Sentinel student educators earn national recognition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four Sentinel Career and Technology Center students brought home national championship honors from the 2022 Educators Rising National Championships. All students enrolled are in the Careers in Education program at Sentinel CTC and are instructed by Cathy Thomas. The national championships took place at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. from June 24-June 27. One national champion was Abby Hoppes of Columbian High School. She will be a senior and will return to level two in the Careers in Education program. She earned her recognition in the Exploring Administrative Careers category. "It feels amazing that my hard work paid off and I'm seeing positive results," Hoppes said. Hoppes prepared by working over the summer and practicing during her personal time. "I worked so hard to achieve this and I'm so honored to have this opportunity," she said. Jenna Levans and Emma Charlton are also from Columbian. The two are national champions in Researching Learning Challenges and Teacher Created Materials. "It feels great to see a good result after all the hours of work and cooperation to complete our projects," Levans said. "It also feels amazing to have done it with Emma by my side every step of the way. She truly is the best partner I could have ever asked for." Charlton and Levans worked together every chance they could. "For nationals specifically we woke up early in the morning to get as many runs and reps as possible before the national conference," Levans said. "I learned how enjoyable a project can be when you are doing it with someone who gets you," Levans said. "I learned who I am in a team setting and how a project and the passion along with it never stops." "It feels amazing to have won after all the hard work that Jenna and I have endured through the relentless hours and early mornings we have practiced," Charlton said. Levans graduated from Columbian and is to attend Marietta College in the fall. Charlton also graduated and is to attend The College of Wooster in the fall as well. Earning silver in the Exploring Careers in Student Services, Ava Lucius is homeschooled and will be a level three student when she returns to Sentinel in the fall. "It feels really good to see all the work I put into my project payout," Lucius said. For her project, Lucius interviewed and shadowed Chris Joyce, a Tiffin Middle School counselor. She then put together a presentation and spent hours practicing in front of different people. "I learned that no matter how good you do, it's most rewarding to see your classmates succeed," Lucius said. Other top ten national finalists are Jonathan Nominee for Lesson Plan in Humanities; and My Mattox, Selena Steinhauser, Ava Lucius and Kyerra Healy for Inside Our Schools.