Blood drive planned

Life Skills Center of Akron will hold a blood drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 26 at the school, 80 W. Bowery St., Ste. 400, Akron.

The school's goal is to collect 25 pints. No appointment is necessary to donate blood.

For information, call 330-376-8700.

College presenter offers job advice

Mary Kazmir, High School Presenter for Ohio Technical College, came to Life Skills Center of Akron to speak to students about the various programs & opportunities available at the school.

She said OTC Offers programs in Automotive Technology, BMW Training, PowerSport Technology, Custom Paint & Graphics, Generator Power Systems, Diesel Equipment Technology, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology, Classic Car Restoration Technology, Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology, High Performance & Racing Technology.

The school offers Associate Degrees in just 18 months with classes Monday-Thursday, and tutoring available on Fridays, Kazmir said, and also assists with part-time job placement and career placement opportunities

To learn more about Ohio Technical College, students, and their parents are invited to attend an Open House on April 25.

"The presentation was interesting and informative, to those who know everything about cars, and to those who don't even have an interest," School Vocational Specialist Morgan Domokos said.

Kazmir's afternoon presentation will be rescheduled due to the weather.

Job help offered

When it comes to work, it pays off to dress for success.

That was the message from makeup artist Sue Prosser, right, who spoke Wednesday in the first presentation in Life Skills Center of Akron's job-readiness series.

"Our image starts with how we perceive ourselves," Prosser said. "It's unfortunate, but people do judge us on how we appear. If you look better, you will feel better."

Prosser gave two presentations to about a dozen students at the school.

She said it's good to have a proper attitude during interviews.

"They can be scary," Prosser said. "There is nothing wrong with being nervous. You just don't want to be intimidated."

Vocational Specialist Morgan Domokos, who helped organize the event, said she was happy to provide the presentations for students.

"When I was younger, no one sat me down like this (to talk about job-readiness skills)," she said.

Akron school holds open house

Life Skills Center of Akron held its open house Tuesday.

"We had several parents attend and we discussed student progress," Master Teacher Cindy Steinel said. "It was encouraging. (Several) students also came in to enroll today."

Job-readiness speakers

Life Skills Center of Akron will host several job-readiness speakers for students.
Sessions are held 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the school.

The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 6, March 5 and April 2 --- Professional makeup artist Sue Prosser

Feb. 12 --- Representative from the Ohio Technical College

Feb. 28 --- Representative from the Akron Institute

3 p.m. March 11 and 11 a.m. March 12 --- Representative from Brown Mackie College

For information, call 330-376-8700.

Student Appreciation Week

Life Skills Center of Akron is continuing its Student Appreciation Week through Friday.

The school will hold Food Day today, Game Day on Thursday and Mystery Day on Friday.

For information, call the school at 330-376-8700.

Life Skills Center of Akron open house

The school, located in the fourth floor of 80 W. Bowery St., will host an open house 1-5 p.m. Feb. 5.

For information, call 330-376-8700.

Collection held for students

Life Skills Center of Akron is collecting clean household goods and clothing to keep which will be distributed to students in need of help.

Items can be dropped off at the school, 80 West Bowery (fourth floor). between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For information, call 330-376-8700.

Video from Life Skills Centers of Akron, North Akron and Summit County graduations

Akron Life Skills Centers students graduate





Graduation processional





Akron Life Skills Centers graduation slide show





Life Skills Center of North Akron graduate does the split

Quotes from Akron graduates

"It's a relief. I'm happy and ready to keep moving forward."

Terrence Clayton, 22, Akron
Life Skills Center of Summit County




"It feels good. It's finally over."

Michael Conley, 18, Akron
Life Skills Center of Summit County





"It feels wonderful. I'm so ready to go to college."

Summer O'Brien, 21, Akron
Life Skills Center of North Akron






"I'm excited to be done and not going back to high school."

Kayla Cervantes, 18, Copley
Life Skills Center of Summit County




"Education is the key to financial stability. Life Skills does work. I'm proof of that."

Franci McCray, 21, Akron
Life Skills Center of Akron




"We should be proud of what we've done, but we shouldn't lose sight. It doesn't end here."

Sarah Gibson, 19, Norton
Life Skills Center of Summit County

Life Skills Center of Akron graduation details

The school will hold its winter graduation 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Akron Public Library.

Thanksgiving feast offered for students

Staff members at Life Skills Center of Akron pitched in to prepare a Thanksgiving feast Nov. 20 for about 80 students.

Sandy Langer, the school administrator, said staff members donated and prepared most of the food for a family feast that featured turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and several other side dishes and desserts.

“The staff feels very close to the students and it seemed appropriate to have a family style dinner for them before Thanksgiving,” Langer said.

Teacher Cindy Steinel talks about the feast



Teachers serve the dinner to students



Students eating the dinner



Slide show from the event

Honoring veterans

Students at the school wrote letters to either a veteran they knew or a soldier currently in Iraq.

"We're going to ship a box over to Iraq," Master Teacher Cindy Steinel. "The students enjoyed it and they were receptive to the idea."

Here is an example of a letter written by student Ashley Lowery.

Helping out

Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy Executive Assistant Marty Steen smiles as she donates blood Tuesday during an Election Day American Red Cross Bloodmobile at Life Skills Center of Akron. Steen helped the school reach its goal of 25 donors, which earned the school $500 in scholarship funding.

Family Advocate James Hill talks about the drive here.

School to host blood drive

Life Skills Center of Akron, located on the fourth floor of the Arcade Building, 80 W. Bowery St., will host a blood drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 6 at the school.

If the school reaches its goal of 25 donors, it will receive $500 in scholarship funds for students.

Akron schools in the process of adding lunch program

Life Skills Centers of Akron and North Akron are in the process of adding a lunch program for its students, while Life Skills Center of Summit County will continue its program.

The board of the schools recently approved the program.

Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones said the program should take 3-6 months to be implemented.

"We're ready to move forward and offer free meals to everyone," Jones said.

Students will be asked to fill out a lunch application prior to the implementation of the program.

A pilot program was started at Life Skills Centers of Canton, Summit County and Dayton earlier this year and was successfully implemented, Life Skills Center Vice President Rodd Coker said.

Drawing with a purpose

Life Skills Center of Akron student Louis Reddest, a full-blooded American Indian, talks about his poetry, drawing and the school.

"Bring a Friend"

Brief slide show from recent Life Skills Center of Akron "Bring a Friend" breakfast. There is no audio with the program.

Akron schools consider pilot lunch program

Life Skills Centers of Akron and North Akron are considering launching a pilot lunch program for students who qualify financially, while Life Skills Center of Summit County will continue its program.

"We're in the process of talking to the boards this month about the program," said Life Skills Centers Vice President Rodd Coker.

Participating students are asked to fill out a lunch application before taking part in the program.

“Research shows that there is a correlation between good nutrition and student achievement,” said Life Skills Centers Special Projects Coordinator Ron Jones. “One of out goals is to provide every Life Skills Center student a nutritious meal at no charge.”

The pilot program was started at Life Skills Centers of Canton, Summit County and Dayton earlier this year and was successful, Coker said.

Early meal

Students eat breakfast with their guests during a recent Bring a Friend Day held at the school.