Up to the minute articles touting our latest accomplishments.
August 9, 2018 Middleburg Heights, OH – High school seniors, recent graduates and adults who are exploring job training and career opportunities are invited to attend the Polaris Adult Job and Career Training Program Open House at Polaris Career Center on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. During this event, attendees can explore Polaris adult job and career training programs and learn more about financial aid options, the tuition payment plan and federal student loans that are available to qualified applicants. Visitors are encouraged to tour the facility and participate in program demonstrations. In addition, Polaris instructors representing 12 programs will be available to answer specific program and career related questions. Featured programs will include the following:
Automotive Service Technician
Cardiographic Technician
Cosmetology
Dental Assisting
Early Child Care Education/Child Development Associate (CDA)
Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R)
Medical Assisting
Medical Billing & Coding
Phlebotomy Certification
Police Academy
Precision/CNC Machine Technology
Welding
In addition, attendees are welcome to stay afterwards to attend a FAFSA workshop, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Many popular programs fill up quickly so interested students are encouraged to attend the Open House to begin the enrollment process early. Admission is FREE. For additional details, call 440-891-7697, email tliska@polaris.edu or visit www.polaris.edu/openhouse. Polaris is located at 7285 Old Oak Boulevard in Middleburg Heights. ###
July 30, 2018
Middleburg Heights, OH – Polaris Chef Training Instructor, Chef Chris Olszewski, was recently honored with the 2019 Ohio Board of Education District Five Teacher of the Year award. He was one of 11 educators from across the state to receive this honor. This is the first time a Polaris teacher has ever been given this award. He will now be considered for the statewide Ohio Board of Education Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced in September. This latest honor is one of many for Olszewski this year. In January he was recognized as the 2018 Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) Educator of the Year at the ORA Industry Awards Celebration and was later given the 2018 Ohio ProStart Educator of Excellence Award. In May he received the National ProStart Educator of Excellence award in Chicago. Chef Olszewski has fostered an environment of respect, passion and opportunity for his students, and his dedication to promoting the culinary industry and preparing his students for career success is unmatched. Under Chef Olszewski’s leadership, Polaris Career Center’s Chef Training program captured eight consecutive Ohio ProStart Invitational culinary championships, two Invitational management championships and back-to-back National ProStart Invitational culinary championships in 2016 and 2017. Olszewski is a nine time Ohio ProStart Teacher of Distinction winner, a two time ProStart Educator of Excellence honoree, a two time recipient of the National Restaurant Association Teacher Excellence Award, a two-time American Culinary Federation Cleveland Chapter Culinary Educator of the Year, an Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) Outstanding Industry Educator Award winner and was previously honored with the Crystal Apple Award. In addition, he and his students have received over 20 resolutions from the Ohio State House and Ohio Senate and have been recognized before both chambers over the past several years. Olszewski has been Chef Training Instructor at Polaris for 18 years where he and his students manage a popular student-run restaurant. The restaurant serves thousands of residents from the surrounding communities. Chef O (as he's often called) brings a wealth of industry experience to the classroom. Prior to joining Polaris, Olszewski spent seven years as Executive Chef at Don’s Pomeroy House in Strongsville, Ohio. He received his formal training at the Stouffer’s Culinary Apprenticeship Program in Cleveland, and he has been a member of the American Culinary Federation for 27 years. A panel of education and community stakeholders will select the 2019 Ohio Teacher of the Year. That educator will represent the Buckeye State in the National Teacher of the Year selection process sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers. For additional information, contact Doug Miller at (440) 891-7609 or email dmiller@polaris.edu ###
May 22, 2018 Middleburg Heights, OH – Daria Buhtoiarova, Dental Assisting, Strongsville High School, and John Spragg, Criminal Justice, Strongsville High School, were named the Outstanding Seniors for the Polaris Class of 2018 during the 42nd Annual Polaris Senior Awards. Both students excelled throughout high school and plan to use their Polaris experience as a spring board for college and career success. The following are bios for the Polaris Students of the Year: During her two years at Polaris, Daria Buhtoiarova built an impressive resume. She maintained a 4.0 GPA in Dental Assisting and finished third in the state SkillsUSA dental assisting competition this spring. She is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and was named the Outstanding Program Student as a junior and senior. She juggled a busy school schedule and volunteered as an algebra I tutor and Polaris Student Ambassador. During the fall of 2017 she applied her dental assisting skills while working in an externship at Hudec Dental in Strongsville. Daria’s Dental Assisting instructor, Ms. Rachelle Pickwick, sings her praises. “Daria is an amazing young lady – mature, self-motivated, compassionate and always willing to do more than asked. It was a privilege to be part of her journey.” Daria has set her sights high. She is enrolled in the Dental Hygiene honors program at The Ohio State University (OSU) where she plans to attend this fall. She is also a proud recipient of the OSU trustee scholarship. In the short term, Daria plans to refine her skills as a dental assistant and hygienist but ultimately hopes to someday run her very own orthodontist practice. The theme for John Spragg’s two year Polaris career is excellence and service. He earned a 4.0 GPA in Criminal Justice and a 4.2 overall. He was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society as a junior and was named the Outstanding Program Student as a junior and senior. He was a Polaris Student Ambassador and was one of 100 students nationwide selected to participate in the Marines Semper Fidelis All-American program during the summer of 2017. He was president of the Criminal Justice program and captain of the Strongsville High School Football Team where he received all-conference and all-district honors. He also played baseball, was a DARE and Mustang Mentor and a Strongsville Football Youth Camp counselor. During his “free time” he ran his own landscaping business and did volunteer security work at various community events. John’s Polaris instructor, Ms. Robin Simko, applauds him for his commitment to serve. “John exemplifies the saying ‘well rounded.’ He carries himself with a mature professionalism and is humble and approachable. John’s ability to showcase his dedication to school, sports, self and community are qualities many struggle for.” John plans to take classes at Cuyahoga Community College this summer to get a head start on college. He will then go to basic training for the Army National Guard this fall. Afterwards, he plans to attend Kent State University and major in accounting. His tuition will be paid entirely by the Army National Guard. Initially, he wants to work as an army intelligence analyst and ultimately transition into law enforcement and work for the DEA or FBI. Twenty-seven Polaris seniors were also named outstanding students in their career-technical programs. This distinction is determined by academic achievement, citizenship, service and extra-curricular activities. Those students, their programs and associate high schools are listed below: