Free Credentialing At East Palestine High School Brought Cisco, CNA, And Manufacturing Certifications To Learners From Nine Schools Across Three Counties.
Youngstown, Ohio, July 3, 2026. Eighteen learners from across the Mahoning Valley and Appalachian Ohio earned state-recognized, industry credentials this summer through the GRIT Summer Bootcamp, a free, intensive credentialing program delivered by Team Workforce in partnership with The GRIT Project (Growing Rural Independence Together) and East Palestine City Schools.
Over three weeks at East Palestine High School, students and adult learners trained in three high-demand career fields, Manufacturing and Fabrication, Healthcare, and IT and Cybersecurity, and walked out with credentials that employers hire for and that count toward Ohio high school graduation requirements.
The Results, Confirmed For State Reporting.
- 18 learners earned at least one industry-recognized credential, including 16 high school students and 2 adult learners
- More than 30 state-recognized credentials earned, plus 11 WorkReady AI completions
- More than 150 graduation credential points generated in a single summer
- Nine home schools represented across Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties
- Every Healthcare completer earned the AMCA Certified Nursing Assistant credential, a 12-point credential that on its own satisfies Ohio’s industry-recognized credential graduation pathway
- Manufacturing completers earned five credentials each: Forklift Operation, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, CPR and First Aid, Tooling U, and New Collar 3D Printed Technician
- IT completers earned the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) credential, with one student earning all three CCST certifications, in IT Support, Networking, and Cybersecurity
Open To Any District, At No Cost.
The bootcamp was open at no cost to rising juniors, seniors, recent graduates, and adult learners from any district. Team Workforce provided transportation support so that students from as far as Warren, East Liverpool, and Wellsville could attend. The program was funded by The GRIT Project, an Ohio initiative that invests in credential training for rural students and young adults, and hosted by East Palestine City Schools, which opened its classrooms and health clinic for hands-on instruction.
Why It Matters.
Ohio’s graduation requirements now allow students to qualify by earning industry-recognized credentials in place of traditional test-based pathways. For many students, particularly those in small and rural districts, access to those credentials depends entirely on whether someone nearby is authorized to teach and test for them. Team Workforce is a Certiport Authorized Testing Center and an approved provider for the credentials delivered in the bootcamp, which allowed students to train and test in the same building over the same summer.
For adult learners, the same credentials open doors to immediate employment. Certified Nursing Assistants and Cisco-certified support technicians are among the most consistently in-demand entry-level roles in the region.
What’s Next.
Team Workforce plans to expand the Summer Bootcamp in 2027 and is working with East Palestine City Schools on year-round credentialing, career navigation, and work-based learning for students across the region.
Districts, Employers, And Funders.
Interested in partnering on the next bootcamp or on year-round credentialing?