Alumni

Vantage Alumni Highlights & Current Career Tech News

We want to hear from our Vantage Alumni, high school and/or adult programs! Your journey and achievements can help inspire current and future students. We invite you to share your story by completing our 50th Anniversary Alumni Highlights Questionnaire. Your experiences and insights will show the real-world impact Vantage’s programs can have on a student whether you are in your program industry or not. We know your story will motivate the next generation of students to pursue their passions.

By participating, you’ll not only be featured in our alumni highlights across publications and social media, but you’ll also have the chance to reconnect with the Vantage community.

Mark your calendar for our Vantage Open House on February 24, 2025 from 5-7:30 p.m.! This special event is the perfect opportunity to revisit your roots, see how Vantage has evolved, and connect with fellow alumni, students, and staff. Don’t miss out on this exciting day to celebrate our shared successes and explore the latest innovations in career-technical education.

Complete the questionnaire today and let your story inspire others to follow in your footsteps! To contact us directly, please email Mrs. Miriam Owens at [email protected] or call 419.238.5411 x2169. 

Alumni

The Vantage Career Center Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes graduates who have, through their performance and achievement, brought credit and honor to themselves and to Vantage after graduation. Their exemplary public, personal, and career achievements will serve to inspire and provide leadership to future graduates to achieve and serve in the same distinguished manner.

Inductees: 
Bill Gordon (Wayne Trace), 1979 Graduate of Machine Tools Technology, Owner of Gordon Tools - Inducted in 20162016
Faith Ebel Fabian (Van Wert), 1979 Graduate of Early Childhood Education, Director of Wee Care Learning Center - Inducted in 20162016
Rick Turner (Crestview), 1979 Graduate of Machine Tool Technology, Director of Adult Education Apollo Career Center - Inducted in 20162016
Mindy Miller Fairbanks (Ottoville), 1991 Graduate of Cosmetology, Owner Fairbanks Solutions, LLC - Inducted in 20162016
Kent Taylor (Crestview), 1979 Graduate of Electricity, Retired Vantage Electricity Instructor - Inducted posthumously in 20172017
Keith Wiseman (Van Wert), 1978 Graduate of Auto Body Repair, Manager of Superior Collision - Inducted in 20172017
Tony Nighswander (Antwerp), 1983 Graduate of Auto Body Repair, Owner of APT Manufacturing - Inducted in 20182018
Jeffrey Schulte (Kalida), 2002 Graduate of Machine Tool Technology, Plant Manager of Unverferth Manufacturing - Inducted in 20182018
Shawn Herr (Continental), 2004 Graduate of Industrial Mechanics, Chief Recruitment Division Commander, United States Navy - Inducted in 20182018
Randy Warnecke (Ottoville), 2004 Graduate of Carpentry, Cabinet Builder/Installer, Lima Millworks - Inducted in 20192019
Christina Gonzales (Paulding), 1981 Graduate of Early Childhood Education, Retired CEO & Director of Operations of PC Workshops - Inducted in 20192019
James Shaffer (Mendon), 1977 Graduate of Agri-Business, Owner of Jim Shaffer Realty L.L.C - Inducted in 20192019
****COVID-19 pushed the 2020 nominations and inductees to the 2021 Induction ceremony****
Kelly Walls Lloyd (Mendon-Union), 1977 Graduate of Cooperative Office Education, AVP Business Development Manager First Financial Bank - Inducted in 20212021
John Schimmoeller (Ottoville), 1991 Graduate of Carpentry, Owner of Schimmoeller Construction, Triple D Enterprises, & Chomp It Recycling - Inducted in 20212021
Candy Sutton Lammers (Van Wert), 1994 Graduate of Office Technology, Owner of CSL Contracting - Inducted in 20222022
Bryon Wells (Van Wert), 1999 Graduate of Manufacture Engineering Technology, Police Officer / DARE Officer Van Wert - Inducted in 20222022
Roy Klopfenstein (Wayne Trace), 1979 Ag Business, Ohio House of Representatives - Inducted 20232023
Adam Brincefield (Van Wert), 2000 Machine Tool Technology, Van Wert County Ohio State Highway Patrol Sargent - Inducted 20232023
Krista Schroeder (Delphos Jefferson), 1999 Health Careers, Schroeder Realty - Inducted 20232023
Dan Bowers (Paulding), 1988 Ag Diesel, Advanced Chassis - Inducted 20232023
Nathan Arn, Ag Diesel, Heritage Farm Equipment - Inducted 20242024
Mike Recker, Kevin Van Oss, Unverferth Manufacturing - Inducted 20242024
Check out this newspaper insert from the year Vantage opened

Connect

Vantage Career Center wants to be sure to connect with our Alumni.  Please take a few minutes and fill out a form to help us connect.  We will expand this page in the next few months.  
 
 
 

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