Aspire program wins ODHE Chancellor's Award for outstanding student performance

For the second year, the Patton College of Education's Stevens Literacy Center received the Chancellor's Award for outstanding student performance from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for their OHIO Career Ready Campus's Aspire program.

Senior Vice Chancellor Gary Cates personally delivered the award and congratulated the Aspire team on their great work with adult learners in our area.

Aspire provides free instruction for adult learners in Athens and Hocking counties. The program offers workforce and skill development through job training, employability and computer literacy, GED preparation classes, and correctional education. The programs are offered both in person and online.

When the Stevens Literacy Center first received the Aspire grant in 2018, it made OHIO the first four-year institution to obtain such funding. Medea Loibl, the director of the Aspire program, said receiving the Chancellor’s Award again was especially gratifying.

“I feel very proud for receiving the Outstanding Student Performance Award a second time in a row and so do my team members,” Loibl said. “This year was even more special since we were ranked first out of 51 Aspire providers in Ohio for measurable skill gains.”

Highlighting the value of the award, Loibl emphasized how the entire team’s collaboration is the reason behind such meaningful learning results.

“What makes this award special is the true collaborative effort for success. Every team member and student does its part for successful learning outcomes,” said Loibl.

Loibl explained the team was dedicated to designing impactful training experiences centered around clear and achievable learning goals. Through engaging lessons and setting high learning objectives, instructors fostered an environment where students felt motivated to actively participate.

They also carefully tracked all measurable skill gains, ensuring accurate reporting to the State of Ohio. This commitment to effective instruction and measurable progress drove positive results across the program.

Winning this award motivates Loibl and the team to keep up their strong performance.

“Receiving the award is also a huge motivator to keep up the good work and continue to deliver good performance in relation to other Aspire sites throughout the State of Ohio,” said Loibl.

Updated at 10:55 a.m. ET on November 8, 2024