The Rotary Club of Jacksonville recently recognized Corbin Kuhn, a senior at the Illinois School for the Deaf, as the first student recipient of the Rotary Vocational Student of the Month Award. Reg Ankrom, Chair of the Rotary Vocational Committee, introduced this new Rotary initiative at the club’s December 19 meeting.

Ankrom said, “Today we inaugurate our Vocational Student of the Month initiative, and in doing so, we make a statement about who we are as a club, what we value as a community, and what kind of future we hope to encourage. It is especially fitting that our first honoree is ISD student Corbin Kuhn, because our recognition today of his achievements embodies precisely what this initiative is meant to affirm — that vocation matters, that skill matters, that work done well matters, and that every person in our society, without exception, has something essential to contribute to the common good.”

Ankrom continued, “Society often sends a quiet message, especially to young people, that vocational paths are somehow less important. That message is not only wrong; it is dangerous. Our initiative focuses on students, because students deserve and need encouragement and affirmation. When we recognize students pursuing vocational paths, we are telling them ‘you are an important part of the future and we need you.’ In recognizing Corbin today, we congratulate him for his demonstrated commitment, effort, and promise in vocational learning.”

Jill Bruington, CTE Principal at the Illinois School for the Deaf, also spoke during the program. She presented information about the evolution of vocational education at ISD and spoke about the school’s selection of Kuhn as an outstanding vocational student. Kuhn is a senior at ISD, and is interested in pursuing a career in construction or aviation mechanics. He plans to attend Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield next year. His parents are Curt Kuhn and Laci Kennedy, and Claire Rawlings.

Ankrom said this Rotary Vocational Student of the Month designation will be awarded to students at other high schools through the spring.

More information about this topic can be obtained by contacting Ankrom at 217-779-2595.