Thankful to Be an Aviator!

✈ Jovanni Rainieri ✈
Student at Alliance High School

"I'm thankful to be an Aviator because I have a lot of friends that always support me, and I'm thankful that I'm doing sports broadcasting as my future college and career path!"

#RepthatA
41 minutes ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
✈ Shayla Mays ✈

Graduation Year 🎓: 2009
High School Clubs & Activities 🎺: Band, Basketball, Student Senate, Choir and Pit Orchestra
Career 🏦: College & Career Success Advising Program Coordinator with Breakthrough Central Texas
Location 📍: Austin, TX

How did AHS prepare you for your career?
“I was appropriately challenged in my schoolwork and was set up to think about legacy in a way that drives my current role as an advisor and therapist!”

Favorite Memories from High School:
“Late nights at sporting events, AHS musicals where I served on the tech crew or played in the pit and band events!”

Advice for Current AHS Students:
“Don't be the person who looks back on high school full of regret. Ask for help, get involved, make friends outside your circle and, most importantly, stay true to yourself. It may feel scary at times, but it'll be worth it later!”

Influential Staff Members:
“Mr. Fontaine, Mr. Ballor and Mr. Hampu saw things in me that I didn't always see in myself. I was often overlooked as a student, but they made me feel seen. Sometimes their belief in me carried me until I believed in myself. I strive to bring that same support, compassion and care to those I work with now.”

An Accomplishment You Are Most Proud Of:
“I'm a first-generation college graduate who graduated summa cum laude with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. I now support students and families navigating fears and barriers to college access and success, drawing on my mental health background.”

📢 Submit your AHS Alumni Spotlight form here! 🔗 https://forms.gle/vACpUE2C1CTRGhHq8

#RepthatA
about 3 hours ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
Alliance High School student Gianna Phillips is continuing to make a difference through her involvement with the Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council! ✈️

After serving on the council last year, Gianna returned this year as an Alumni Mentor, supporting current members and bringing what she learned back to her school and community.

In recognition of School Safety Month, Gianna helped lead several kindness initiatives at AHS, including Kindness Bingo, a cafeteria Kindness Wall and Kindness Counts activities at Futures Fest! 🩵 Students and families created cards for nursing home residents and painted kindness rocks to spread positivity throughout the community.

“Leadership should be rooted in purpose. It should be about showing up, finding new ways to serve, and using the opportunities you have to make a difference,” Gianna shared.

A special thank you to everyone who helped make these activities possible, especially Chick-fil-A Alliance, Nellie Lanzer, Cooper Fontaine and the Digital Arts and Design Career Tech class!

#SchoolSafetyMonth #USK250 #RepthatA
about 7 hours ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
Thankful to Be an Aviator!

✈ Kim Gang ✈
Bus Driver & Behavior Management Specialist

"I am so thankful that I work with a great group of people. We are definitely an extended family. We worry about each other and help when we can.

My students are another reason I come to work every day. They can be challenging at times, but a lot of the time they put a smile on my face."

#RepthatA
1 day ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
There are so many reasons to be thankful, and being an Aviator is one of them! 🍂 As Thanksgiving approaches, we're taking time to reflect on what makes Alliance City Schools so special. We asked our students and staff to share why they're thankful to be Aviators, and we can't wait for you to hear their answers!

Follow along as we share their responses leading up to Thanksgiving!

✈ Khloe Durenda ✈
Student at Alliance High School

"I am thankful to be an Aviator because of the amount of opportunities I receive that I will never take for granted. Being an Aviator isn't just being a student who walks through the school doors every day. It means representing something bigger than myself to become the person I wanna become and being a part of our community.

At AHS, I am involved in so many things that keep me busy and involved with the school, and I am so so thankful for the AHS coaches and staff. I am very thankful for the memories and friendships I have created along the way.

Every day gives me a chance to learn something new and make someone proud. I am so thankful to leave a positive impact on people around me. Lastly, I am thankful I get to call myself an Aviator. Once an Aviator, Always an Aviator."

#RepthatA
4 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
The students at Alliance High School created a kindness wall in the cafeteria! Students were able to write kind messages for their peers to take when they needed a pick-me-up.

Some messages included:
❤️ "Dream Big"
🩵 "You are cherished"
❤️ "You've come so far"
🩵 "You're a work of art"

What an amazing activity to help inspire our Aviators and make them feel connected! Way to go, AHS! 😊 #RepthatA
4 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
Did you know the Alliance City Career Tech Planning District has received Five Stars on the last four State Report Cards? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We are proud to partner with Marlington High School to offer 14 high-quality Career Tech programs for Aviators and Dukes during their junior and senior years!

These programs provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences, industry-specific skills and opportunities to explore future careers. We are pleased to offer educational pathways that prepare our students for success in life, college and their future careers! #RepthatA
5 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
We hosted our annual Futures Fest last week! ✈️ The career-oriented event featured a college and career fair for high schoolers and families, with nearly 60 vendors in attendance! The event also included a career show put on by members of the Alliance Middle School National Junior Honor Society and career-themed activities for elementary-age students.

