Students (from left) Eugene Williams, Nick Pugliano and Logan Torma all hope to use the skills they are learning from the criminal justice course in East Liverpool High School’s career-tech program once they graduate. (Photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The more skills you get, the bigger the paycheck you get.

That was one of the messages shared recently with sophomores in the city school district by Jessica Borza, a 1994 district graduate who is now executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition.

She spoke to those 10th-grade students who are interested in taking one of a dozen courses offered through the career-tech program, the only county school district with such an in-house program.

Borza, also the owner of Pondi’s in Lisbon, told the students, “Now is the time to figure out where you want to start with your career.”

While students guessed when asked that the annual cost of a college education was about $5,000, Borza shared the reality that a four-year university education would cost them upwards of $108,000 with their living expenses included.

“There are other pathways. That’s what I like about career-tech programs,” she told the students, adding that those who graduate from East Liverpool High School with career skills and education will be able to find a job that pays more than minimum wage from day one.

Borza told them that manufacturing work is steady and stable and that businesses are currently hiring.

“They are kind of desperate, and when they’re desperate, they pay more,” Borza shared.

Skilled trades are the hardest jobs to fill in this country, Borza advised, saying 1,019,000 jobs are open in trade, transportation and utilities, with another 315,000 available in manufacturing.

Health care occupations make up 12 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations and many require an associates degree or less, Borza said, adding that is a “great place for growth.”

She told the students, “You are at such an important point in your lives and are able to take advantage of these programs. You’ve got this handy opportunity here.”

She directed students to OhioMeansJobs.com, which she said is a site “specifically for students not sure what they want to do with their life.”

During the assembly, instructors as well as some of the students enrolled, gave overviews of each of the courses available, which include media arts, horticulture and landscaping, job training, professional administrative support, early childhood education, teacher academy, building and construction, criminal justice, cosmetology, commercial arts, patient care and automotive technology.

It was explained that articulation agreements exist with several other institutions of higher learning where credits from these classes can be transferred.

The assembly was videoed by media arts students and can be viewed on YouTube as “Crash Day Assembly.” Sophomores were invited to list their top three favorite courses and will have the opportunity later this school year to sit in those classes to see if they like them.