Southern Hills inducts alumni to Wall of Fame

Four former Southern Hills Career and Technical Center students were recognized for their career achievements and added to the Southern Hills Wall of Fame.

Bobby Johnson, Melissa Holton Layman, Chad Varney and Duane Weyand were acknowledged at the school’s annual advisory dinner on April 8.

Superintendent Kevin Kratzer presented each recipient with an engraved plaque containing his/her name, career tech program and year of completion, as well as career accomplishments and reason for receiving the award.

Johnson completed the criminal justice program in 1989 and started his career at the Brown County Sheriff’s office. He earned an associate degree in human services and correction from Hocking College and completed classes in the Wilberforce Climb Program. He has worked in various capacities at the Orient Correctional Institution, the North Central Correctional Institution, the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Layman was a marketing education student, completing the program in 1994. While in school, she became the first DECA student from Southern Hills elected to state office, serving as the Ohio DECA Female Public Relations Representative. Using skills and knowledge she learned in the marketing program, Layman moved from entry-level jobs to management positions with JP Morgan Chase in Texas and National Bank & Trust in Georgetown, furthering her education along the way. She is a member of the Brown County Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and Wellness Committee for National Bank & Trust and volunteers for many community charities.

Varney completed the machine trades program in 1997. During his senior year, Chad started working at a local machine shop through the Southern Hills early placement program and continued to work there while going to college and earning a degree in computer aided drafting. After college, he took a job at Midwest Mold & Texture, moving quickly to group leader of the engineering department. After 12 years, he moved to AllyPLM in application engineering. He teaches CAD software classes and demos the software to engineers and machine shops in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Varney is a deacon of his church and active in many of the church activities, especially those involving youth. He is a licensed foster parent and has fostered 38 children. He and his wife Rebecca have also adopted two beautiful children.

Weyand was a criminal justice completer in 1990. Taking advantage of both the Southern Hills two-year criminal justice program and the adult Police Academy, Weyand obtained skills and knowledge needed to secure a job in his chosen vocation. While working he continued his education, earning an associate degree at Sinclair Community College, a bachelor’s in criminal justice at Wilmington College and a master’s in criminal justice at Urbana University. He has been in law enforcement for 23 years and is currently (2014) Chief of Police in Wilmington. His community involvement includes co-chair for Wilmington’s Banana Split Festival, a member of the Rotary, member of Wilmington College presidents’ Advisory Council and several other community activities and projects.