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Area 30 celebrates accomplishments of senior class
Area high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments as students at Area 30 Career Center recently. As such, more than $18,000 in scholarship money was also awarded.
Accompanied onstage by current Asst. Director Chad Nunley and Director of Student Services Sharon Bone, outgoing Executive Director Lora Busch remarked that students at Area 30 this year earned 220 different state, national and industry certifications.
Juniors and seniors earned a total of 1,539 college credits.
Busch also highlighted coordinator Marla Farris and the 34 seniors who participated in READY (Respect, Ethics, Attitude and Dependability for our Youth), a college a career readiness program at Area 30. As Busch related, the program required weekly attendance, assignments, volunteering and, “quite frankly, a few activities that are out of the comfort zone for some of our students.”
Two scholarships in particular were awarded in memory of Area 30 students Garett Koger and Morgan Johnson, who were both killed in auto incidents in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Koger was an auto services technician student who became a master mechanic and taught at the college level, while Johnson was a culinary arts student and was completing his degree at Ivy Tech before his death.
Greencastle senior Lathan Worman was awarded the Garett Koger Automotive Services Scholarship, in addition to another Area 30 scholarship, for a total of $1,000. He is a two-year student in automotive collision technology and plans to complete a degree at Vincennes University.
Meanwhile, Greencastle senior Ben Staggers was awarded a $1,000 scholarship established by Johnson’s family. He is a two-year culinary arts student and plans to attend Ohio Wesleyan University and major in business.
Rounding out the scholarships, Greencastle senior Tyler Adams was awarded the Busch/Nunley Scholarship for $3,000. Described by Busch as “a great mix of serious and funny,” Adams is a two-year student in Area 30’s law enforcement and fire-and-rescue programs and has served as a student ambassador. He plans to study criminal justice at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
In congratulating the seniors, Busch shared a line by poet Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?”
“On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you success and happiness as you enter this new and exciting phase of your life,” Busch said. “Thank you to everyone for being here today to celebrate this wonderful group of students.”