Scholar Spotlight: Ethan Kirk
As spring quickly turns to summer, resorts and amusement parks throughout the country will soon fill with families looking for fun in the sun. The people who staff those venues, including Chatfield Scholar Ethan Kirk, are already working behind the scenes to prepare for a busy summer.
Ethan is enrolled in the Resort and Attraction Management (RAAM) program at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). As a high school student, he attended Chatfield College and, upon graduation from Hillsboro High School in 2023, he was able to enter BGSU as a junior.
While the program can be done fully online, Ethan opted to attend classes at BGSU’s academic facility near Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Last summer, he worked at the park as a paid intern, first in guest services and then in workforce management where he built schedules and balanced labor laws within the park.
Wanting to soak in as much learning as possible, he even opted to work on a few days he was scheduled to be off. “One day I spent eight hours breading chicken and another day I worked ten hours a drink refresh station!”
To help offset college expenses and to further his learning about the field, Ethan secured a job during the school year with Hilton. This summer, he will be doing a hotel operations internship with Cedar Point. Upon graduation next spring, Ethan hopes to work in a large-scale hotel resort somewhere in the United States.
Ethan recognizes that the support he receives from The Chatfield Edge is helping him pursue his education.
“I met with David Hesson [program director at The Chatfield Edge} at White’s Bakery last spring to talk about my plans,” he said. “David is now my mentor, and I can go to him with questions and he’s really excited to see what’s going on with me and my program.”
In addition to the guidance he receives, Ethan is also grateful for the scholarship funding provided by The Chatfield Edge. He is the recipient of the Ann E. Fender and Timothy Smith Scholarships. These close-the-gap scholarships are helping him pay for the extra costs of housing and textbooks.
“Without Chatfield’s support, it would be more difficult to finance my education,” he said. “I’m also grateful for the guidance I receive to navigate both school and life.”
The Chatfield Edge exists to support students like Ethan who want to gain success in life through education. If you or someone you know is a non-traditional or first-generation student looking to further your goals through college, trade school, or a certificate program, contact David Hesson at david.hesson@chatfieldedge.org or 513-875-3344 ext. 115. When you are ready, we are here to help!
