WALLACE STATE CELEBRATES COMMENCEMENT FOR CLASS OF 2019
Wallace State Fast Track student ZJ Blubaugh received the Presidential Award for Technical Excellence during Friday night’s Commencement Exercises at Wallace State Community College. He was also recognized during President Vicki Karolewics’s annual address that spotlights achievements of Wallace State students.
Z.J. Blubaugh is a young man who never liked school. Though he did exceptionally well in school, in the fifth grade, he declared to his teachers that he would not be attending college. Z.J .wanted to do his work, at his rate, and be done.
Thankfully, during 9th grade orientation, he and his parents learned about the Hancock Academy. Z.J. would ride to the career center, take their core classes online and attend career tech classes the remainder of the day. Though encouraged to take an honors course because of his grades, he had never been excited about school before career tech. Then he learned about Fast Track and really hit his stride taking classes with college students, where he found the challenges he needed. During Z.J.’s time at Fast Track he worked various jobs, including one on the Arsenal and an internship at Reliance Worldwide. For much of his time here, he has worked two jobs while attending college. Now he has been offered a fulltime position in industrial maintenance at RWC once his internship ends on the day he graduates from Good Hope, May 25. He has been a leader and an outstanding representative of the Fast Track program, even speaking to other high schools about the opportunities. Tonight he graduates from Mechatronics. According to his parents, Z.J. is truly proof that “traditional education” does not suit every student.