Rossford High School graduate Crystal Sloan was among six former Penta Career Center students who were recognized as outstanding alumni on November 10.

The alumni were recognized during a special evening banquet, which began with a gourmet meal served by students in Penta’s culinary program.

Following the meal, the group assembled outside the auditorium to unveil the names of this year’s honorees engraved on the Outstanding Alumni Wall. The group then adjourned to the auditorium for the awards presentation. Each recipient received an outstanding alumni award and those who reside in state representative Haraz Ghanbari’s district received proclamations, commending them for their contributions to the community.

Ms. Sloan is a 2006 graduate of the career center’s cosmetology program.

After graduation, she attended Owens Community College where she earned an associate’s degree in pre-business administration. During college, she also worked as a stylist at a local salon.

She went on to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima where she was on the basketball team and served as co-captain.

Ms. Sloan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and worked in salon management at Regis Corporation for five years. During that time, she also was an assistant basketball coach at Northwood High School, and an admissions representative for Brown Mackie College in Findlay.

She gained accounting and leadership experiences as a team lead in the Lucas County auditor’s office accounts payable department.

While working as a stylist at Fringe in Toledo in 2017, she learned that the owner was leaving the business. Ms. Sloan had a strong desire to be a business owner and decided to take over the business. She renamed it CrysStyles and has worked diligently to establish the salon over the past five years.

In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and is an advisory board member for Ternion Training and Education Center, and is captain of the Movement Team Lucas County.

A Rossford resident, she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Kobe.

“It’s so hard trying to make it,” she said, but credits Penta for providing her with the skill set to succeed. “Tonight is the night that shows all my hard work is paying off.”

Also recognized were:

•Christy Armstrong, marketing education/job training, class of 1991, Perrysburg, head teacher at Hand In Hand Early Learning Center;

•Steven Brubaker, EMTfire science, class of 2011, Anthony Wayne, firefighter/ paramedic with the City of Charleston Fire Department, South Carolina;

•James Henry, horticulture, class of 1971, Perrysburg, owner of GreenLawn Lawn and Garden Service LLC;

•Erin McKnight, nurse aide/health and community services, class of 2000, Eastwood, director of nursing at Gardens of St. Francis, Oregon, Ohio, and

•JonMorgan Smith, culinary arts, class of 2011, Anthony Wayne, head chef, Motor Yacht Ice Bear, Seattle, Washington.

Each year, Penta recognizes alumni who are working in a successful career. Since the award’s inception in 1993, 173 former high school or adult education students have been honored with the award.