GPA: Penta Career Center plans virtual Career Night Dec. 14

        Due to large gathering restrictions because of COVID-19, Penta Career Center will host its annual Career Night virtually this year on Monday, Dec. 14.
        The event will be held through web conferencing meetings, with instructors at four designated time slots for students and parents. Prospective students and parents MUST register by Friday, Dec. 11 to participate in one or more Virtual Career Night online meetings that will take place at 2:30 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Registration is available at the following link on Penta’s website: www.pentacareercenter.org/ExplorePenta.aspx.
        Virtual Career Night is designed to introduce high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors, and their parents or guardians to the variety of career-technical training options available at Penta.
        Prior to participating in the Virtual Career Night online meetings, students and parents/guardians are encouraged to visit the Explore Penta section of the website to watch videos and review program information about any of the career-technical school’s programs, including the Sophomore Exploratory program.
        Penta offers 27 career-technical training programs for high school students during their junior and senior years at the school’s main campus. In addition, a year-long Sophomore Exploratory program for students who are interested in exploring career-technical fields during 10th grade is available.
        Penta also provides one-year and two-year program options at satellite locations for area students. These programs include Marketing Education and Teaching Professions, which are available to students within some of Penta’s member school districts.
        Penta serves students in 16 school districts including Benton-Carroll-Salem, Eastwood, Genoa, Lake, Northwood, Woodmore, Perrysburg, Rossford, Springfield, Swanton, Bowling Green, Anthony Wayne, Elmwood, Maumee, North Baltimore and Otsego.
        For more information about Virtual Career Night, call the Student Services and Admissions Office at 419-661-6498 or visit Explore Penta at www.pentacareercenter.org.
 
Virtual Cub Scout Pack
        The Erie Shores Council of the Boy Scouts of America has launched a virtual Cub Scout Pack in order to better serve youth in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
        According to Ed Caldwell, Erie Shores Council Scout Executive/CEO, “With the rise in COVID cases and the need to limit social gatherings, the Erie Shores Council volunteers and staff, have recognized the need to adapt some of our traditional programing to be better equipped to serve the entire community. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we began to create opportunities such as the six-week #Scoutingathome419 Challenge, online merit badges, virtual hike, virtual camp-in, and Camp-to-Go (a virtual day camp experience). Scouts have continued to serve the community through various service projects including food drives, park beautification and various Eagle projects.
        “Many of our Cub Scout packs and Scout Troops continue to meet in person in small groups outdoors,” he said. “Outdoor camping continues with state and local health guidelines being put in place.
        “Our virtual pack allows families that are unable to participate in those small in-person groups, to experience what Scouting offers,” he said. “Cub Scouts is more than just outdoor adventure. Scouting delivers character and leadership development, STEM-based activities and teaches service to the community all in a safe environment.
        The virtual Cub Scout pack launched Nov. 16 and is open to youth grades K-5. Interested families can fill out the parent survey at tinyurl.com/VPParent or by contacting Ellen.Watkins@scouting.org.
 
Face mask distribution
        The Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West was one of nine Education Service Centers in Ohio used as a designated drop site and lead for the FEMA mask distribution program announced by the Governor of Ohio on Aug. 7.
        The mask distribution project was spearheaded through the State of Ohio. The Ohio Department of Education and ODOT contributed their time to deliver the incoming shipments of masks to the ESC of Lake Erie West and the other eight ESC’s around the state.
        The ESC of Lake Erie West has received approximately one million masks to date. The first two shipments contained N95 masks. The third shipment contained adult cloth masks and the fourth and most recent shipment contained pediatric masks. These masks have been distributed to schools in more than 13 counties through the Educational Service Center – traditional school districts, nonpublic schools, community schools and joint vocational schools.
        Through the coordination efforts of ESC Lake Erie West staff and Phil Koester, facilities coordinator, the masks have made their way into regional schools, thus helping districts/schools stay safe during this pandemic.
        ESC of Lake Erie West thanked Oregon City Schools, which volunteered to help with this mask distribution initiative by sharing some needed equipment and two equipment operators.
 
CMP Enhanced Scholarship Program
        The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is set to reward deserving student-athletes for the 2021-2022 school year in their future endeavors through the annual CMP Carolyn Hines Memorial Scholarship – with an increased monetary amount now offered to recipients.
        Since the program’s beginning in 2005, the CMP has annually offered $1,000, one-year scholarships to current high school seniors, based on merit and rifle and/or pistol marksmanship participation. CMP has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships through the years to thousands of outstanding youth marksmanship competitors.
        Along with the $150,000 of awarded scholarships set for the 2021-2022 school year, the CMP will present a $5,000 scholarship to the top graduating senior who best embodies the well-rounded values of Dr. Hines.
        In 2020, the Garand Collectors Association (GCA) donated an additional $10,000 to the CMP to use toward qualifying applicants to the CMP Carolyn Hines Memorial Scholarship. The GCA again enhanced the scholarship program for 2021 – tripling its donation to $30,000, which will provide $3,000 scholarships to the top 15 applicants, as determined by the CMP Scholarship Committee headed by retired Army Lt. General Joe Inge.
        The CMP is dedicated to its commitment to youth marksmanship and safety programs.
        To be considered, applicants must turn in a list of past and present rifle or pistol competition history, awards, involvements and future expectations for the sport. Proof of participation, including match bulletins, photos or CMP Competition Tracker printouts (from the applicant; CMP will not look up Tracker info), must be presented in order to be considered for the scholarship. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
        Those interested must also provide academic information such as GPA (3.0 or above), test scores and a list of extracurricular activities. Additionally, an official transcript must be provided, along with a letter explaining why the applicant is applying and what future plans the money will fund. A nomination/recommendation letter from a coach or instructor is also required.
        Applicants may call a few weeks after their application is sent in to confirm all required info is met.
        The deadline for application submission is March 20, 2021. Scholarships may be used to pursue post-secondary education or vocational programs for the upcoming school year.
        Application forms and other scholarship information can be found by visiting thecmp.org/youth/cmp-scholarship-program/.
        For specific questions, contact Kathy Williams at 419-635-2141, ext. 709 or email kwilliams@thecmp.org.