Governor DeWine cuts ribbon on upgraded Engineering and Advanced Technologies Center at Theodore Roosevelt High School
As part of his continued work to promote career opportunities for Ohio students, Governor Mike DeWine took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Engineering and Advanced Technologies Center at Theodore Roosevelt High School.
“I congratulate everyone who has played a part in bringing this new facility to life,” said Governor DeWine. “It is another example of how we are working to improve our career technical centers across the state. We want to give our students the space, the tools and the training they need to discover their talents and to build a future they’re excited about.”
The project was made possible by a $2.3 million grant from the Ohio Career Technical Construction Program.
With 3,500 square feet of additional space, the facility will increase student capacity and support three high-demand career tech programs: Computer-Aided Design and Engineering Technologies; Electronics, Robotics, and Programming; and an Engineering Academy.
“Something that we all want for our children is for them to find something they love to do: a passion, a purpose, something that brings them joy and fulfillment,” Governor DeWine added. “To help our kids find that path, we’ve got to show them what’s possible. That’s what this upgraded facility is all about.”
Additionally, Kent City School District provided another $400,000 in their own funding to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the upgraded center.
“This amazing facility represents an incredible opportunity for our students and the entire Kent community,” said Superintendent Tom Larkin. “We thank the Governor for his commitment to helping schools expand their career technical education offerings, and I also thank our school board, administrators, members of our Business Advisory Council, plus our teachers, students, and parents for their support.”
The equipment was specifically chosen by the district’s Business Advisory Council to meet the real-world needs of employers in the region.
“Through this collaborative process, we have created a space that equips students with hands-on skills needed for entry-level careers in manufacturing and engineering, while also enabling seamless transition to post-secondary education,” said Brian Bachtel, Director of Career Technical Education at Theodore Roosevelt High School. “This center is a dynamic training ground that will prepare students to be career-ready and to help build a talent pipeline to meet regional and local workforce development needs.”
The state-of-the-art facility will be used by students throughout the area’s Six District Educational Compact, which includes Kent City Schools, as well as Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge and Woodridge school districts.
This collaborative effort underscores the Compact’s commitment to preparing students for in-demand careers and postsecondary pathways in engineering, advanced manufacturing and technology.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students from the center demonstrated the capabilities of their new machinery to the Governor.
The new facility comes as the demand for career technical education in Ohio continues to increase. Over the past four years, the state has seen a 10-percent growth in the number of students participating in career tech – that’s over 13,000 more students than in 2021.
This ribbon-cutting represents another milestone in Governor DeWine’s ongoing efforts to ensure that all Ohio students have access to high-quality, hands-on education that prepares them for success in today’s workforce.
The governor recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new-look Southern Hills Career and Technical Center in Georgetown and a groundbreaking ceremony for an all-new career technical center at Bryan Middle/High School in Williams County.
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