The family of career-focused training schools — West Virginia Junior College (WVJC), East Ohio College (EOC), United Career Institute (UCI) and Boardman Training Center (BTC) — recognizes the hard work and dedication of employees by presenting Leadership Awards for 2026.
Employees throughout the organization nominated this year’s Leadership Award recipients for their exceptional leadership, contributions and commitment to students. These awards celebrate individuals who inspire others, innovate and demonstrate a passion for education.
The recipients of the 2026 Leadership Awards are as follows:
Bridge Builder Award — Mikenzie Warth, Admissions Team Lead
“The people in this company are one of my favorite parts of working here, so receiving an award for bringing people together is really cool.”
Core Values Champion Award — Kacey Eagle, Allied Health Programs Director
“Deeply humbled for the recognition of something I often remind others of, this isn’t just my career, but my passion.”
Educator of the Year Award — Cathy Dewitt, Nursing Faculty
“I am truly appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of these young people’s lives. The best part of my role here at WVJC is seeing the ‘I get it’ look when a student connects all the dots. To me, this is not just a job; it is a lifetime journey.”
Excellence in Service Award — Kellie Moore, Director of Admissions
“It is such an honor to work with an amazing team at West Virginia Junior College. We each bring our own strengths and play a vital role in our students’ lives; from our outstanding marketing team and academic staff to our financial aid team and, of course, our leadership. We are excellent together!”
Innovator of the Year Award — Amanda Sanko, Director of Marketing
“I’m grateful to be part of an organization that encourages ingenuity, strategic problem-solving and forward-thinking ideas. Innovation is never a solo effort; it thrives through collaboration, trust and a shared commitment to better serve our students and communities. I’m excited to continue building solutions that help position our organization for the future.”
Unsung Hero Award — Christina Jarrell, Financial Aid Representative
“I am honored and deeply grateful to be recognized. This recognition would not be possible without the dedicated team I have the privilege of working with every day. Financial aid professionals are often overlooked, and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank my colleagues and teammates for their commitment, collaboration and support. I would also like to thank my leadership team for giving me the opportunity to grow, learn and for their unwavering support and encouragement.”
Unsung Hero Award — Rodie Heater, Simulation Technician
“The only thing I can think to say is how humbled and proud I am to have been nominated, let alone win a leadership award. I’m really just one part of a team that works hard to make sure we are doing everything we can to have a positive impact on the people that we reach. I’m truly thankful to be a part of it.”
Rookie of the Year Award — Megan Weber, Administrative Assistant
“I have learned so much in this last year, so I am honored to receive the award. I have learned a little bit about all departments, and that has been really rewarding for me. I really feel like this is a place that will provide opportunity for me and my future.”
