It’s all just the first wave of recognition events planned for 2025 for one of Ohio’s largest and fastest growing career school system that has served nearly 1 million high school and adult students since the 1975 opening of its first campus and still main campus, D. Russel Lee in Fairfield Twp.
Currently enrolling more than 18,000 teenage and adult students, in many ways, said Butler Tech officials, the career school system’s impact has been immeasurable.
“Butler Tech has been a cornerstone of innovation and opportunity for our community over the past 50 years, and its impact has only grown as workforce demands have accelerated,” said Jon Graft, superintendent of Butler Tech. “It’s incredible to see how Butler Tech has continually adapted to serve not just students, but the workforce and economy of Butler County and beyond.”
A.J. Huff, spokeswoman for Butler Tech – which serves Butler County’s 10 public school districts and Northwest Schools in northern Hamilton County – said the milestone will be spotlighted throughout 2025.
Butler Tech is rolling out a series of initiatives, including a 50th anniversary video, billboards across the county and events to remind the public of the lasting impact career technical education has on individuals and industries, said Huff.
“We’re celebrating this milestone with the community because it’s more than just a milestone for Butler Tech—it’s a celebration of progress and partnerships.”
“And later this year, our students, alumni and business partners can look forward to special events and commemorations because this isn’t just our story—it’s the story of a community working together to achieve something extraordinary,” said Huff.
In 2024, Butler Tech hastened its trend of the last decade with new, first-time expansions of programs and new partnerships with regional industries and Miami University, all designed to meet the area’s workforce needs.
These include: The Advanced Manufacturing Hub – Knightsbridge Campus in Hamilton. This $31 million collaboration with Miami and local businesses will open in January 2026, offering cutting-edge training in advanced manufacturing, robotics, and automation to address critical workforce shortages in these industries.
And the new Aviation Education Center – Middletown Campus at the Middletown Regional Airport, which is scheduled to open in January 2026 with a $15 million, 28,000-square-foot hangar and classrooms to train students in aviation maintenance, private piloting and engineering.
And 2024 also saw the announcement of the Bioscience Center in West Chester Twp. with a $12.1 million investment to help meet the growing, regional demand for healthcare professionals by enabling more students to earn certifications and degrees through partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare providers.
Butler Tech officials said: “These projects, fueled by partnerships with local businesses, municipalities, and educational institutions, underscore Butler Tech’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers that drive the regional economy.”
About the Author