COLUMBUS — An adviser at Upper Valley Career Center has been honored for his dedication to the school’s students and the Skills USA program.

SkillsUSA Ohio recently named Jeff Bertke, Anna, as the 2017 Adviser of the Year. Bertke, the high school Electrical Trades instructor at Upper Valley Career Center, has served as the school’s co-adviser for the past three years. The chapter earned national recognition two of those three years.

“Being named Adviser of the Year is a great honor,” said Bertke. “We ask a lot of our SkillsUSA student leaders and they have really stepped up and delivered beyond our expectation. This is a shared recognition.”

Both chapter of honors awards were attached to $4,000 Lowe’s grants. In addition the chapter was awarded a $25,000 Lowe’s grant in 2016 which has been utilized during the current school year. Bertke administrates use of the grant dollars which has allowed the students to implement a variety of large community service projects including updates to the electrical system of the Fusion building on Green Street, Piqua.

Bertke, who has been with Upper Valley Career Center since 2010, volunteers in his church and is a local representative for Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center, Richmond, Indiana. He is a 1999 graduate of Fort Loramie High School and the Upper Valley Career Center, and earned his teaching credentials from Wright State University. In March, Bertke was a named an Upper Valley Career Center Distinguished Alumni.

He and wife Jennie are parents to Ava, 12 and Ricky, 9.