June 13, 2025 -- Caden Gadjigo arrived at Fort Hayes Career Center with a spark of curiosity and a passion for design. With access to hands-on instruction, modern equipment, and the mentorship of instructor Zachary Traxler, he transformed that passion into real-world skills in digital media and entrepreneurship, a clear return on Columbus City Schools’ (CCS) investment in Career and Technical Education (CTE).
"Without the Career [Center] at Fort Hayes, I wouldn't have been able to start my business," Gadjigo said. "[The teachers and partnerships] helped me be able to dive into the world of print and build out my own entrepreneurial dreams while still being in high school."
The Career Tech Forward event at The Ohio State University highlighted the growing Columbus region and CCS' commitment to preparing students for this growth. In Columbus City Schools, the expansion has been dramatic.
"At the end of the day, students having access [to CTE] puts them on the pathway to a career," said Columbus City Councilmember Rod Dorans. "As the city grows, we have to make sure we are investing in the 'people infrastructure' to make sure that young people have the skills necessary to take advantage of the growth."
CTE enrollment has more than doubled in just three years, from 5,445 students in 2021 to over 11,500 in 2025. That expansion mirrors a broader trend across Ohio, where CTE participation has increased 10% in the past four years.
"We're at an inflection point now," said the Executive Vice President of One Columbus, Matt McCollister. "[Our education and industries] are on the right track, and they're thinking proactively. There is a continuing growth trajectory, and we are excited for every opportunity and the momentum we have built [with CTE]."
Now a CCS graduate from Northland and Fort Hayes Career Academy, Gadjigo enters the workforce as an entrepreneur, runs his own design business, and is preparing to attend Otterbein University this fall.
"Having students, especially those under 18, come into the workplace is always a little bit of a complication," said the Director of Education and Business Development at Graphic Media Alliance. "Working with Caden has been honestly amazing. Over these last two years, watching him grow and become the professional he is now, I could not be more proud."
His success is one of thousands. Over the 2023–2024 school year alone, Columbus City Schools students earned more than 15,000 industry-recognized credentials in fields such as healthcare, public safety, technology, and construction.
Additionally, students received targeted certifications in essential software and trade skills. Each of these credentials and certifications serves as a stepping stone to college or a career after high school.
"Columbus City Schools has given me the tools and opportunities to excel," Gadjigo said. "Not just with my business, but with my career and college goals."
CCS's innovative CTE programs now reach students in grades 7 through 12, making workforce readiness a core part of a student's academic journey. As the programs expand, so do success stories like Gadjigo's, whose achievements reflect what's possible when public education prioritizes skill-building, access, and opportunity.
"The work we are doing here is about changing the lives of students," Dorans said. "Whether you're an educator, from an industry, from the community, or a support partner – think about how we can break these silos down. How do we make sure that our kids have access to the right tools?"
Career Tech Forward was a day full of energy and celebration of students like Gadjigo. As our community prepares to meet the needs of the growing Columbus region, CCS and its dynamic CTE programs are equipping graduates to meet these needs head-on with the tools, training, and confidence to succeed.
In Photo (L-R): Amare Kilgore (Eastmoor Academy and Columbus Downtown HS), Kaleese Vickers Ghee (Marion Franklin and For. Hayes Career Center), Sarah Roberts (Linden-McKinley and Fort Hayes Career Center), Godwin Frimpong (Mifflin HS and Columbus Downtown HS), Christopher Orduna (Whetstone HS and Columbus Downtown HS), and Councilmember Rob Dorans.
