2006 Hall of Fame

This second class of inductees consists of three exceptional former students.  They have all leveraged their Polaris career-technical experience to pursue distinguished educational and professional careers.  We are proud of their accomplishments and appreciate the role they serve as Polaris ambassadors.  They were officially inducted into the Polaris Constellation of Shining Stars during a ceremony on April 25, 2006.

Alan M. Bartuccio
 
Polaris Program: Communications Electronics
1976 Graduate, Midpark High School
Current Employment:
Director of Information Technology
Dawson Companies
 
A 1976 graduate of the Communications Electronics program, Alan Bartuccio was a member of the first graduating class at Polaris.  He came to Polaris via a Communications Electronics program at Midpark High School.  Alan’s interest in electronics and technology started at an early age.  His grandfather introduced him to TV and radio repair as a youngster.  After graduating from high school, Alan continued his education at the Cleveland Institute of Electronics. He was then hired by B & B Appliance to repair TVs and radios. As a repair technician, Alan realized that the industry was changing and returned to Polaris as an adult student to complete a digital electronics course.  He spent the next ten years at ABDick Company and became their youngest Senior Level Engineer.  Alan worked at MTI Systems working in the Technical Support Department and later became Director of Technical Services at ProComp USA where he oversaw support and production.  Alan spent seven years at Lakewood Hospital as Network and Operations Manager and became a Regional Technology Manager when Lakewood merged with the Cleveland Clinic Western Region.  He worked three years as a Technical Lead Manager at Westfield Insurance.  Currently, Alan is Director of Information Technology at the Dawson Companies, a top-100 insurance and financial services brokerage firm, based in Northeast Ohio.
 
He has numerous Information Technology (IT) certifications including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Cisco, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and Novell.  He has attended several colleges including Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, and Fort Hays University. Alan is active in his church and is president of his homeowners’ association.  He, his wife Karen, and son Matthew currently reside in Middleburg Heights.

Lisa Williams Jozwiak
 
Polaris Program: Medical Assisting
1978 Graduate, Strongsville High School
Current Employment:
Associate Dean, Health Careers and Science, Eastern Campus
Cuyahoga Community College
 
In high school, Lisa Williams Jozwiak developed an interest in medicine and decided to enroll in the Polaris Medical Assisting program.  During her junior year, she placed first in the local and regional VICA Medical Assisting competitions.  She graduated in 1978 and immediately landed a position as a medical assistant in a local pediatrics office.  After working in the healthcare field for several years, Lisa enrolled in college.  In 1996, she received her associate’s degree as a Physician Assistant from Cuyahoga Community College.  Six months after receiving her degree, Tri-C offered her a position as a Clinical Coordinator in the Physician Assistant Program.  During this time, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in Technical Education and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from The University of Akron.  In 2003, she became the Interim Program Director for the Physician Assistant Program and ultimately Assistant Dean of the Health Careers and Science Department at the Tri-C Western Campus.  Lisa became the Associate Dean of the Health Careers and Science Department at the Eastern Campus in July 2005. 
 
Her on-going passion for education is pushing her further.  In the near future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration.  Lisa is very active in the Tech Prep initiative where she assisted in the development and implementation of summer bridge courses for the Tech Prep junior and senior health career students.  In addition, she has been a member of the Polaris Medical Assisting Advisory Council for several years.  She just celebrated her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  She and her husband, Robert, have two sons, Nicholas and Nathan.
 
Patricia Young
 
Polaris Program: Early Childhood Education
1994 Graduate, North Olmsted High School
Current Employment:
Licensed Intervention Specialist, McKinley Elementary School
Cleveland Municipal School District
 
Patricia Young, a 1994 graduate of the Early Childhood Education & Care program, always had a desire to work with young people.  After high school graduation, she remained at Polaris and worked in the Children’s Center.  This gave her the opportunity to work while attending college. Patricia graduated from Cuyahoga Community College with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and transferred to Cleveland State University in 1998.  During college, she student taught at McKinley Elementary School in Cleveland.  In 2001, Patricia graduated with honors and earned her bachelor’s degree as a Licensed Intervention Specialist for Mild to Moderate from CSU.  Shortly after receiving her degree, she returned to McKinley as a Licensed Intervention Specialist where she works today helping first, second, third, and fourth graders with mild/moderate learning disabilities and developmental handicaps.  In addition to teaching, she also works on the Intervention-Based Assistance Team (IBA), a group of professionals who work with children to determine what services and resources are needed to help them succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. Patricia is also involved in special events and union committees.
 
Patricia is especially proud of the time she spent at Polaris.  “Polaris gave me the tools and opportunities to become a successful teacher, and I’m eternally grateful for that,” she says.  Patricia is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree to become a Licensed Intervention Specialist for children with moderate to severe disabilities at Cleveland State University.  She is very active with her family and a valuable member of the Polaris Early Childhood Education & Care Advisory Council.
 
Patricia and her husband, Jeff Harrington, currently reside in Rocky River.