Balderson makes visit to Buckeye

Congressman Troy Balderson, representing Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, visited Buckeye Career Center on Thursday, Aug. 31 to learn more about the career center and the programs it offers to residents from Tuscarawas, Carroll, Holmes and surrounding counties.

During the visit Balderson met with Buckeye Career Center Superintendent Bob Alsept and Frank Polen, director of curriculum, instruction and adult education, to learn more about the career center and its over 30 high school programs and adult education offerings. He also toured the facility, meeting students and staff members along the way.

“This was my first visit to Buckeye, and I didn’t know it was this big,” Balderson said. “I loved the enthusiasm of some of the teachers I encountered. That helps kids when they have someone in the classroom that is also having fun because they are educating them. There is no better pairing than that.”

Balderson expressed the need for students to discover their passion while at BCC and take advantage of the career-technical education they have chosen to pursue.

“I don’t have a four-year college degree. I grew up on a farm and worked the back end of a dealership. I want these kids to understand that they can do whatever they want, but I want to make sure they know that there are great programs at these career centers,” he said. “The opportunity for them after this is just phenomenal.”

The visit was one of over 90 stops along Balderson’s district tour during the August congressional recess.

Buckeye Career Center is located at 545 University Drive NE in New Philadelphia. Call 330-339-2288.