The Repository | CantonRep.

com | Sunday, March 27, 2016I7

ALLIANCE
ARTS SCHOOLS never land a good-paying job
can see its possible. Stu-
From Page I5 From Page I5 dents in the welding and auto
technician courses spend
One such destination is The Troll Hole, owned a rural school to have that their senior years working on
and operated by Sherry and Jay Groom. The store diversity. a job site earning $14 to $15
maintains what is said to be the worlds largest col- Marlingtons rural nature an hour, he said.
lection of troll dolls and figurines as well as a variety also influences its unique I look at it as a great
of artwork, but the Grooms aspirations for down- career tech offerings. opportunity to make a differ-
town Alliance go much further. Recently the couple The school offers ence in kids lives.
acquired two new buildings on E. Main Street that accounting, horticulture, Students also benefit from
the Grooms are looking to use to attract an even landscaping and agriculture being around people from all
larger and more diverse audience to the area. students in some of those walks of life.
Our strategy was we had to do something sig- programs cultivate, harvest We are an urban district.
nificant with enough impact to get people to come and sell the contents of the We embrace that, he said.
here, Sherry Groom said. Everything we do down field and a nearby green- Its one of the great qualities
here, we try to make it unique. house as part of their classes. we have here. We are diverse
Ideas range from an environmentally conscious The school launched the COURTESY OF ADAM HERRON and kids learn a lot from each
dry-cleaning establishment to retail outlets to a first oil and gas career tech n Alliance High School was founded in 1860 as Alliance College. The other.
medieval themed gift shop. course in the state after real- district is more urban and one of the more diverse districts in Stark County. But Alliance isnt all work.
Further reinforcement of a downtown Alliance izing the impact the industry The school has a strong
arts district comes by way of ArtsinStark. The had on students and families. School career tech courses) includ- history of athletics, including
organization has targeted five communities in Stark Its been a good class for Alliance High School ing welding, automotive traditional varsity teams, but
County for its 20/ 20 project including Alliance. us and being the first in Ohio strives to offer something for technology, pre-medical also sports such as varsity
According to ArtsinStark chief executive officer was pretty neat because we everyone. professions, sports medicine bowling and swimming,
Robb Hankins, the goal is to work around a theme got to design the program, What I love about Alli- and interactive media. Jackson said.
to attract audiences through culture and entertain- Pepper said. ance High School is that we Every district offers career And students excel off the
ment endeavors. Alliances 20/ 20 theme is The Alliance and Marling- have opportunities for all tech, but Alliance holds those field and on the stage.
Main Crossing, which stems from the citys rail- ton partner on career tech students to graduate col- classes down the hall, not on Our arts programs are off
road legacy. programs, so students can lege- and career-ready, said another campus, so stu- the charts, he said.
Long-term, we want all of Main Street to be attend classes in programs at Principal Shawn Jackson. dents dont have to miss out The school has a strong
animated and come back to life in some way, either school. For students who want on being part of the school, marching band with about
Hankins said. Its made the rivalry to pursue higher education, Jackson said. 130 members, a high school
Another selling point for downtown is its afford- between Alliance and Mar- the school offers numerous Whoever designed this orchestra and a competitive
ability to potential renters. lington more enjoyable, advanced placement courses school, they are a genius for show choir; students begin
If youre going to lease or rent a building, its a Pepper said. and 16 in-house dual-credit making it a comprehensive their involvement in music in
lot cheaper in the downtown arts district than say (Its) a good, healthy courses, alongside several high school, he said. the 5th grade.
up on State Street, Votaw said. rivalry. A lot of our kids full-tuition scholarships Diverse opportunities are Alliance is known for
An addition of a weekly farmers market has also know each other so that to the University of Mount important in an urban high putting on some of the best
garnered more traffic to the area, and Votaw likened makes it fun. Union and Duke University; school like Alliance. musical productions around,
downtown Alliance to downtown Canton in terms last year, the school awarded Alliance does have a high Jackson said.
of its resurgence. ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOL more than $1.4 million in poverty rate, but thats what We have a wide-range of
Just the simple fact that when you have an Founded: 1886 (as Alliance scholarships, Jackson said. makes the high school excit- kids and we are giving them
event like Canton has First Friday, it brings a lot of College) For students who want ing, Jackson said. opportunities to be suc-
people downtown, he said. The more events you Student population: About to take a different path, the Sometimes kids who grow cessful. And our kids take
can plan, thats going to make it more enticing for 860 school offers a career and up in poverty dont have advantage of that.
people to rent and lease buildings. Mascot: The Aviators. college-tech prep route. hope, he said. Thats what
Colors are red and Columbia Alliance has nine career we can offer with all our Reach Jessica at 330-580-8322
Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314 blue. tech programs (they also opportunities. or jessica.holbrook@cantonrep.com
or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com
Rival: Marlington High partner with Marlington for Students who worry theyll On Twitter: @jholbrookREP
On Twitter: @BLiskoREP

PROFESSIONALS
From Page I6
full-tuition scholarships to
the top 15 students in the
graduating class at Alliance
High School. The objec-
tive is to keep the best
and brightest in the city
while they pursue higher
education and, hopefully,
once they begin work-
ing, said Melissa Gardner,
Mounts vice president for
marketing.
Seven sophomores and
seven freshmen have
accepted the scholarships,
and university officials are
identifying businesses who
are interested in partnering
to offer internships to the
students.
Mark Locke, president of
the Alliance Area Chamber
of Commerce, said hes
hopeful the scholarship
program might be expanded
to Stark State College. And
while the scholarship pro-
gram is the biggest initiative
underway to keep younger
community members in the
city, he said, the chamber
has also made an effort to
reach out to professionals
via Facebook, which has
resulted in a younger crowd
at chamber events.
For students at the
university, internship
opportunities with local
companies or national
companies with branches
in Alliance pop up spo-
radically. Students often
shadow at Alliance Com-
munity Hospital, or
student-teach at the city
schools. There are always
some who get hired into the
district, said Director of
Career Development Sara
Fugett, though the univer-
sity doesnt track how many
students stay in Alliance for
work after graduation.
Also at the university, an
incubator is helping stu-
dents create their own jobs.
John Myers, director of
the TA2 business incubator
and entrepreneur in resi-
dence at the university,
assists those interested in
launching a company. Hes
working with one student
who makes flame throw-
ers for use in commercial
agriculture, another who
launched a university-only
resale website, and one who
created an algorithm for
dress pattern resizing.
Myers said the younger
generation has ideas for new
businesses, and millennials
are crucial to the economic
development of a city.
If they leave, whos
left? Myers said.
Reach Alison at 330-580-8312
or alison.matas@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @amatasREP

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