CHAMPION — A new “Pillars of Professionalism” program has been started at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center to recognize student success and achievement.

At the October meeting, Rachel Rankin, the dean of students, explained to the TCTC board what the program includes and how students achieve success.

“We expect our students to display in every aspect of this building, or when they are out in the real world, representing us. Respect, kindness and responsibility are all part of our pillars,” Rankin said.

She said the purpose of the pillars program is to offer incentives to students who can earn points for demonstrating and achieving the pillars and to showcase students who go above and beyond.

Staff will write an informational card about the student and a description of what they have done to exceed the expectation of one of the pillars of professionalism, with the card turned in to Rankin’s office.

Rankin said she keeps track of the cards, and at the end of each nine weeks, the students’ points are tallied and they receive an award.

Awards can include food items in the “Hot Spot” or gift cards, or students can bank their points for larger incentives such as movie tickets or field trips at the end of the school year. The incentives that students are rewarded with are paid for from a grant that has been acquired.

In other business, Superintendent Jason Gray said the center received five stars on the state report card, being one of the only schools in the area to receive that score.

“That is the result of every single person who does something to make this a great place for students to learn,” he said.

Building on incentives for students, the TCTC is working in collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank to reward students with good behavior to attend cooking classes in the food services program.

Gray said Second Harvest is providing all the supplies for the upcoming program, which will begin in late fall.

Gray also mentioned that construction has begun on the new addition on the southeastern corner of the building.

A groundbreaking was held last spring for a planned 13,800-square-foot addition at the center, which will house industrial technology classes, STEAM programs and a health clinic.

Gray said concrete walls are up, and within a month, work crews will be doing work inside during the winter months.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Treasurer Cody Holecko that a rooftop replacement project will take place in the summer and fall of 2026, with energy grants being sought.

• Approved an agreement with author Jeff Zentner to present four 45-minute to an hour presentations to students on April 20 at $4,000 for creative writing and storytelling activities.

• Accepted a donation of 3D printers from teacher Michael Alvetro for the engineering technology program and a wash and cure machine from teacher Carrie Sinkele for the engineering technology program.

• Was informed the senior completion ceremony will be 7:30 p.m. May 13 at Eastwood Field in Niles, with a rain date of May 19.