Futures Fest gives students of all ages and their families the opportunity to explore future careers and learn about the paths they need to take to achieve their goals!

We love being able to offer events like this that help prepare all Aviators for Life, College and Careers! #RepthatA
6 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
✈ Anthony Young ✈

Graduation Year 🎓: 2018
High School Clubs & Activities 🏈: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Lunch With a Leader, 99th Squadron and Teton Science Club
Career 🏦: Transportation Civil Engineer 2 at the Ohio Department of Transportation
Location 📍: Alliance, OH

How did AHS prepare you for your career?
“I’d say AHS helped develop my foundation of determination and perseverance. Nothing in life comes easy, and you’ll have to grind it out to reach your goals.”

Favorite Memories from High School:
“My favorite memories at AHS were defeating Louisville in its final year as part of the original NBC Conference and beating Marlington in football.”

Advice for Current AHS Students:
“The biggest piece of advice I have for current students going through AHS is, ‘Everybody starts the race, but only the ones who finish will be remembered.’

Everybody’s goals, dreams and pathways won’t be the same. Don’t try to compare your success, or lack thereof, to anyone else’s. Your story is still developing, and you have more than enough time to influence how it ends. Hunker down, stay focused and grind for what you want in life. No one’s gonna go get it for you besides your reflection in the mirror. You’re capable of many things beyond your own imagination.”

Influential Staff Members:
“Mr. Shively, Mr. Schilling, Mr. Wilson, who was a student teacher at the time, and Mr. Wolfgang. These four teachers helped me during times of struggle inside and outside of school. I’ll forever be grateful for what they were able to teach and pass along to me.”

An Accomplishment You Are Most Proud Of:
“I’d say my top three personal accomplishments were competing in the 2023 NCAA D3 National Championship, obtaining my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.”

📢 Submit your AHS Alumni Spotlight form here! 🔗 https://forms.gle/vACpUE2C1CTRGhHq8

#RepthatA
7 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
The juniors and seniors in the Video Productions Career Tech program took a trip to Cleveland on Friday to see a live taping of the Fox 8 morning show and tour Cleveland State University's film school! 🎥 What a great way for the students to explore future careers in the video production industry and learn about the paths they can take to get there! #RepthatA
8 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
🏆 Congratulations to Alliance High School's Mason Datz for being named the Jobs for Ohio's Graduates (JOG) Student Leader of the Year!

Mason earned this honor after being selected from several nominees across Stark County. 🏆

Mason is an outstanding representative of both the JOG program and Alliance High School, and we couldn't be prouder of him for earning this recognition! Way to go, Mason!

His fellow peers in the AHS JOG program also had a great day learning about leadership from several local business owners, state representatives and keynote speaker Krisner Green.

Keep up the amazing work, Aviators! ✈ #RepthatA
12 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
📢 Reminder: There will be no school on Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3 for Teacher Days. Enjoy the long weekend, Aviators! #RepthatA
12 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
The Choralaires' Mystery Dinner Theater was a great success! 🎭 The cast brought the murder mystery at the Pink Flamingo to life with their great acting skills, dance moves and, of course, singing!

The audience enjoyed the performance along with the delicious appetizers, meals, mocktails and desserts prepared by the Culinary Arts Career Tech Program!

Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward the Choralaires' trip to Carnegie Hall this summer. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our talented Aviators! #RepthatA
12 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
The seniors in the Cosmetology Career Tech program had some guest clients from Alliance High School and Marlington High School this week! ✂️ The students picked the services they wanted, including haircuts, manicures and even paraffin wax treatments.

This was a great opportunity for our future cosmetologists to practice their skills while providing a little pampering for their peers! #RepthatA
13 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
✈ Danielle (Garrett) Duvall ✈

Graduation Year 🎓: 2013
High School Clubs & Activities 🎺: Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Pit Orchestra
Career 🏦: Mortgage Loan Funder and Closer at Alliance Credit, LLC
Location 📍: Alliance, OH

How did AHS prepare you for your career?
“AHS gave me the tools that I needed to prepare for my career by giving me the opportunity to be myself and to ask questions, no matter how small. I was taught time management skills, how to effectively communicate with my peers and how to navigate diverse environments, among many other things. I was always encouraged to seek further knowledge and to keep going when things were difficult. This allowed me to navigate early adulthood and reach my goals!”

Favorite Memories from High School:
“My favorite memories will always be the Friday night football games. Nothing made my heart happier than being on the field marching during halftime and seeing our hard work come to life!”

Advice for Current AHS Students:
“Keep going!! Being bad at something initially just means that you have room to grow and become good at it eventually! You won't always be the best in the room, but you can always be YOUR best. Manage your time AND your energy. Be kind and be willing to learn both personally and professionally. You'll be surprised at how you grow when you allow yourself the space to do so!”

