Bethel, OH – April 2025 – This spring, a group of Grant Career Center students is taking learning beyond the classroom and into the heart of Appalachia.
From April 29 to May 2, 30 to 40 students will travel to Summersville, West Virginia, for a multi-day service-learning trip focused on giving back to local communities and first responders in the region. Accompanied by a team of ten staff members, students will take on projects such as rehabilitating a volunteer fire department, hosting community cookouts, and organizing a goods distribution at a local women’s shelter.
The trip is part of Grant’s commitment to preparing students not only with technical skills, but with compassion, leadership, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
“Our students are gaining real-world experience while also making a real-world impact,” said Mike Parry, Superintendent of Grant Career Center. “It’s not just about what they’re learning in the classroom—it’s about how they use those skills to serve others.”
The students will stay at Summersville Baptist Church, which provides volunteer accommodations including sleeping quarters, dining space, and restrooms. In preparation for the trip, Grant Career Center is also leading a school-wide drive to collect non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, socks, and undergarments for donation to the shelter.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process and must maintain strong standing in both academic and career-technical classes. Thanks to the support of Grant Career Center and its partners, the trip is completely free of cost to students.
This opportunity represents the school’s larger mission: empowering students to grow into skilled professionals and compassionate citizens ready to make a difference.
Stay tuned! Photos and stories from the trip will be added here as they come in
