Redefining hands-on learning

PERKINS TWP. — Local businesses became Perkins students' classrooms. Over the course of the school year, Perkins High School students were matched up with career professionals through the Perkins Academy Experience Program. The academy is a shadowing program to expose students to careers they might be interested in after graduation. It's targeted to juniors and seniors within the high school. They choose what career they want to learn more about, and the program matches them up with the professionals. Many past students and upcoming graduates who have gone through the program announced they decided to study and eventually go into a career field they were exposed to through the program. At the end of their time in the program, students are asked to present on their experience. Walking away with experience A short list of this year's explored fields includes: Rose Fanning, aviation Fanning has been interested in flight for years and is no stranger to the front of an airplane. Her academy experience with Griffing Flying Service helped her pass a test with a flight instructor called a "check ride." Before going into the test, she already had over 100 hours of flight experience. "I never thought I would be able to do this at such a young age and as a female," Fanning said. Fanning plans to attend the University of North Dakota to continue her education and flight career. She will already be ahead of the majority of her future classmates, as those who have never piloted a plane before. Hailey Kubitz, dentistry and nutrition This was Kubitz's second year going through the program. She visited several businesses, including Dr. James Rumbarger, the Ohio Veterans Home and Firelands Health to learn about dentistry and nutrition where she learned about crowns, clear braces, diseases and machines. In the end, Kubitz said she explored parts of the fields she enjoyed and others she did not. She announced she plans to attend Ohio State University for its school of health and rehabilitation science. "It's really good to rule out what you like and what you didn't like," Kubitz said. Carly Grathwol, dentistry and OB/GYN Grathwol's interest in the human body stemmed from the time she spent with her grandfather at a young age. Together, they would read anatomy books. She also has family working in the medical field. Grathwol studied under Sandusky Dental Partners and said her favorite part of her time in dentistry was not what she was learning, but how the office treated its patients. While studying under Dr. Brian Printy for her OB/GYN experience, she said it was her goal to see a birth. She said she cried when the day finally came and the patient "probably thought I was a weirdo." She also described the academy program as the best program at the school. Every time she talks about it, others are impressed by the opportunity the students are given. Grathwol said she plans to study biology at Ohio State University on a pre-med track. She is also thinking about a minor in finance or marketing. Millie Weisenberger, business Weisenberger's academy experience was focused on Norfolk Southern and the railroading industry. She shadowed at the same company her mother works for. Weisenberger learned everything about the railroad industry, including the safety, communication and mechanics. She also learned how to inspect the train cars for break-ins, took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to see the company's headquarters and met serval heads of departments. Without the "academy, I still would have no idea what I want to do," Weisenberger said. Weisenberger has another chance to attend the academy next year. She plans to shadow the railroad again and eventually attend Penn State University, the only school that offers a degree for the railroad industry. Mari Bollini, fashion design Bollini is already making strides in pursuing a career in fashion. She spends her days in Milan at the MOCO Boutique. She became responsible for pulling outfits, cleaning, setting up photo shoots and eventually added modeling to her list of duties. Bollini said the boutique has taught her a lot about the industry and how the business is run using different tools like ecommerce websites, how to pose for modeling and how to do her makeup for photos. She also had to learn how to balance school while working. Also building her fashion career is her nonprofit, Clothes for Confidence. She helps to provide free and stylish clothing for anyone in need as a way to boost their confidence. Bollini will continue growing her impact on the fashion industry in New York as she plans to pursue an internship. "I could cry thinking how different my life would be without" the academy, Bollini said. "I have this job because of it. I made enough money for New York. Without the academy experience, my life would be completely different." Bri Bucher, marine biology Bucher always had a passion for animals and the water. She said the ocean and things in it have always brought her peace. Her shadowing experience with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Stone Lab and the United States Geological Survey allowed her to experience this peace at the lake. Bucher looked at different parts of a fish, learned how to age, took samples and participated in several other research projects and learned about the equipment needed for the job while spending her days on the lake. She said she enjoyed observing and helping in any way she could. Her experience with the fish led her to decide she wants to study marine ecology, the study of how everything in the ocean interacts with each other, when she moves on from high school. In the more near future, she plans to earn her boating license and scuba certification. "I'm really thankful for (the) academy," Bucher said. "It made what I want to do in the future really, really clear." Dylan Crabtree, business and finance Crabtree learned he was not a fan of engineering after his first year in the academy program, but he did learn he enjoyed numbers. This year, he decided to try business with a focus on finance. During his shadowing, he experienced more than just finances at Payne and Nickles, Great Wolf Lodge and LogistiQ. He had the opportunity to learn about taxes during the busy season, create an advertisement, design a waterslide tour and learned interview skills with the help of human resources professionals. Crabtree announced he will attend the University of Findlay to study business and finance while playing baseball. "The only reason I know that now is because of" the academy Crabtree said. Adding to the success story The district invited students' families, district administration and staff and the school board to attend the presentations, where the visitors saw what impact the experience had on the students. Board president Jason Dulaney said the academy is all about real-world experiences and exploring the idea of "I want to be…" "It allows them to explore that idea in a meaningful way and create a trajectory for their life," Dulaney said. "Give them the opportunity to create and find their own path." Dulaney also noted the passion each student had for the topics they discussed, and there were stereotypes several of them were breaking with their interests. After each presentation, Dulaney and the other present board members commented on the professionalism each student brought into the room: from the way they were dressed to the way they spoke. This is the program's seventh year of operation, meaning a long list of success stories. The program's advisors, Michael Leffler and Tim Obergefell, listed several former academy students who earned internships and full scholarships to their chosen universities and colleges, including Harvard and Ohio State University. "It's really cool to see them figure out, and then now it's old enough that we can actually see where it's leading to as a career," Leffler said.