Influential Staff Members:
“Mr. Fontaine, my band teacher, and Mrs. Krichbaum, my Spanish teacher. Mr. Fontaine taught me from 5th through 12th grade and showed me how to have fun and still be productive. He taught me what it meant to work hard even when it felt impossible and that even though things felt hard, they were still achievable with enough effort. Mrs. Krichbaum showed me the importance of being inclusive and still being true to yourself. She taught me how to ask for help and how to show up for others when they needed it. These two teachers helped shape me in ways that I will never forget.”

An Accomplishment You Are Most Proud Of:
“One thing I am most proud of is knowing that even though I may not always know how to do something, I always have the ability and strength to learn. With this thought process, I was able to step into a role that I felt ill-equipped for initially and still managed to end up with three promotions after putting in massive amounts of effort and remembering that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I ended up organizing a messy system, streamlining tasks, training multiple people for the position and filling a needed leadership gap.”

📢 Submit your AHS Alumni Spotlight form here! 🔗 https://forms.gle/vACpUE2C1CTRGhHq8

#RepthatA
14 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
Students in Shelby Schwotzer's biology class had some mixed reactions to a recent lab where they studied a piece of liver! 🧪 Who remembers the fun labs you had when you were in high school biology? 🔬 #RepthatA
15 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
The juniors and seniors in the Premedical Professions Career Tech Program traveled to Kent State University Stark to take part in a disaster drill for senior nursing students! 🩺 They also got to tour the simulation lab and the campus and had time to ask nursing students about their college journey. What a great experience! #RepthatA
19 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
✈ Michael McFerren ✈

Graduation Year 🎓: 1997
High School Clubs & Activities ⛳: Golf and National Honor Society
Career 🏫: 4th-grade teacher at Louisville Elementary School and head golf coach at Louisville High School
Location 📍: Canton, OH

How did AHS prepare you for your career?
“Alliance High School and the amazing teachers that I had helped make me a responsible, respectful, kind and caring young man. The dedication that several of my teachers showed helped lead me to a career in education.”

Favorite Memories from High School:
“- The rides to the Sectional Tournament in Coach Seavy's Crown Victoria while listening to the Forrest Gump soundtrack on loop!
- The hanged/hung debate in Mr. Ballor's class that went on for weeks!
- Hearing all of Mr. Carli's amazing stories of ‘the good old days.’
- Trying to get kicked out of Mr. Morris's pre-calc class because it was the first time I had ever struggled in school, and him refusing to let me out and forcing me to work to succeed. Then, running into him at DeHoff's as an adult and having him tell me that he saw something in me that I didn't see in myself and that was the reason he wouldn't let me out of his class.
- Being an aide in Mr. Seavy's class, where I realized that I was going to go to college to become a teacher.”

Advice for Current AHS Students:
“Alliance High School is an amazing place. You will get out of it what you put into it. If you surround yourself with like-minded people with similar goals, you will find success. Resist the urge to take the easy way out. Hard work pays off!”

Influential Staff Members:
“- Mr. Carli because he truly made learning fun. He genuinely cared about his students.
- Mr. Seavy because he showed me what my future would be. Getting to be an aide in his classroom as a senior sent me to college. Being coached by him led me to a coaching career that I love!
- Mr. Morris because he saw something in this 17-year-old kid that I never saw. He forced me to work for the first time in my academic career, and I got A's in his class because of it!
- Mr. Ballor because anyone who ever had class with him got to experience a legend! My class got to experience the man the year after he was trampled by the bulls in Pamplona. Having him teach our class while walking with a limp and a cane made him even larger than life!”

An Accomplishment You Are Most Proud Of:
“Getting to see 100% of my 4th graders pass the OST a few years ago. Knowing that I helped take some of those students to levels that they didn't think they could achieve tells me that I am right where I need to be.”

📢 Submit your AHS Alumni Spotlight form here! 🔗 https://forms.gle/vACpUE2C1CTRGhHq8

#RepthatA
21 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
There are still tickets available for the Choralaires' Mystery Dinner Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 pm at the Alliance Commons!

Take a trip to The Pink Flamingo Karaoke Bar for some delicious food and a fun mystery to solve. Check out the menu for the evening below. ⬇

🎟 Tickets can be purchased here: https://singingaviators.ludus.com/index.php

#RepthatA
21 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales
Nine members of the AHS Choralaires were selected to participate in the Kent State Honors Choir Festival this past Saturday at Kent State University! 🎶 They represented Alliance alongside 200 other students from 29 school districts, participating in a full day of rehearsals before performing in a final concert that evening.

Congratulations to Reese Hays, Madilynn Stillwagon, Daniel Burse, Jaymes Smith, Evan McMahon, Aidan Kern, Dominic Falconer, Maddy James, and Eva Murphy for this outstanding achievement. 👏 Way to #RepthatA, Aviators!
21 days ago, Cheyanne Gonzales