On August 27, over 1,000 EHOVE Career Center high school students gathered for an event that was more than just a back-to-school assembly. It was the launch of EHOVE Future Leaders, an optional club offered at the school which challenges students to live drug-free, embrace leadership, and participate in activities to make a positive difference through service to strengthen their communities.
The kickoff event, Lead Where You Stand: Building Stronger Communities Together, set the tone for the school year by spotlighting the power of everyday choices. Assistant Director Matt Ehrhardt, who oversees the program, explained its purpose: “Community leaders and alumni shared personal stories of service and leadership, showing students how everyday choices can create a lasting impact. The messages of hope and purpose encouraged our students to live drug-free, serve others, and lead right where they are.”
EHOVE Future Leaders is open to all students who want to grow personally and professionally. Membership requires random, confidential drug screenings, emphasizing the importance of making healthy, drug-free decisions. Students who commit to the program not only gain valuable learning and community service opportunities, but they also earn something actively sought out on applications to colleges and employers - the distinction of being drug-free.
The event brought together voices from across the region to share their experiences. Ashley Morrow of the Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Christine Boesch and Kendra Faulkner of OHgo, and EHOVE’s own Anthony Gibbs, Criminal Justice Instructor, who all gave powerful testimonies about how living drug-free has shaped their lives and careers.
Community leaders also took the stage. John Bacon of Sandusky Rotary and Jarvis Cole of Greater Sandusky Partnership urged students to consider how service-based leadership can transform communities, reminding them that true leadership often begins with simple acts of kindness and service.
The voice of the students was also front and center. Audry Payton, an EHOVE Education & Family Careers student who also participates in Teen Leadership Corps, issued a heartfelt challenge to her peers. She encouraged them to step up and take action—both at EHOVE and beyond—to create positive change.
Diane Taylor of the Erie County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board was the final speaker. She drove home the event’s theme with a message about being a leader wherever you stand in life, no matter your circumstances.
The celebration concluded with a moment of recognition for current student leaders who are already making an impact. Five students—Penelope Carson, Adam Wilhelm, Kourtney Balde, Abigail Biggins, and Blayke McKillips—received the Community Impact Award for their outstanding commitment to service and leadership.
EHOVE Future Leaders is more than just a club. It reflects the school’s mission of preparing the future workforce for in-demand careers through skilled hands-on education, and is a commitment to a lifestyle and a mindset—choosing to be drug-free, choosing to serve, and choosing to lead. It also represents a chance for students to set themselves apart in ways that will open doors for years to come. For the community, it’s an investment in the next generation of responsible, compassionate leaders.
Photos from the event will be posted at www.Facebook.com/EHOVEworks.