JVS honors seven seniors during Military Signing Day

The newest members of the U.S. armed forces were saluted March 11 as Jefferson County Joint Vocational School held Military Signing Day.

Seven seniors will move on to service following graduation, and they were honored during festivities in the school commons, where they were joined by family members and school officials.

The honorees included Tucker Winski, Charles Layman, Hayden Aggers, Chris Parks and Noah Fowler, who all enlisted in the Army; Lillian Pool, who joined the Navy; and Toby Hague, who will serve in the Air Force. In addition, Army recruiters Sgt. 1st Class Zechariah Randalls and Sgt. 1st Class James Badgett and Navy recruiter Petty Officer Jarid Day were on hand for the signing.

Principal Heather Hoover welcomed the crowd and said it was a momentous occasion as they recognized remarkable students who chose to serve their country. Fellow JVS students also took part in the event, with Joshlyn Roghelia leading the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

She then introduced featured speaker Nate Slussar, a 2005 JVS alumnus in the auto service program who also served as vice president of Ohio SkillsUSA. Following graduation, he joined the Air Force and spent 10 years in service as an aerospace ground equipment technician, then earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and management.

“You are stepping forward at a time in your life when many people are still trying to figure out what direction they want to go. The fact that you have chosen a path of service says a lot about your character,” he said, adding that they should reflect on their time at JVS as they move forward to the next chapter of their lives.

Fellow student Kimber Rogers introduced the seven new military members, saying they were committed to serve their country.

“Their decision reflects courage and a willingness to serve something greater than themselves,” Rogers said.

Meanwhile, student Cameron Rusnak thanked everyone for attending, as well as mental health counselor Megan Jarvis and instructor Stacey Boyd for organizing the event, and JVS Superintendent Ted Gorman and school board members Steve Bezak III, Ron Smyth, Julie Ault, Ruth Ann Bruzzese, Toni Dondzila, William Hendricks, Stephen Cowser, Barry Gullen and Lee Gillison for their support.

“We are proud of them and look forward to celebrating their achievements as they begin this important journey,” he said.

A few of the honorees said they were looking forward to the next phase.

“It’s always been on my mind since I was a child,” Lillian Pool said of her interest in military service. “There’s a long line of family members in the Navy.”

She will head to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in Illinois in July to begin training.

Toby Hague said he was interested in the opportunity it afforded to be part of the Air Force and will head to San Diego this summer to begin basic training.

But Tucker Winski already completed training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, last June as part of a split-plan program and is currently in the Army Reserve. His goal is to complete AIT training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to become a 12R interior electrician and eventually join active duty. Winski said the military has become an important part of his life.

“The Army has changed my life in ways I didn’t think were possible,” he said. “The opportunity for success is so high. It is generally like having a whole family everywhere I go.”