Local News

Career Center names students of the month

The Washington County Career Center honors its February students of the month, Alivia Mercer and Nicolas Diaz.

Alivia Mercer is a Belpre senior enrolled in the Graphic Design and Video Production program, and she is the daughter of Beth Mercer of Belpre.

At the Career Center, Mercer is a member of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) youth organization, student council and she is a student leader for the Students Solving Problems club. She has received awards for honor roll and merit roll. For BPA, she competed and placed third at regionals for extemporaneous speech. In her technical program, Mercer has earned or is working on earning industry-recognized credentials and college credit for adobe creative cloud: digital photography, digital storytelling, digital video effects, graphic design, illustrator, indesign, live streaming & production, photoshop, premier pro and video production. Academically, she is taking college credit courses for American national government, biology, college algebra, English composition, psychology, speech and statistics. She is receiving a technical focus and learning skills for creating and editing digital graphics, design techniques, information technology, multimedia and image management techniques and video and sound. Mercer is two classes shy from receiving her associate degree. Outside of school, she is a producer/director for MOV2GO for the high school football weekly. Graphic Design and Video Production instructor, Chris Palmer, commented, "Alivia is a leader in the classroom. She works well individually and as a team."

Mercer is currently employed with Parkhurst at Marietta College to cater events. Upon graduation, she plans to spend a year traveling and then attend post-secondary education to obtain a bachelor's degree in broadcasting.

Diaz is a Belpre senior enrolled in the Sports Medicine and Exercise Science program, and he is the son of Michelle Perdue of Belpre.

At the Career Center, Diaz is a member of SkillsUSA, national technical honor society, and he is the class parliamentarian for his technical program. He has been on the principal list and honor roll. At Belpre High School, he is a member of the academic excellence recognition organization (AERO) and is active in cross country, track and field and soccer. He placed All-District second team for soccer as well as being an All-Region and state qualifier for track and cross country. He also has participated the past three years in the National Soccer League, out of Charleston, W.Va. Diaz has earned both high school and college dual credits for American history, American national government, college algebra, developmental psychology, English composition I and II, and psychology. Through his technical program, he has or will earn college credit or industrial certifications for CPR/first aid, exercise and athletic training, introduction to nutrition, management of athletic injuries, medical terminology, resistance training, and stop the bleed. Nic is receiving a technical focus and learning skills for athletic injuries and prevention, exercise and athletic training, nutrition and wellness and sports exercise psychology. He will sit for the physical therapy technician certification this coming spring. Sports Medicine & Exercise Science instructor, Lauren Copen, commented, "Nic has an excellent work ethic and is a leader in the classroom."

Diaz is employed at Marietta Nutrition as a clerk. He signed with Mercyhurst University, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to play soccer this fall, and will be studying for a master's degree in athletic training.