The 2021 Lorain County JVS Senior Recognition Ceremony was held at Black River Landing in Lorain on Friday, May 21, with 413 students receiving career-technical certificates in their respective fields.
The ceremony began with Public Safety students performing the Presentation of Colors, and Culinary Arts senior, McKenna Grimes singing the National Anthem.
Lorain County JVS High School Principal, Tina Pelto, welcomed the senior students, their families, guests and Lorain County JVS staff to the ceremony. “When this class started at Lorain County JVS, no one could have predicted the twists and turns the last few years brought us! Yet here we are, all together, in person, celebrating.”
“Your drive and determination will determine how far you go once you leave us. I challenge you to keep pushing forward. Keep exploring new ideas, keep learning, and keep finding new routes to success,” Pelto said to the graduating seniors.
Landscape and Greenhouse Management senior, Emily Wells was one of the student speakers and shared remarks about her high school journey. “When I came to Lorain County JVS my freshman year, I had no idea what lab I wanted to be in. I just knew that I wanted to learn in a hands-on way and get a head start in my career. Lorain County JVS is a great way to meet new and inspiring people to help you grow. It is what I love most about it.”
During the ceremony, thirty students were acknowledged for being members of the National Technical Honor Society, fifteen students were awarded Board Proclamations for participating at the national level in career-technical skill events and five students recognized for enlisting in the US Armed Forces.
Jenna Schifano, allied health sciences senior, also spoke to the 2021 Lorain County JVS class saying, “We have experienced a senior year fully in pandemic mode. From the lock down at the end of our junior year to the hybrid learning of this year, we have been a class that has not only overcome but has learned from these hard and unusual experiences. We are ready to head out into the world and accomplish all what we have set our minds on. Because of what we learned and how we grew, this is how we will continue to honor the trades.”
At the close of the ceremony, Lorain County JVS Superintendent, Dr. Glenn Faircloth shared these closing remarks. “Use the toolkit that you have. Be someone who is a change maker, push the status quo and go out and change the world.”