LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Rhodes State students walked across the stage Saturday morning and are moving on to the next chapter of their lives.

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Rhodes State College held their final Board of Trustees meeting of the year on Tuesday. 

GROB has moved from making components for combustible engines to electric vehicles to looking at making components for batteries for those vehicles. Along the way, the skill sets of their workforce continue to be more advanced and so does the training needed for the apprentices that will be working at GROB.  Community colleges like Rhodes are ready to train students, whatever the need that manufacturers have.

Rhodes State College helped get students ready to start their education career. The college has around 300 new students starting this fall, so they held a welcome day to help them meet other classmates and their instructors, learn about some of the support services on campus and get their books and supplies they will need before classes start.  Doctor Cynthia Spiers had some advice for the incoming students, which was to find their passion to help them in their education and in life. 

The college split the 300 graduates into two separate commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Veteran Civic and Convention Center. Dr. Cynthia Spiers says she was happy to shake the hands of each and every graduate this year. She adds that they are not only trained for a career but they have been trained in resiliency because of the pandemic. When it comes to finding their first job out of college, they do not have to go far.

Rhodes State College President Cynthia Spiers adds, “Rhodes State has almost all the programs they’re looking for. We’re already beginning to bring A-1 which is also one of the programs they’re looking for. We’re very well positioned to provide what they need.”

Alberta Lee was honored with the inaugural Drs. Earl and Nancy Keese Community Leadership Award. President Dr. Cynthia Spiers says Lee's name came right to mind when determining the award winner. Lee has dedicated her life to Allen County and Rhodes State College. She has served in a number of capacities like an Allen County Commissioner. For the college, she's involved with the Rhodes State College Foundation Board and had a direct hand in bringing the new Center for Health Science Education building to downtown Lima.

A bill in the Ohio House of Representatives could spell trouble for college and university funds in Ohio. The House Finance Committee is discussing House Bill 670, capital re-appropriations across the state. At the end of April, the state was in nearly an $800 million deficit. The bill plans millions of dollars in cuts to higher education funds to be moved elsewhere in the state. Rhodes State College has already started the construction of its downtown Lima Center for Health, Science, Education and Innovation building.

The Rhodes State College Board of Trustees held a virtual meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the upcoming budget cuts the school will be faced with. Employees were sent a letter on May 11 stating the college would see a 20% reduction in state funding for the 2021 Fiscal Year. This equates to between 2.2 and 2.7 million dollars. Because of this and declining enrollment, it led to program cuts and staff layoffs.

We introduced you all to the Tech Cred Program in October. This bill establishes that program, as well as two more that legislators believe, will close a workforce gap. Gov. Mike DeWine officially signed House Bill 2 on Monday. It systematically organizes the Tech Cred Program, the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP), and the Industry Sector Partnership Grant. Tech Cred allows employers to be reimbursed for their employees to be trained in an industry-recognized credential. Also through IMAP, individuals can apply for grants to be reimbursed, if their employer won’t take part in the program.