Tri-Rivers Career Center honors outstanding alumni and supporters

"I never dreamed about success. I worked for it."

That quote by American cosmetics entrepreneur Estee Lauder was on the cover of the program for the annual Tri-Rivers Career Center board dinner and alumni awards ceremony held Wednesday evening at the school. And Lauder's comment perfectly described the path that each of the six Outstanding Alumni Award recipients have followed in their personal and professional lives.

"The Tri-Rivers Outstanding Alumni Awards recognize career center and adult center graduates who have contributed to their communities," Superintendent Charles Speelman said during his opening remarks. "They are outstanding in their career fields and have furthered their education. These individuals are Tri-Rivers success stories. Their names will be added to our wall of fame."

The 2023 recipients of the Tri-Rivers Career Center Outstanding Alumni Award featured Michael Bodine II (Class of 1994), Darian Curren (Class of 2011), Dakota Elswick (Class of 2017), Thomas Poorman (Class of 2017), Clayton Tackett (Class of 1985), and David Willey (Class of 2000). Each recipient was presented with a trophy commemorating their addition to the Outstanding Alumni Wall of Fame at the school.

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Bodine graduated from the Tri-Rivers engineering and drafting program. He is employed as a multimedia designer for Whirlpool Corp. in Marion and formerly worked as a senior designer and graphic artist for civil engineering firm EMH&T based in New Albany. Bodine is the founder and owner of RNDR Design and the Community Advertising Network. He and his family reside in Marion.

Curren graduated from Tri-Rivers' adult education program with certification as a licensed practical nurse. She serves as a certified nurse midwife at the Marion Women's Health Center. After graduating from Tri-Rivers, Curren earned an associate degree in nursing from the University of Rio Grande, a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the Chamberlain University College of Nursing, a master's degree in nurse midwifery from the University of Cincinnati, and has enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Cincinnati. During her career, she has worked with the Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Marion City Schools, Center Street Health Center, the mother-baby unit at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, and as an instructor at Tri-Rivers. Curren and her family reside in Marion.

Elswick graduated from the Tri-Rivers welding program. She is an instructor in the school's welding program. Fellow instructor Levi Retterer hailed Elswick as a role model and inspiration for young women in the Tri-Rivers welding program. He said she "out-welds everyone in the lab" and "regularly just shows her skills and abilities that go above and beyond many of the other professionals" he has worked with in his career. She worked for Vaughn Industries prior to returning to Tri-Rivers as an instructor. Elswick and her family reside in Cardington.

Poorman graduated from the RAMTEC engineering program and the adult education apprenticeship program at Tri-Rivers. He works in the maintenance department for the Whirlpool Corp. in Marion and has completed a journeyman program with the company. He was one of five Tri-Rivers alumni featured in a Whirlpool company video highlighting employees at the company's Ohio plants. Poorman and his family reside in Marion.

Tackett is a graduate of the former auto body and collision repair program at Tri-Rivers. After graduating from Tri-Rivers, he worked for several years and then struck out on his own as an entrepreneur, founding Kustom Kolors automotive repair and custom design and paint shop, which is still operating today. He then opened Tackett's Southern Bar-B-Que. Most recently, he and a partner revived The OK Cafe, a Marion pub and eatery. He refers to himself as the "caretaker" of The OK Cafe. Tackett and his family reside in Marion.

Willey graduated from the engineering program at Tri-Rivers. The native of Prospect has always enjoyed creating things with his hands and as a child worked alongside his father who was a carpenter. After graduating from Tri-Rivers, he entered a union carpenter's apprenticeship program. Following graduation from Columbus State Community College, he worked for Kokosing Construction Co. and George J. Igel and Co. He returned to Tri-Rivers in 2017 and has built the school's Construction Trades Academy into a successful program. Speelman said 1 in 6 students who attend Tri-Rivers are enrolled in the program. Willey and his family reside in Richwood.

The Tri-Rivers/Lautenslager Distinguished Service Award for 2023 was presented to Marion Goodwill Industries and the Marion Meijer store. The award is presented in memory of Jack Lautenslager (often referred to as "Mr. Tri-Rivers") "to individuals or groups who donate their time, resources, and talents to Tri-Rivers Career Center and the educational community as a whole," Speelman explained.

"Mr. Lautenslager spearheaded the efforts to pass the original levy that provided the funds to build the career center that opened in 1976," Speelman said. "He continued to share his expertise and talents with Tri-Rivers his entire life."

Tricia Cunningham, workforce development director for Marion Goodwill Industries, accepted the award on behalf of the agency.

Katie Cunningham, store director of Meijer's Marion location, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

For information about Tri-Rivers Career Center, go to the school website tririvers.com.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Tri-Rivers Career Center honors distinguished alumni