FRIENDS & FAMILY

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We encourage friends and families to focus less on having all the answers and more on helping someone take the next step. The most important thing you can do is support their growth, build their confidence, and keep learning at the center of the journey.

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The Real Story.

Stability and Providing for Families

For many families in Northwest Ohio, a good job is about being able to count on something. It’s knowing the bills will be paid, the lights will stay on, and there’s enough left to build a life. It’s the ability to buy a home, raise kids, and plan for the future without constant uncertainty. That mindset has been passed down for generations, and it still shapes how people think about work today.

That kind of stability still exists in the region. Across Northwest Ohio, industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics continue to offer steady, full-time work with benefits. It’s common to find jobs that include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and opportunities to grow over time. Many employers have been providing for generations of families. Examples of the longevity of companies in the region include Garner Trucking (since 1960), Blanchard Valley Health System (since 1891), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (since 1887), Whirlpool Findlay (since 1967), Ohio Logistics (since 1988), Huntington Bank (since 1866), Rudolph Libbe Group (since 1955), and Sheldon Gas (since 1914).

You can see this longevity play out in real life. It’s the parent who started on the floor and worked their way into a supervisor role. It’s the healthcare worker who found a stable schedule and benefits that support their family. It’s the technician who learned a skill, stayed with a company, and built a career over time. These stories are common here. Stability isn’t just an idea—it’s something people are still building every day in Northwest Ohio.

Staying Rooted While Moving Forward

For a long time, people have believed that to find something new or exciting, you have to leave. But in Northwest Ohio, that’s no longer the full story. You can build a life in a community and still be part of work that is growing, changing, and moving forward. Being rooted here does not mean being stuck; it means having a strong starting point.

Across the region, employers are investing in new technology, modern equipment, and better ways of doing work. New businesses, startups, and expanded operations are continuing to choose Northwest Ohio because they see the work ethic of the people and the opportunity to lean into the region’s strengths for the betterment of others. From advanced manufacturing and automation to healthcare innovation, data systems, and logistics technology, the work happening here today looks very different than it did even ten years ago. The region is adapting to what’s next.

As an example of the region’s roots moving forward, Northwest Ohio is known for manufacturing. However, there are more robots in Northwest Ohio than anywhere else in the country! Manufacturers are using advanced technology to improve the efficiency and quality of products, while transitioning their employees to higher-paying jobs (technicians working with robotics). Robots are not reducing the number of jobs, they are helping people move to roles that require human thinking and problem-solving.

For those willing to grow, Northwest Ohio offers something many places cannot: the ability to stay grounded while still being part of something that feels current, relevant, and innovative.

Community and Looking Out for Each Other

In Northwest Ohio, support is steady, quiet, and there when needed. It shows up in small moments: someone making an introduction, a teacher pointing a student in the right direction, an employer giving someone a chance to learn. Communities are working to make sure people have options, not stepping into their decisions.

Behind the scenes, there is a lot of coordination that helps make life and career decisions easier. Schools, employers, and community organizations are working together to create opportunities (such as career events, hands-on experiences, and training programs that connect directly to real jobs). Most people don’t see all of that work happening, but they feel the impact when a door opens, a connection is made, or the next step becomes clearer.

What makes Northwest Ohio different is how this support is offered. People can take advantage of it when they’re ready. And when they do, they will most often find people willing to help, answer questions, and point them in the right direction.

  • Every school district employs a counselor to help students with course selection, graduation requirements, and next steps. Some districts employ additional staff to specialize in career readiness. Use the links below to find your student’s school website(s).

  • Looking for information on the courses students may take in high school? Find your student’s course catalog using the links below.

  • The State of Ohio requires students to complete more than high school courses to graduate. While there are still requirements about specific courses to be taken and certain credits to be received, there are other requirements for today’s graduate. Stay informed on the State’s graduation requirements through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

  • Ohio offers students in grades 7-12 the chance to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce provides the most up-to-date information on College Credit Plus (CCP) requirements and rules.

