Zachary Leverknight (Firelands), Robert Haponek (Firelands), Jamie Adams (Firelands), Chris Toman (Amherst).

Noxious paint fumes and agitating paint cans are conspicuously absent in the Lorain County JVS Collision Repair Program Lab.

The lack of traditional smells and sounds of a collision repair shop doesn't mean that JVS instructor Gary Carruthers isn't keeping his students busy-it means he's joined a growing industry trend.

Ken Kudela

Like artists admiring their handiwork, Ken Kudela takes pride in the many Lorain County buildings that have risen from his masonry craftsmanship.

"It's very satisfying, driving around the county and seeing all the buildings I've worked on, knowing that I had a hand in their completion," said Kudela, the Director of the Ohio Administrative District Council-the administrative arm of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.

Lorain County JVS Early Childhhod Education (ECE) students hosted a special motivational program for all JVS students called "Rachel's Challenge," an outreach program started by the family of Rachel Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School.

"Rachel's Challenge" is a national program being presented at high schools around the world. The program is designed to help students:
- reach their peers with violence prevention education
- recognize warning signs of potential youth violence
- encourage young people to report troubling behavior
- collaborate with school and community resources to address youth violence
- develop and implement local action projects to reduce the potential for violence in their school.

Emerald Harrington, of North Ridgeville, works with Ken Glanc, from the Elyria Comic Book Initiative.

Lorain County JVS Web & Graphic Design students are using their skills to help middle school students turn pencil creations into full-color comic books.

The Elyria Comic Book Initiative is a non-profit organization that works with students teaching a variety of skills including personal responsibility, creativity and literacy through the creation of comic books.

Brajuan Lewis and Joseph Okes

Brajuan Lewis (Elyria) and Joseph Okes (Brookside), Culinary Arts seniors, created a vegetarian dish suitable to be prepared during Lent. The recipes were printed in The Morning Journal's Food section appearing in the paper on Wednesdays.

Merin Hettel, a preschooler from Wakeman, enjoys her pancake breakfast at IHOP in Elyria.

Students in the Lorain County JVS Early Childhood Education Program partnered with the JVS preschoolers to raise money for the Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and the Children's Miracle Network. Rainbow Babies Hospital is ranked #2 in neonatal care/NICU and is a world leader in the treatment of children. The students' goal was to raise money to support the efforts of the hospital and provide the children who are cared for with toys, games, and activities to make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Kathryn Karpus

The Lorain County JVS Board of Education President, Mary Kathryn Karpus, is being honored by the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) with their Award of Achievement at their spring conference.

The Award of Achievement is given to school board members in recognition of their commitment to training and leadership activities on their boards of education and region and statewide OSBA activities.

On Sunday, April 25 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM hair, nail and skin care professionals will have access to continuing education approved by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. Courses include: Massage Certification, Touch and Learn Helix Hair Sculpting, How to Recession Proof Your Salon, Acrylic Enhancements, Aloxie Color Class, Sharpen Your Cutting Skills, All About Acne II, Advanced Make-up Camouflage Techniques, and Razor Techniques for Texture and Style.

Space is limited. We recommend that registration be received one week prior to the training. Click here for more information and registration form.

Marissa Liller (Keystone), Amanda Smith (Amherst), Maxx Broski (Oberlin) and Tyler Novosielski (Firelands)

Lorain County JVS students were given the challenge to design a logo for the Spring Blood Drive on March 2 and 3. Prizes for the drive were made possible by a grant by the Lorain County JVS Educational Foundation.

Of the 32 entries, students and staff voted for the following winners: Marissa Liller, a junior from Keystone in the Web & Graphic Design Program, won 1st place and $100. Amanda Smith, a Culinary senior from Amherst, came in second and won $50. Maxx Broski, a Marketing/Management senior from Oberlin, won third prize of $25 and Tyler Novosielski, a Firelands junior in the Maintenance Services Program, took fourth prize of $25.

Students in the Landscape and Greenhouse Management Program recently designed a display at the Great Big Home and Garden Expo at the IX Center in Cleveland.

The students prepared the area with sand, placed the plants into their proper locations, mulched the area, and added final touches such as a brick patio and a walkway. The Home Depot graciously loaned the JVS students a fire pit, umbrella, and a patio set to incorporate into their display. The JVS display is in the outdoor living pavilion area.