year in Review
From awards and recognitions to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, this school year has been filled with pleasant surprises and many milestones. Here are a few of the highlights.
POLARIS HVAC GRADUATE NAMED APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR!
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Pipefitters Union Local 120 named Kayla Quintiliano as their Apprentice of the Year. Kayla started with the Pipefitters Local 120 as a Polaris high school HVAC student. She graduated from Brooklyn High School in 2017. Kayla is in her fourth year of schooling as an HVACR Trainee.
CONSTRUCTION TRADES STUDENT SELECTED AS PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR NOMINEE
Fiona Kanzig, a Berea-Midpark High School senior in our high school Construction Trades program, was named one of five student Presidential Scholar Nominees – Career Tech Education Component in Ohio. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars – this is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
POLARIS AWARDED INAUGURAL STANLEY BLACK & DECKER MAKERS GRANT
Earlier this year, Stanley Black & Decker announced the recipients of its first “Empower Makers” Global Impact Challenge. We were awarded a $50,000 Makers Grant for our efforts to invest in new tools and equipment to enhance our Automotive Technology, Building Services & Ground Maintenance, Construction Trades and HVAC programs.
SATELLITE PROGRAMS EARN NATIONAL AWARD
The Polaris Satellite Marketing & Entrepreneurship and Broadcasting & Video Production programs, located at Berea-Midpark High School, placed second in the Impact Teen Drivers “Fall 2021 Just Drive” Social Media Campaign. This national program is intended to eliminate reckless and distracted driving, the number one killer of young people in America. Their entry, “What Can Be More Important than
2021-2022: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Your Future,” was a take-off on the 1985 hit, “Back to the Future,” starring Michael J. Fox. Their award-winning entry was recognized for its concept and creativity, campaign execution and effectiveness of message. As second place winners, the programs were awarded a $5,000 educational grant. SCAN TO VIEW
THEIR CAMPAIGN.
This year, 96 students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). NTHS is America’s highest award for excellence in career and technical education. NTHS’s mission is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence, and enhance career opportunities for the organization’s members. Fewer than two percent of America’s secondary students are nominated for membership into this prestigious organization. Nominees are evaluated based on scholarship, service, leadership and character. To be eligible, Polaris students must meet the following requirements:
• Earn all A’s in his or her Polaris program • Maintain a 95 percent or higher attendance rate • Maintain a 3.0 accumulative grade point average
In total, Polaris inducted 45 students enrolled in its Middleburg Heights campus programs and an additional 51 students enrolled in satellite programs.
SCAN TO VIEW THE ENTIRE LIST OF 2022 INDUCTEES.
PRE-NURSING JUNIORS COMPLETE CLEVELAND CLINIC’S ASPIRE PROGRAM
Polaris Pre-Nursing juniors (left to right), Hannah Odetallah, Jayanna Evans and Ravin Nickels, all from Strongsville High School, earned coveted spots in the ASPIRE Nurse Scholars Program. ASPIRE is a 12-week enrichment program sponsored by Cleveland Clinic and the Howley Foundation in collaboration with the Ursuline College Breen School of Nursing and is designed for high school juniors interested in pursuing careers in nursing. This year, over 100 students applied but only 28 were admitted into the program. The students completed their experience in April with hopes of returning next year as second year mentors.
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS NTHS CAMPUS INDUCTEES
SATELLITE NTHS INDUCTEES
POLARIS COLLEGE & CAREER COORDINATOR WINS STATEWIDE AWARD
Each year, the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) honors outstanding educators from across the state who excel in their area of expertise. Jamie Bollinger, our College & Career Coordinator, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Ohio ACTE Career Guidance Award. She will be recognized at the Annual Ohio ACTE Innovation & Impact Conference this July in Columbus. Jamie is being honored for going above and beyond to ensure our students are on the right path to capitalize on their Polaris experience. From navigating the complex world of college credits to helping students complete the college application process, Jamie takes an individualized approach to help students succeed. SCAN TO VIEW
JAMIE’S AWARD SUBMISSION AND THE OTHER STATEWIDE AWARD WINNERS.
BUSINESS STUDENT WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD!
Madison Hinton, a Berea-Midpark High School junior in our Business Professional & Office Technology program, won a People’s Choice Award in the Young Entrepreneurship Pitch Contest. She was initially selected as a finalist in the 9-12 category for her line of lip gloss products. This year, over 1,000 students participated in the competition.
PRE-NURSING STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN FIRST-EVER SOUTHWEST INTERNSHIP
Seven Polaris Pre-Nursing juniors have been selected to participate in the first-ever Polaris – Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC) summer internship. During this 6-week experience, the students will use their State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) training to provide direct patient care under the supervision of an RN. Care will include Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) – assisting with ambulation, transfers, bathing, feeding, grooming, turning and positioning.
Congratulations to our seven SWGHC interns: Alyssa Todorovich, Brooklyn; Hannah Odetallah, Strongsville; Jayanna Evans, Strongsville; Nicholas Thompson, Olmsted Falls; Samela Xhaferi, Fairview; Katrina Gasper, Brooklyn, and Taylor Martin, Fairview!
INAUGURAL MAY MARKET EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!
The 1st Annual May Market event was a smashing success attracting hundreds of residents from the surrounding communities. The showcase was presented and hosted by our Marketing & Entrepreneurship satellite program at
2021-2022: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Berea-Midpark High School. The event featured hand crafted items produced by 31 young artists and entrepreneurs from throughout the high school providing them with a platform to highlight their business ventures and sell their creations.
Some of the items for sale included baked goods, crocheted items, beach glass jewelry, boba tea, buttons/pins, digital art, glitter tumblers, greeting cards, homemade dog treats, jewelry, pepperoni rolls, plants, resin keychains, smoothies, stickers, student art, tote bags and more. A great time was had by all!
Roosevelt Perry, a BereaMidpark High School junior in our Criminal Justice program, attended the West Point Summer Leader Experience this June. This unique experience provides rising high school seniors with a week-long immersion into the academic, military and social life of a cadet.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost presented our Adult Police Academy with the Ohio Attorney General STAR Academy designation. This award recognizes Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC)-approved police academies that go above and beyond the minimum requirements to ensure that cadets receive the best possible training.
GREAT schools start with GREAT students, teachers and leaders. This spring, two Polaris staff members were recognized by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation for their excellence in teaching. Amanda Betts, Polaris Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science satellite instructor at Olmsted Falls High School, was named a 2022 Arthur S. Holden Teacher Award for Excellence in Science Education finalist. Dan Abraham, Polaris Building Services & Ground Maintenance instructor, was named a 2022 Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Master Teacher Award finalist.
