Leetonia Exempted Village Schools have announced they are the recipients of a nearly $1 million grant aimed at career exploration for students in Leetonia and the rest of Columbiana County.

The grant was awarded by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center and will be administered as $196,400 annual payments for the next 5 years, totaling $982,000 which will go towards the district's Innovative Career Exploration (ICE) program. 

That program gives middle and high school students the opportunity to explore careers through a series of self-assessment tools called YouScience.

The assessment takes about 90 minutes to complete, and once finished, gives students some careers they may be interested in and pairs them with local businesses where they can shadow with potential employers.

The Leetonia Industrial Park and Columbiana County Business Advisory work with the ICE program to facilitate those shadowing opportunities, as well as field trips and speakers to engage students with area businesses.

"The primary goal is for students to develop and create career opportunities with hands-on experience and applied learning. Our hope is to develop pathways for the students with this program. The career exploration is without the risk of commonly associated fears with career placement and/or replacement. I also envision this program assisting students on how their core and elective subject/classes in school can be applied and used in the real world, “ said Leetonia Superintendent Dennis Dunham.

The ICE program is available to 50 students grade 7 through 12. The spots will first be offered to students in Leetonia, and should they not fill all 50 spots, will then be offered to students throughout Columbiana County. 

Students who wish to sign up for the program or businesses looking to partner with the ICE program can do so by contacting Ryan O'Donnell, the Leetonia Site Coordinator for ICE, at office: 330.427.6594, cell: 330.853.9419 or email: [email protected].