Lakeshore Tech opens door to RLHS grads

Random Lake High School graduates can seamlessly enroll in Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland under a first-in-the-state partnership between the two schools.

Under the pilot program, RLHS graduates can have their application fees waived, skip the application process and be automatically enrolled at LTC.

The partnership was announced on March 1 during the RLHS lunch period, with prospective graduates receiving an admission letter and welcome packet from LTC Executive Director of Admissions and High School Relations David Hermann and Admissions Advisor Brittany Jurek.

Random Lake School District Supt. Mike Trimberger, who serves on the LTC District board of directors, said the program is a continuation of an ongoing relationship between the two schools that allows many RLHS students to take college-level courses through LTC while still in high school.

“Over 80% of our graduating seniors have earned some college credits at zero cost,” he said.

Much of the Town of Fredonia lies within the district boundaries.

Trimberger said he thinks the program will help graduates be more focused on their futures and help them explore options.

“I think the traditional narrative of college needs to be relooked at,” he said.

“If going to a big university is where you want to go, please do. But if you want to stay home and still work toward a degree that will help you pursue a career, there are pathways through LTC and other local universities worth looking at. We’re trying to show students it’s about career readiness.”

That approach is also in line with the district’s partnership with Aspire and other programs that connect students to workplace experiences.

“Every one of our sophomores is doing a job shadow and co-op. This partnership with LTC is an extension of that, where a student can pursue an interest that he encountered at a workplace,” Trimberger said.

Trimberger said he hopes the partnership proves to be a success in its first year and continues.