    For families interested in learning more about CCP, Raise the Bar recommends they attend their school’s annual CCP information night. These events are generally hosted in January and February, allowing students time to complete the required forms to apply for CCP enrollment before the annual April 1 deadline.

    Every public school district in Hancock County (and across Ohio) is required to cover the cost of a student participating in CCP, with exceptions. However, not every district offers CCP courses on site at the middle/high school. Therefore, students need to work with their school’s guidance counselor to determine which, if any, CCP courses are taught on site (by a district employee) or if the CCP course must be completed online or at the chosen university/college.

    Important Considerations:

    • Families know their child best. CCP could be a great option for some students, while it may not be advantageous for others. It is essential to understand the rigor and expectations of the course before enrolling for dual high school/college credit. Final grades carry forward onto college transcripts because they are college courses.

    • Completing CCP courses in high school does NOT necessarily reduce the amount of time/courses needed for a college degree. All colleges and universities require specific general education and major-specific courses for degrees. While a K-12 school district may offer a variety of CCP courses, it is vital for families to consider the applicability of each course toward a student’s degree pathway. To determine how a CCP course may satisfy college degree requirements, review the degree’s course requirement checksheet at the student’s prospective college(s). Also, look for the transferability of the CCP course using Transferology.

    • Many colleges and universities offer career pathway maps for their CCP course offerings. Families can use these course maps to choose the right CCP courses for their student to complete.

    • CCP is also available to students at Ohio’s private schools as well as homeschool students. Special forms must be completed.

A young woman with dark hair and gold hoop earrings smiling at the camera, sitting at a table with a notebook and a blue pen, in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Simple Ideas

Help Them Stay On Track in School

Two women sitting at a small table in a cafe, smiling and chatting while holding disposable coffee cups.

Help Them Cover College, Training, or Certification Costs

  • Learning should not stop after high school. Today, most good jobs need some kind of training beyond a diploma. This does not always mean a four-year college. It can be a certificate, an apprenticeship, or learning on the job. In fact, about 6 out of 10 jobs now require education or training after high school. The goal is to keep building skills over time to grow and have more career choices in the future.

    People who keep learning often earn more money over time. On average, workers with a college degree earn about $1 million more in their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. But college is not the only way to succeed. Many people start working right away and learn a trade while getting paid. Jobs like electricians, mechanics, and technicians offer hands-on training and strong wages. This path lets people earn money while they learn valuable skills.

    No matter which path someone chooses, the most important thing is to keep learning. Jobs change, and new skills are always needed. People who continue learning can move up, try new things, and stay ready for what comes next. Lifelong learning helps people grow in their careers and in their confidence. The path may look different for everyone, but the goal is the same: never stop learning.

  • Individuals can pursue local, statewide, or even national scholarships to help cover the cost of their future education. Scholarships include specific eligibility criteria and require individuals to provide more information on their academics, extracurriculars, and future plans.

    LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS

    Seventy-five percent (75%) of students who are awarded scholarships receive them from private or community organizations (educationdata.org). Since many local scholarships limit eligibility to graduates from the region, the pool of applicants is much smaller than statewide or national scholarships.

    Students from Hancock County schools should strongly consider applying to the 200+ scholarships offered through the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. The Community Foundation manages these scholarships on behalf of donors, growing the donors’ funds annually to allow scholarships to be awarded year after year.

    Community organizations (e.g., Altrusa, Elks, Kiwanis, sports groups, etc.) also offer scholarships. These applications can often be found on their websites or by asking the organization’s members/volunteers for the application. Most school counselors keep scholarship lists and application deadlines.

    Local employers also offer scholarships, especially to children of current employees. The Tall Timbers Park Association offers a scholarship program on behalf employees at one of the businesses in the Tall Timbers Industrial Park, while Marathon Petroleum Corporation offers scholarships to employees’ children. Additional businesses in Hancock County offering scholarships include Valgroup, Ball, Whirlpool, Old Fort Bank, and Blanchard Valley Health System.

    STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS

    Ohio’s professional associations and private organizations provide scholarships to eligible students. Often, these statewide scholarships limit applicants to individuals pursuing specific programs—although some may award scholarships based on family income level and/or high school achievements. Unfortunately, there is not an online database of Ohio-specific scholarships to search. Raise the Bar recommends individuals contact the Ohio Society of Association Professionals to determine if a professional association exists in Ohio that may represent the student’s future career/industry. Individuals should also look into statewide corporations that provide services in their community.

    NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

    Individuals should carefully consider how much time and energy they put into national scholarship applications. The pool of applicants is large and highly selective. Raise the Bar strongly encourages individuals to pursue local scholarships first, and then look at other options nationally.

    FastWeb offers a robust listing of national scholarships. Some applications require essays and demographic information, while other awards are made through sweepstake drawings (e.g., provide contact information and name entered into a drawing). Be on the look out for scams when pursuing national scholarships! Not all promoted scholarships are real and sometimes the information collected is sold to 3rd parties.

  • FASFA® stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a federal financial aid application that families should file since many scholarships, loans, and grants require the FASFA during application.

    Local high schools offer financial aid nights to review the requirements of and process to file the FASFA. Families are strongly encouraged to attend one of the financial aid nights. Since the FASFA rules and regulations may change over time, it is important for families to attend a financial aid night for each student during their senior year.

    Every financial contributor (the student, their spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or their parent's spouse) needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online form. Additional documents and personal information are also required and should be gathered early.

    The FASFA opens each year on October 1st. Follow studentaid.gov for application steps and deadlines.

  • Ohio generously offers several grant and loan programs. Grants (and scholarships) are awards that directly lower students' out-of-pocket costs and generally do not have to be repaid. Loan programs require students to repay some or all of a qualifying graduate's educational loans. The Ohio Department of Higher Education maintains the active list of state-funded grant and loan programs.

  • The federal government offers grant and loan programs. As similar to Ohio, grants often reduce out-of-pocket expenses and generally do not need repayment (however, the grant program may require years of service in a field after graduation to qualify for non-repayment). Loans must be repayed. Studentaid.gov maintains information about federal financial aid.

    Federal Pell Grants are common. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. In general, students must maintain enrollment in an undergraduate course of study at a nonforeign school to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Additionally, the student must fill out the FAFSA form every year to stay eligible for federal student aid.

    Students pursuing K-12 education may consider a TEACH grant. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program requires graduates to teach full time for at least four (4) years in a high-need field at a low-income school or educational service agency. Otherwise, funds must be repayed.

  • Pursuing a career with purpose means choosing work that feels important, not just something that pays a paycheck. It is about using personal strengths to do something that helps others, solves problems, or makes a difference in the community. Purpose can be as simple as helping a customer, building something useful, caring for others, or being part of a team that keeps things running. When people feel their work matters, they are more motivated, more confident, and more likely to stay committed over time.

    Meaning also grows as people learn and gain experience. A job may not feel like a “perfect fit” right away, but meaning can develop through new skills, relationships, and opportunities. That is why it is important to stay open, keep learning, and look for ways the work connects to something bigger. The goal is not just to get a job—it is to build a life where work feels worthwhile and aligned with who they are becoming.

  • Hancock County students are taking assessments in school to better understand themselves and their strengths. Although these assessments can point out careers to which a student may be best aligned, simply getting the list of possible careers is not enough. Students need someone to review their results and help them work through their options and next steps.

    YouScience Aptitude and Interest

    All Hancock County high school students take the YouScience aptitude and interest assessment at some point during grades 9-12. Students are able to access their results for 10 YEARS! Encourage students to add a non-school email address to their account so they can continue to access results (and retake the interest assessment annually) after graduation.

