CTC Students Accept Proclamation from Springfield City
CTC Students Accept Proclamation from Springfield City
February is Career-Technical Education Month, a nationally recognized time to highlight the impact of career-tech education on students, businesses, and the local economy. To kick off the celebration, two students from Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (CTC) attended the Springfield City Commission meeting, where they proudly accepted an official proclamation recognizing the significance of career-tech education in our community.
At the January 28 meeting, CTC students, Kyleigh Fugate and Willow Salyers, addressed a packed house, sharing their experiences as students and the opportunities they’ve gained through their career-tech programs at CTC. (See them in action!)
Student Voices: Career-Tech Education in Action
Kyleigh, a Culinary Arts senior from Springfield High School, spoke about her journey in the program, which has given her hands-on experience in both the front and back of the house at CTC’s student-run restaurant, The Jaguar Room. She plans to continue her education and dreams of reopening her aunt’s restaurant one day.
Willow, a senior in Forestry & Park Management from Global Impact STEM Academy, recalled her first day at CTC—an unforgettable experience where she had to disassemble, reassemble, and start a chainsaw despite having zero experience. Her program has challenged her in new ways, building her confidence and technical skill set. Though she’s spent her time in forestry, her next step is to attend Clark State College to earn a Medical Lab Technician certification.
Connecting with Community Leaders
While at the meeting, Kyleigh and Willow met key community leaders, including Mayor Rob Rue, City Commissioners Dr. David Estrop, Tracey Tackett, and Krystal Brown, as well as Police Chief Allison Elliott and Ohio State Senator Kyle Koehler. These interactions provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for civic leadership and the role of local officials.
The proclamation, issued by the Springfield City Commission, highlighted CTC’s satellite programs: "The school serves nearly 800 high school students in over 20 career-tech education programs on its main campus and extends its reach to 200 high school and 300 middle school students in satellite programs at Northwestern and Shawnee High Schools.”
The proclamation also addressed the skills gap in Ohio and Clark County, stating that “career-tech programs can fill these gaps, especially in key industries such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and distribution.”
A Message of Gratitude
Superintendent Michelle Patrick expressed her gratitude for the city’s support, stating, “We are honored to be here. I cannot thank this community enough for the support of this proclamation heading into February and especially for the passing of the levy because we will be able to do what we've done for the last 60 years for at least another 50.”
CTC remains committed to its mission of ensuring every student is Career Ready. College Ready. Life Ready. and appreciates the ongoing support from local leaders in recognizing the vital role of career-tech education in our community.
Watch Kyleigh and Willow at the commission meeting
Kyleigh's spotlight starts at 24:30 and Willow's starts at 25:02.
Photos From the Event
A big thank you to Mayor Rob Rue, City Commissioners Dr. David Estrop, Tracey Tackett, and Krystal Brown for recognizing the impact of career-tech education! CTC students had the incredible opportunity to accept the official proclamation and connect with local leaders.
From left to right:
Commissioner Tackett
Kyleigh Fugate, senior in Culinary Arts at CTC
Willow Salyers, senior in Forestry & Park Management at CTC
CTC Superintendent Michelle Patrick
Mayor Rob Rue
Commissioner Estrop
Commissioner Brown
Kyleigh and Willow had the opportunity to meet Ohio State Senator Kyle Koehler.
Kyleigh and Willow had the chance to meet Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott during their visit to City Hall! Engaging with local leaders helps students see how their community works and the people who make a difference.
Kyleigh and Willow had a great conversation with Commissioner Krystal Brown, gaining valuable perspective on leadership and community impact. Career-tech education opens doors far beyond the classroom!