Tressel helps put career training in the driver’s seat at Utica Shale Academy
Oct 22, 2026
SALINEVILLE — The addition of automotive maintenance instruction using vehicles that transport students to and from Utica Shale Academy was celebrated Monday by Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, other state officials and the leader of a national nonprofit organization that helped fund the project.
Speaking before school administrators and guests, Tressel noted that CNBC recently named Ohio the top state for business attraction, retention and expansion.
He said the projected economic boom is the result of several factors, including the hard work of Gov. Mike DeWine, state and local officials and industry leaders.
“We’re at a moment when the pendulum is swinging in the right direction,” Tressel said.
“The only way to seize that moment is to have players,” said Tressel, a former college football coach, explaining that those players include young Ohioans who must receive the training needed to prepare for future business development.
Tressel said DeWine has stressed that “Every Ohioan needs three non-negotiable things: to be safe, to be physically and mentally healthy, and to have an opportunity to reach their God-given potential.”
He praised Utica Shale Academy for helping its students pursue those opportunities.
William Hansen, chief executive officer of Building Hope, said the school was one of five winners in the national Future Forward Schools Prize grant competition organized by Building Hope and Britebound. Both nonprofit organizations aim to improve access to career and technical education at schools nationwide.
Utica Shale Academy was one of 256 applicants for the grant program, part of a three-year initiative recognizing middle and high schools that introduce students to career preparation early.
As a winner, the school received $50,000 to add automotive maintenance to its curriculum and construct an 840-square-foot storage building for equipment used in the program.
Hansen praised the academy for developing the facilities, acquiring equipment and meeting standards needed to prepare students for industrial careers.
“If you ask students to learn industrial level skills, the (class)room should look like the industry,” he said.
Hansen presented a trophy to Utica Shale Academy Superintendent Bill Watson in recognition of his efforts to establish the school, which provides training in welding, diesel mechanics and industrial maintenance to about 170 students.
Watson introduced U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, noting that the congressman was a strong supporter of the charter school during its development.
Rulli said his role in establishing the school was one of his proudest accomplishments.
“Utica Shale Academy is one of my favorite projects,” he said.
He said he continues to advocate for introducing students to career options as early as fifth and sixth grades to encourage those who might otherwise consider dropping out of school.
Rulli said economic prospects in some areas can appear bleak, leaving young people vulnerable to crime and drug abuse.
“They must learn you don’t have to have that life. You can have a better one,” he said.
Rulli added that a four-year college degree is not the right path for everyone and that a successful welder can earn a six-figure salary without taking on college debt.
Watson said the automotive maintenance program also benefited from $900,000 in state transportation funding secured by state Sens. Brian Chavez, R-30th District, and Al Cutrona, R-33rd District, along with state Reps. Ron Ferguson, R-96th District; Matthew Kishman, R-50th District; Tex Fischer, R-59th District; Monica Robb Blasdel, R-79th District; and Lauren McNally, D-58th District.
The funding allowed the school to expand its fleet of eight-passenger vans from seven to 17.
Watson said the vehicles transport many students to and from school and will also serve as hands-on training tools for lessons in routine maintenance, including oil and tire changes.
“We wanted to create a circular economy in which our students have an opportunity not only to ride to and from school but also to work on those vans,” he said.
Following the remarks, attendees toured the D.B. Dixon Garage, which will serve as the students’ classroom.
The automotive maintenance program also received support through a donation from the D.B. Dixon Trust for Diesel Mechanics.
Known affectionately as “Diesel Dan,” Dixon was a Lisbon resident and self-employed diesel mechanic who excelled as a vocational student and represented his high school in national competitions.
Watson also noted that students from East Liverpool High School’s media arts program attended the event to record it.
“I think that’s really special — one career-tech program using its skills to showcase another. East Liverpool’s students were gaining real experience in media production while highlighting the career opportunities we’re creating for our students. To me, that’s a great example of future-forward education, and their program deserves recognition for it.”
Speaking before school administrators and guests, Tressel noted that CNBC recently named Ohio the top state for business attraction, retention and expansion.
He said the projected economic boom is the result of several factors, including the hard work of Gov. Mike DeWine, state and local officials and industry leaders.
“We’re at a moment when the pendulum is swinging in the right direction,” Tressel said.
“The only way to seize that moment is to have players,” said Tressel, a former college football coach, explaining that those players include young Ohioans who must receive the training needed to prepare for future business development.
Tressel said DeWine has stressed that “Every Ohioan needs three non-negotiable things: to be safe, to be physically and mentally healthy, and to have an opportunity to reach their God-given potential.”
He praised Utica Shale Academy for helping its students pursue those opportunities.
William Hansen, chief executive officer of Building Hope, said the school was one of five winners in the national Future Forward Schools Prize grant competition organized by Building Hope and Britebound. Both nonprofit organizations aim to improve access to career and technical education at schools nationwide.
Utica Shale Academy was one of 256 applicants for the grant program, part of a three-year initiative recognizing middle and high schools that introduce students to career preparation early.
As a winner, the school received $50,000 to add automotive maintenance to its curriculum and construct an 840-square-foot storage building for equipment used in the program.
Hansen praised the academy for developing the facilities, acquiring equipment and meeting standards needed to prepare students for industrial careers.
“If you ask students to learn industrial level skills, the (class)room should look like the industry,” he said.
Hansen presented a trophy to Utica Shale Academy Superintendent Bill Watson in recognition of his efforts to establish the school, which provides training in welding, diesel mechanics and industrial maintenance to about 170 students.
Watson introduced U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, noting that the congressman was a strong supporter of the charter school during its development.
Rulli said his role in establishing the school was one of his proudest accomplishments.
“Utica Shale Academy is one of my favorite projects,” he said.
He said he continues to advocate for introducing students to career options as early as fifth and sixth grades to encourage those who might otherwise consider dropping out of school.
Rulli said economic prospects in some areas can appear bleak, leaving young people vulnerable to crime and drug abuse.
“They must learn you don’t have to have that life. You can have a better one,” he said.
Rulli added that a four-year college degree is not the right path for everyone and that a successful welder can earn a six-figure salary without taking on college debt.
Watson said the automotive maintenance program also benefited from $900,000 in state transportation funding secured by state Sens. Brian Chavez, R-30th District, and Al Cutrona, R-33rd District, along with state Reps. Ron Ferguson, R-96th District; Matthew Kishman, R-50th District; Tex Fischer, R-59th District; Monica Robb Blasdel, R-79th District; and Lauren McNally, D-58th District.
The funding allowed the school to expand its fleet of eight-passenger vans from seven to 17.
Watson said the vehicles transport many students to and from school and will also serve as hands-on training tools for lessons in routine maintenance, including oil and tire changes.
“We wanted to create a circular economy in which our students have an opportunity not only to ride to and from school but also to work on those vans,” he said.
Following the remarks, attendees toured the D.B. Dixon Garage, which will serve as the students’ classroom.
The automotive maintenance program also received support through a donation from the D.B. Dixon Trust for Diesel Mechanics.
Known affectionately as “Diesel Dan,” Dixon was a Lisbon resident and self-employed diesel mechanic who excelled as a vocational student and represented his high school in national competitions.
Watson also noted that students from East Liverpool High School’s media arts program attended the event to record it.
“I think that’s really special — one career-tech program using its skills to showcase another. East Liverpool’s students were gaining real experience in media production while highlighting the career opportunities we’re creating for our students. To me, that’s a great example of future-forward education, and their program deserves recognition for it.”
— Contributed by Jefferson County ESC Public Relations
