With a turn of the tassels and the toss of caps, the 51st graduating class was celebrated during the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Senior Awards and Recognition Ceremony.
Family members gathered at the Bloomingdale campus May 14 as 178 graduates earned their passports and certifications to conclude two years of education at the facility. Junior Isaiah Rangel led the processional, and dozens of seniors donned graduation caps and gowns in the school’s colors of red and blue.
Superintendent Ted Gorman and Principal Heather Hoover addressed the audience, while seniors led the ceremony. Aaliyah Duke welcomed the crowd, Tucker Winski led the Pledge of Allegiance and Kimber Rogers performed the national anthem.
Marek Speece introduced Jefferson County Auditor E.J. Conn as keynote speaker for the evening. Conn is a 2001 JVS alumnus of the drafting and design program who has served his community for the past 23 years. He has spent the past seven years as auditor and credited the JVS with shaping his career. He also shared wisdom with the graduates as they forged their own paths.
“I graduated from this very school in 2001, almost exactly 25 years ago to the day, I imagine. I walked the same hallways, felt the same mix of excitement and uncertainty that many of you are feeling right now. And like many of you, I wasn’t entirely sure what my future would look like. I just knew I wanted to work hard, learn something that I could do, and build a life that I could be proud of,” Conn said.
He said the JVS laid the foundation for his future. He began working part time for county regional planning and ultimately was elected to his current post. Conn said it took hard work and dedication to achieve his goals, and that success comes with consistency. He encouraged the newest alumni to surround themselves with supportive people and never forget where they came from.
JVS Board President Steve Bezak III and Vice President Ron Smyth assisted program instructors in presenting certificates of completion. The graduates included:
Katie Anderson, Braden Blackburn, Hannah Hendrix, Timothy Miller, Alaina Warren and James Wooden, Transition to Work; LeighAnne Anderson, Jenna Bradley, Aaliyah Duke, Breanna Ferguson, Quinn Filby, Olivia Hollenbeck, Alivia Hupp, Karly Koran, Isabella Mitchell, Aireonnia Myers, Mary Sammut, Lily Spencer, Bralee Thomas and Zoey Wright, animal science management; Libby Berthot, Joey Cionni IV, Kylie Chevalier, Leland Geer and Maleek Hollins, auto collision technology;
Matthew Beier, Caden Byers, Gavin Fernandez, Edward Fiorino, Rafael Lash, Ethyn Marshall, Cameron Redin, Rylee Selman, Hunter Stigler, Camron Vincenzo and Semaj White, auto service technology;
Jordan Bennett, Harley Davidson, Mason Delp, David Edwards, Noah Fowler, Christopher Hatch, David Howell, Robert Koehnlein, Brady Martin, Luke McMillion, Austin Mills, Maddox Simmons, Donald Wilson and Tucker Winski, carpentry;
Bailey Balcom, Blake Bee, Anthony Fiala, Isaac Pudder, Julian Reese, Julia Richards, William Shaulis and Talon Smith, computer networking;
Kira Anderson, Emma Bates, Hannah Boley, Hayden Brown, Rhylee Durnell, Caydence DeGarmo, Chloe Fisher, Cheyenne Kausky, Payton Lamantia, Mylie Powley, Joshlyn Roghelia, Julia Wade and Rylee Wade, cosmetology;
Paige Casto, Oktober Cope, Darrell Dunbar, Brookelina Grigsby, Madison Herndon, Audrey Nutter and Delaney O’Brien, criminal justice;
Colton Cain, Emma Clark, Kaiden Cook, Gabriel Crawford, Zuriana Ford, Olivia Johnson, Khloe Sears and Benjamin Sedgmer, culinary arts;
Alyssa Bonecutter, Ava Carey, Adelynn DeGarmo, Bella Price, Layla Rasicci, Hayden Shurak-Wood, Madison West and Kamryn Wood, early childhood education;
Kale Beebe, Aiden Brown, Caiden Canestraro, Aiden Coleman, Noah Forrester, Jackson Gubanez, Brentlee Guyer, Toby Hague, Brody Keyoski, Konner Leishman, Hunter Mattern, Mason Meeks, Jeven Morales-Velez, Ryan Mort, Lucas Reed, Trevor Reese, Cameron Rusnak, Joshua Smith, Marco Socha and Connor Watson, electrical trades;
Cheznie Allison, Olivia Brousseau, Chelsea Channels, Honorae Dowdell, Dana Haynes, Madison Higginbotham, Brianna Householder, Abby Kocher, Jalissa Purr, Kimber Rogers, Kaylee Sandy and Catelyn Schiffman, health technologies;
Blake Anderson, Aaron Cook, Kaleb Cowden, Austin Cutri, Tucker Darlington, Corey Garlitz, Gage Harris, Harley Honeycutt, Dominic Mencer, Hayden Russell and Connor Tice, heavy equipment operation;
Charles Carter, Destony Crimm, Danica Frisinger, Alexander Fundersol, Morgan Glover, Jonathan Grantonic, Kayden Hanle, Alivia Marcum, Alexander Marshall, Amber Oiler, Lilianna Pool, Tyler Rice, Nicholas Sparks, Kylie Stewart and Katie Wells, multimedia and design;
Kaden Brooks, Austin Fetty, Landon Jaworski, Ryan King, David Knicely-Brown, Brady Marcino, Kendal McGraw, Connor McMillen, Tristan Palmer, Marek Speece, Carter Stringer and Jacob Wright, power mechanics;
and Hayden Aggers, Landyn Babel, Elijah Bright, Charles Crossley, Daniel Heaton, Eli Kuczykowski, Hugh Lasater, Charles Layman, Zachary McClurg, Larry Mitchell, Christopher Parks, Drake Polen, James Presley, Ashton Scalise and Autumn Shaughnessy, welding.
