LCCC President Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D., congratulates Issue 10 volunteers. Photo: Caitlyn Ujvari.

Caitlyn Ujvari
JRNM 151

           Issue 10, a 2.1-mill renewal levy, won with a comfortable lead. The levy, which will fund the Lorain County Community College’s University Partnership program, garnered 72,250 (67 percent) votes against 35,719 (33 percent), according to unofficial results announced by Lorain County Board of Elections.

           “It’s an affirmation of what Lorain County Community College means to our residents. After 60 years, the importance is still critical,” said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D., at the watch party on Nov. 8 at the Spitzer Conference Center. The margin of passing is the highest percentage of a win in the college’s history, according to Ballinger.

           The levy “supports the UP’s programs, ensures that the programs are up to date and we are able to continue to provide these services to all students,” said Ballinger while highlighting the importance of this victory for the students of the college and the future generations in the community.

        The 2.1 mill-renewal levy, which will cost $51.01 on a $100,000 home, will raise approximately $14.75 million per year for the next 10 years for LCCC.

        LCCC Provost Jonathan Dryden, Ph.D., said the levy does help Lorain residents graduate. The University Partnership program has a significant impact on increasing the number of students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in the county, according to Dryden.

 Alexandria Allen, a resident of Elyria, said she voted in favor of Issue 10 because it would “expand the University Partnership program. It’s important; some students do not have the ability to travel.”

          Tyler Chapman, a Lorain resident, also chose to vote in favor of Issue 10 because “I know people who go to the college (LCCC).”

          Clifford and Lynda Schmidt, who voted at the Northwood School polling precinct in favor of the levy, said, “That’s the best thing that ever happened to Lorain County.” Both of them took a couple of classes at LCCC.

        Michelle Ternes, also an Elyria resident, voted at the Northwood School polling location. She voted in favor of the levy. She never took any classes from LCCC. However, Ternes said, “I want a college education to keep moving forward. I’m all for that.

          Son Phan is a supporter of the UP program because of how it has shaped his worldview and how LCCC is like “a bite-sized version of campuses found all across Ohio” and how he believes that all of the friends and people that he has met in the United States are like “a second family away from home” for him.

            LCCC created the program 25 years ago, partnering with 15 Ohio colleges. So far, this program has presented students with more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees, saving an average of $74,000 per student.

           The renewal of Issue 10 will help to continue the success that LCCC has garnered from this program and help students receive a secondary education for the next 10 years without any added cost to residents.

Corentin Aboulin, Simon Jones, Hayden Lowstetter, and Gregory Visnyai contributed to the story.