    Going over their results together is essential. Family members may be able to access their student’s report through the family portal with YouScience if the school has enabled that feature. Otherwise, students can log into their account for you and/or they can download three (3) different reports (Aptitude Results, One-Page Summary, Discussion Guide) in a PDF.

    Use this YouScience video to understand the data available and how to use information when considering careers, completing scholarship applications, or preparing for interviews.

  • It’s easy to ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But that question can feel limiting—many adults don’t even know how to answer that question. Asking this focuses on a job title instead of what really matters—how someone wants to contribute and how they might make a difference.

    A more helpful approach is to guide conversations toward impact. Supporters can ask simple, open-ended questions like:

    • Who do you enjoy helping?

    • What kinds of problems catch your attention?

    • Do you like building, organizing, fixing, creating, or leading?

    • When do you feel proud of something you’ve done?

    These questions help uncover patterns. Over time, those patterns become clearer and more useful than a single answer about a future job.

    This shift also takes pressure off needing to “have it all figured out.” When students focus on impact, they begin to see that many different careers can lead to similar outcomes. Someone who likes helping others could work in healthcare, education, customer service, or community programs. Someone who enjoys building spaces for others to enjoy could find purpose in construction, manufacturing, or engineering.

    When supporters guide these kinds of conversations, they help someone build a stronger sense of direction based on how they want to make a difference.

Help Them Pursue With Purpose

  • Volunteering gives people a chance to step into environments where work is happening and people are solving problems. They meet staff, leaders, and other volunteers who are already doing the work. These natural interactions make it easier to ask questions, learn about different roles, and begin building relationships. Over time, those connections can lead to recommendations, job opportunities, or simply a better understanding of other people.

    It also helps people connect with a sense of purpose. Volunteer experiences are often centered around helping others, improving a community, or supporting a cause. This makes it easier to see how effort leads to impact. These moments help them understand what feels meaningful to them.

    Just as important, volunteering instills habits that matter in any career. They learn how to show up, communicate, and be part of something bigger than themselves. Volunteering helps people see how their strengths can contribute to real needs, which is where the connection between purpose and work becomes clear.

    Volunteer Ideas

    • United Way of Hancock County routinely organizes opportunities for individuals, groups, and businesses as well as keeps a list of active volunteer needs.

    • Local service clubs (e.g., Kiwanis, Elks, VFW, Rotary) participate in community events and other volunteer opportunities. If you are a member of one such club, invite a student to volunteer with you.

    • School districts often organize volunteer opportunities for their students. Students should take on active participatory roles in these experiences to make connections.

    • Non-profit organization events raise funds to help those they serve. While events may include galas, 5Ks, garage sales, etc. the monies raised and time spent organizing the event provides for countless individuals in the community each year.

  • Days off of school and summer breaks are great times for students to job shadow in the workplace. Job shadow experiences typically last one (1) business day, with the student following a professional around and learning about their day-to-day tasks.

    Supporters can help students arrange a job shadow by starting with interests, not job titles. Ask simple questions like, “What kind of work do you want to see up close?” or “Do you want to work with people, tools, or technology?” Once there’s a general direction, look within your existing network of friends, coworkers, neighbors, or community members.

    If a connection is not obvious, Raise the Bar can help the student reach out more broadly (complete this form to help Raise the Bar find a good fit). This could include contacting local businesses, talking to school staff, or attending community events. The key is to support the student in making the request themselves. Help them practice a simple introduction and ask, but let them take the lead to build confidence and communication skills.

    Before the visit, help the student prepare a few questions and understanding basic expectations like being on time and engaged. After the job shadow, encourage them to follow up with a thank-you and reflect on what they learned. These conversations turn a short experience into something more valuable.

    Use this resource guide to help organize a meaningful job shadow experience.