A posthumous honor was given to Bradyn White, a welding student who died last year.
Other highlights included LeighAnne Anderson introducing JVS administrators and board members, Cameron Rusnak providing the invocation, Zoey Wright giving the benediction and Karly Koran saluting students who enlisted in the armed forces.
The new military members included Hayden Aggers, Noah Fowler, Charles Layman, Christopher Parks and Tucker Winski in the U.S. Army and Lilianna Pool in the U.S. Navy.
Caiden Canestraro recognized Trevor Reese and Carter Stringer for having perfect attendance during their senior year and Mary Sammut for perfect attendance throughout her two years at the JVS. Chelsea Channels led special recognition and acknowledgments for scholarships.
Recipients included Lucas Reed, Bob Eddy Memorial Scholarship; Isabella Mitchell, Dr. David Robinson Scholarship; Catelyn Schiffman, Dr. Tom and Suzanne Brown Scholarship; Luke McMillion, Geno Morelli Memorial Scholarship; Marek Speece, I Can Succeed Scholarship; Charles Carter, JCJVS Teachers’ Association Scholarship; Bralee Thomas, Tony D’Aurora Memorial Scholarship; LeighAnne Anderson, Frank Colalella Memorial Scholarship; Dana Haynes, Catelyn Schiffman, Kimber Rogers, Honorae Dowdell and Chelsea Channels, American Red Cross Scholarship; Dana Haynes, Blaner Gift; Larry Mitchell, Borden Office Equipment Scholarship; Olivia Brousseau, Aaliyah Duke, Breanna Ferguson, Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation Scholarship; Marek Speece, Christopher Sprouse Memorial Scholarship; Cameron Rusnak, Harry E. Scott Jr. Memorial Scholarship; Tucker Winski, Weirton Lumber Co. Scholarship and Carpenters Union Local 186 Scholarship; Hayden Brown, Kathleen Howell Scholarship; and Chelsea Channels, Jefferson County Interact Rotary Club Scholarship.
Senior class representatives Dana Haynes and Landyn Babel shared remarks celebrating the graduates’ achievements and encouraging them as they stepped into the real world.
Babel said the graduates gained friendships, lessons and memories that will stay with them forever. He urged them to keep moving forward while staying true to themselves.
Gorman then announced JVS Awards of Distinction and Excellence to students who excelled in classrooms and program labs.
Awards of Distinction honorees were Olivia Hollenbeck, animal science; Kylie Chevalier, ACT; E.J. Fiorino, AST; David Howell, carpentry; Oktober Cope, criminal justice; Talon Smith, computer networking; Cheyenne Kausky, cosmetology; Zuriana Ford, culinary arts; Hayden Shurak-Wood, ECE; Lucas Reed, electrical trades; Gage Harris, HEO; Honorae Dowdell, health tech; Charles Carter, MAD; Marek Speece, power mechanics; Hannah Hendrix, TTW; Eli Kuczykowski and Chris Parks, welding; Alivia Hupp, English and math; Charles Carter, science; Julia Wade, social studies; and Anthony Fiala, guidance and student achievement department.
Awards of Excellence went to Mary Sammut, animal science; Joey Cionni, ACT; Ethyn Marshall, AST; Noah Fowler, carpentry; Audrey Nutter, criminal justice; Anthony Fiala, computer networking; Chloe Fisher, cosmetology; Kaiden Cook, culinary arts; Adelynn DeGarmo, ECE; Conner Leishman, electrical trades; Aaron Cook, HEO; Dana Haynes, health tech; Destony Crimm, MAD; Austin Fetty, power mechanics; Timothy Miller, TTW; Hayden Aggers, welding; Kylie Chevalier, English; Charles Carter, math; Brianna Householder, science; Anthony Fiala, social studies; and Lily Spencer, guidance and student achievement.
JVS academic letter recipients were Cheznie Roth, Chelsea Channels, Hayden Shurak-Wood and Alexander Marshall.
Hoover thanked everyone for making her first year incredible, saying it was a pleasure to watch the students grow into mature and responsible young adults ready for the workforce. She also acknowledged the board and administrators for entrusting her with the position, as well as parents, guardians, home schools and the graduates for supporting the JVS.
She said the graduating class amassed 49,697 work-based learning hours and earned 956 industrial credentials and 213 CTAG college credit awards for career-technical education coursework. They also completed 196 College Credit Plus courses. In addition, 92 students enrolled in post-secondary education, 22 signed with a local union and 72 are employed in their field. Three students earned associate degrees from Belmont College: LeighAnne Anderson, Dana Haynes and Catelyn Schiffman.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2026, I’d like to be the first to congratulate you on this remarkable achievement. You are an exceptional group of students,” Hoover said. “I’ve had the privilege of watching you grow into confident, capable young adults. You have definitely left your mark on the Jefferson County JVS, for what you have done and what you have accomplished.”
