May 21, 2025

Carroll, OH:  – On Wednesday, May 15, 2025, 69 Fairfield County high school seniors graduated at the Fairfield County Workforce Center’s 4th Annual Pre-Apprenticeship Graduation.

This group of young men and women received certificates in the areas of HVAC, Water/Wastewater Management, Carpentry, Electric, and Phlebotomy.

The Commencement speaker was Lancaster native Bobby Carpenter, an All-Ohio football player who won a national championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes and played in the NFL. The owner of Carpenter Mechanical, Carpenter spoke to the graduates about the importance of succeeding in all areas of your life – from finances to personal relationships, in addition to giving 110 percent to your career.

“How you spend your day determines how you spend your life,” Carpenter said. “Make each day count, give your best each day, and never underestimate the importance of personal relationships, as well as your professional ones.”

Also congratulating the graduates were Dave Levacy, Fairfield County Commissioner, Andrew Miller, PhD, Dean of the School of Workforce Development at Hocking College, and Martha Kline, PhD, Interim Dean of Campus and Community Relations at Ohio University. Rick Szabrak, Director of Economic and Workforce Development, said that in addition to graduation certificates, some students received something equally exciting.

“This year, we have a large number of students graduating with jobs in their respective fields,” he said. “Every single one of our carpentry students has a job, and other students are in the interviewing process. This not only fulfills the students’ goals, but the mission of the Workforce Center as well.”

Commissioner Levacy said he could not be prouder.

“I look out at these students and I’m overwhelmed,” he said. “I hope you all are as proud of yourselves as we are of you.”

This was the fourth graduation class at the Fairfield County Workforce Center. The Center offers adult programs but also offers pre-apprenticeship and industry-recognized credential programs at no cost for seniors at Fairfield County high schools. Students entering their senior year in high school can enroll in programs in the fall. A student and parent information meeting will be held in August.