  • Meeting for coffee or lunch is a common part of the professional world. Many conversations, ideas, and opportunities begin in these informal settings. Helping someone take part in a simple coffee or lunch meeting gives them early exposure to how adults build relationships. Coffee and lunch also feel more relaxed than a formal interview, which makes it easier to ask questions and learn.

    These experiences also help students practice important life skills. Ordering food, making small talk, listening, and showing appreciation are all part of professional etiquette. Students learn how to introduce themselves, keep a conversation going, and be respectful of someone’s time. They can also learn simple habits like arriving on time, putting their phone away, and saying thank you.

    Just as important, coffee or lunch meetings teach responsibility and awareness. Students begin to understand things like who pays, how to handle a bill, and how to act in shared spaces. Supporters can guide them ahead of time so there are no surprises, and the first time or two may include the supporter at the coffee/lunch. Over time, their confidence will carry into interviews, workplaces, and other important opportunities.

    In Findlay, business coffee and lunches typically occur at:

  • Making introductions is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to help a person build connections. Supporters can open the door by connecting their child or friend to someone in their network who is willing to share their experience. The introduction does not need to be formal. A short message or quick conversation that explains who the student is and what they are interested in is enough to get started. This helps remove the fear of reaching out and shows the student that people are often willing to help.

  • Too often overlooked, but often one of the best places to meet professionals from outside of the community, local college/university events should be attended. Colleges and universities host seminars, festivals, guest speakers, summits, research conferences, etc. Each event welcomes new perspectives and possible connections to Northwest Ohio.

    ANNUAL EVENTS

Help Them Make Connections

Be Familiar With the Data

  • Raise the Bar works with all K-12 districts in Hancock County to administer YouScience assessments. Because of our involvement, we have access to de-identified, aggregated student results that can then be used to generate conversations and create meaningful career events that align with students.

    Want to know how our students’ interests and aptitudes rank among the clusters? Use these visuals to understand more.

    • Career Cluster Aptitude Flow (Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029)

    • Career Cluster Interest Flow (Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029)

    • Aptitude-Interest Gap Flow (Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029)

  • The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce captures and reports industry-recongized credential attainment. This searchable report allows viewers to query by graduating class, career cluster, credential point value, school district, and region.

    View Online Report

  • The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce collects and reports data regarding student attainment of college credit while enrolled in high school (e.g., CCP/dual enrollment). Data searchable by graduating class, county, district, and region.

    View Report

  • All insitutions of higher education are required by Federal law to report enrollment and learning outcomes data. This searchable database provides insights into enrollment trends, highly valued degrees and certifications, and graduation rates.

    Search the Database

  • Data based upon employer/business response to an annual survey of openings and job placements. This report provided by the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation provides regional and statewide insights to critical and in-demand occupations.

    View Top Jobs List

  • Compiled by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, this web portal allows users to search for specific labor market information, including:

  • Data tools developed to help users understand the workforce in Ohio, with a focus on Ohio's in-demand occupations, in partnership with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Workforce Transformation, Ohio Department of Higher Education, and Ohio Education Research Center.

    View Searchable Database

More Resources

  • Career One-Pagers

    Raise the Bar’s specially designed career one-pagers connecting career seekers to local exploration and funding opportunities.

    Download Them

  • Mapping Your Future

    Resources to help families plan, prepare, and pay for higher education.

    Go to Resources

  • Common App

    How students can complete one main application and send it to any college that accepts the Common App.

    Learn More

  • Major Employers

    Regional Growth Partnership maintains a list of major employers across Northwest Ohio.

    Look at List

  • Find Your Ohio

    Connects people to Ohio job opportunities, so they can build a better life, see why people from across the nation are choosing to relocate to the Buckeye State and call Ohio home.

    Northwest Ohio's Profile

  • MakingOhio

    Discover valuable manufacturing industry resources from trusted partners.

    Find Manufacturing Info

  • Sample YouScience Summary

    Every person completing a YouScience assessment receives access to three reports, with each report varying in depth of detail. A sample one-page summary report is available here.

    View Sample