State honors Sentinel for character-building
By Jill Gosche, jgosche@advertiser-tribune.comArticle Photos
COLUMBUS - Sentinel Career Center was honored Wednesday afternoon at the Ohio Statehouse for being named a 2009 Ohio School of Character.
State Rep. Jeff Wagner, R-Sycamore, read a resolution that congratulated Sentinel on the honor and presented its representatives with a framed copy.
Wagner has recognized about five groups during his seven years in the House of Representatives. He said being named a School of Character is an accomplishment, and he is proud of Sentinel.
"We are certain that as this worthy facility maintains its dedication to service, it will continue in the tradition of excellence that has become its hallmark," part of the resolution stated.
The Ohio School of Character designation is sponsored by Ohio Better Business Bureaus, Ohio Partners in Character Education and the Ohio Department of Education. Sentinel, which is following a motto of "Character counts 24/7," implemented its character education program more than a decade ago.
"At Sentinel, we try very hard to promote respectful relationships among our staff, students and educational community while striving to provide the state-of-the-art academic and career-tech environment, as well as a supportive learning environment for all of our students," Director Elissa Heal said during the House session.
Sentinel also is a 2010 Ohio School of Character, and Heal has said it is the first school in the state to be named a School of Character twice. Also, the administration learned last week the school is one of 20 finalists for the National School of Character competition. It is the only finalist in Ohio and is the first career center in the nation to be a finalist.
Sentinel is to be evaluated, and students and staff are to be interviewed as part of the national competition. Heal said the school will have a site visit between March 13 and April 23.
The four students nominated by Sentinel's staff to accept the award Wednesday were Tessa Clouse, a senior in the medical technology program and at Calvert High School; Jessica Cox, a senior in the business academy and at Calvert; Eric Wilczynski, a senior in the electrical trades program and at Old Fort High School; and Aaron Wise, a senior in the automobile collision repair program and at Columbian High School.
They were accompanied by Heal; Greg Edinger, superintendent of Vanguard-Sentinel Career Centers; Sandy Reinhart, medical technology instructor; and Cathy Sorg, business academy instructor.
Edinger said it was a proud moment for the school district when Wagner presented administrators with the award.
Character education is a philosophy Sentinel lives and practices, and it shows with the students and staff, he said.
"Character education is just instilled here in daily life and operations at Sentinel," Heal said.
Character education focuses on building the traits of citizenship, trustworthiness, respect, caring, fairness and responsibility in students. Clouse said she sees teachers instilling it in everyday activities.
"It kind of gives us something to look up to," she said.
The visit to the House of Representatives was the first for Wilczynski and Wise.
Clouse, who had visited the Statehouse last year when she participated in another Sentinel activity, said she felt honored to accept the award on behalf of Sentinel. She recalled Heal asking her whether she would like to join the group.
"It was exciting," she said.
Cox said standing in front of the House of Representatives was exciting, and it was an honor to be recognized by Wagner.
"It was a fun experience," she said.
