CVCC Alumni Spotlight: Kayla McDonnell, Class of 2021

Kayla McDonnell, a 2021 graduate of North Royalton High School, took her first steps toward a career in print through the Graphic Imaging Technology program at CVCC, where she was instructed by Patrick Ruebensaal. She was initially drawn to CVCC for the opportunity to meet new people and try something new, especially as she was still unsure if college was the right path for her. She saw CVCC as a way to help guide that decision. During a tour of the career center, Kayla was captivated by Mr. Ruebensaal’s classroom, where t-shirts, stickers, and other student-created work lined the space. As a creative individual, she quickly knew this was the program for her and was thrilled when she was accepted. While at CVCC, Kayla was nominated and selected as Student of the Year for her entire class. “I was so surprised and honored,” she shared. Reflecting on her experience, Kayla credits CVCC with giving her both the technical foundation and the confidence to pursue her career in print. “CVCC gave me the base knowledge and understanding of print materials and machinery that I needed to feel prepared going into this field. It gave me a strong foundation and a leg up going into college,” she said. “The community at CVCC was unmatched. Students from different school districts and backgrounds came together and learned how to work as a team. It was incredible.”