Pickaway-Ross CTC

Savannah Hite knows what she wants to do, now that high school is over.

Thanks to Pickaway-Ross and her personal drive, she will pursue becoming a teacher when she majors in Early Childhood Education this fall at Hocking College.

Savannah completed the career center's Early Childhood Education program last spring. During her senior year, she began working as a teacher's assistant at Kids Clubhouse in Chillicothe.

"I've always wanted to be a teacher," Savannah said. "Going to Pickaway-Ross helped me focus on what grade I wanted to teach."

Savannah visited the Cosmetology, Early Childhood and Medical Career programs during her sophomore tour.

"I knew I wanted to go to Pickaway-Ross. I knew the opportunities there would lead me to something for my future."

In addition to giving her a head start on her career path, Savannah also got a financial boost when she was awarded the Joseph Landman Memorial MADE Scholarship.

The scholarship program was established by Kristy Landman, Pickaway-Ross' Security Guard. Kristy, who retired at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, created the scholarship in honor of her son, who died from a drug overdose in 2017.

Kristy was an advocate for MADE, Pickaway-Ross' drug-free club. 

In previous years, MADE members would apply for the scholarship, submitting an essay as part of the process. But because students weren't on campus after March 16, Kristy sought nominations from teachers.

"During her time in the (Early Childhood) program she discovered her passion working with children as well as the ability to be a good leader," Savannah's lab instructor Missy Brown said on why she nominated her. 

"Savannah not only excelled in the senior lab, she served as a teacher's assistant and provided support for the juniors in the preschool classroom."

Savannah is the eighth student to benefit from the scholarship since the program's inception and she is grateful for it.

"I'm so thankful to (Missy) for nominating me," Savannah said. "I'm excited to start college and to see what it brings."