Highland County ACCESS Program to showcase manufacturing opportunities for high school students

Over 100 high school students representing all five school districts in Highland County will participate in a Manufacturing Awareness Day on Feb. 29, an experience made possible by the Highland County ACCESS Program. This day will provide students exclusive tours of eight prominent local manufacturing facilities.
 
This initiative by the ACCESS Program aims to strengthen the connection between local industries and high school students, providing valuable insights into potential career paths within the manufacturing sector.
 
In addition to the insightful tours, a luncheon will be facilitated by Southern State Community College from 10:30 to noon, offering an opportunity for networking and discussions with participating students about internships through the ACCESS Program.
 
TechSolve and the Ohio Department of Development, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, are generously sponsoring student transportation. Southern Hills Community Bank is generously providing lunch for all participants.
 
Participants will include: 

• Students, educators and chaperones from the following school districts:
—Bright Local School District
—Fairfield Local School District
—Greenfield Exempted Village School District
—Hillsboro City School District
—Lynchburg-Clay Local School District;
 
• Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development;
 
• Dr. Nicole Roades, President of Southern State Community College;
 
• Tim Dettwiller, Director of the Highland County ACCESS Program;
 
• Dan Catalano, President & CEO of TechSolve – SW Regional Partner Ohio Department of Development Manufacturing Extension Partner (MEP);
 
• Julie Bolender, Director of Highland County Economic Development.

Facilities being toured include:

• Candle-Lite, 200 Eastern Avenue, Leesburg;

• Corvac Composites, 1025 N. Washington Street, Greenfield;

• Greenfield Research Inc., 347 Edgewood Avenue, Greenfield;

• Highland Computer Forms, 1025 West Main Street, Hillsboro;

• Hobart, 1495 North High Street, Hillsboro;

• Seal-Tite, LLC, 120 Moore Road, Hillsboro;

• Standard Aero, 214 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro; and

• Weastec, Inc., 1600 North High Street, Hillsboro.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.