MCDC’s fresh fruit program featured in HEALs newsletter

Muhlenberg Career Development Center Food Service Manager Larry King-Davis has made offering students wholesome snacks of fresh fruits and vegetables for afternoon snacks a top priority. The fresh fruit and vegetable snack program at MCDC, which began nine years ago, was featured in the Summer 2012 issue of Live Healthy, the Job Corps Healthy Eating an Active Lifestyles (HEALs) newsletter.

Part of the key to the success of the program was addressing the issue of some students tossing their apple cores or orange peels on campus grounds rather than disposing of them properly.  Overtime, students have come to realize that littering on campus is neither acceptable nor allowed.

King-Davis ensures that every new student knows the rules about littering and wasting food when he or she arrives on center. During orientation, he asks students what would happen if their mothers brought home some apples, and they took a bite and then dropped the rest of the apple on the floor.  The students predictably respond, “My mom would kill me.” King-Davis assures them the consequences at MCDC of wasting fruit are not that dire, but stresses that students could risk losing afternoon snack privileges for everyone if they waste fruit or litter.

After much work to change the norms, Muhlenberg JCC’s 400 students now enjoy two cases of red apples, two cases of golden delicious apples, four cases of oranges, two cases of bananas, and various other seasonal fruits each week, and apple cores and orange peels end up in the trash, not on the ground.

CNA students pass state exam

Certified Nursing Assistant students at Charleston Job Corps Center are batting a thousand when it comes to passing the state CNA exam. All 21 CNA students who took the state exam May 12 passed.

MCDC 1982 grad Alfonzo Hagan visits center



Alfonzo Hagan, left, with Alex Sutton

 Alfonzo Hagan, a 1982 graduate of MCDC, returned to campus July 2 to see the changes that have taken place on center and to recall the opportunities and training he received at MCDC.

Hagan obtained his GED and heavy equipment operator’s certificate at Muhlenberg, and after completing the Job Corps program, enlisted in the Army Reserve where he became a transport operator. When his tour of duty with the Army Reserve  was complete,  Hagan became a deputy sheriff in Georgia.  He later became a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Hagan recently retired from the GBI and opened his own business, Central Georgia Polygraph with offices in Savannah and Statesboro, Ga. 

Hagan was amazed by the changes that have taken place on the MCDC campus since 1982, but equally impressed with the changes that took place within himself during his time there. “I came to Job Corps as a youth who did not trust anyone and thought everyone was against me. I finally came to the conclusion that the people at the Job Corps in Muhlenberg do not know me so why should they be against me!”  He said Job Corps changed his life.

Accompanying Hagan on his visit was Alex Sutton, former MCDC employee. Sutton, currently living in Hopkinsville, was the first security officer hired at Muhlenberg and spent 17 years at the center. Sutton met Hagan at MCDC and became a mentor to him. They have kept touch over the last 30 years. Hagan said he visits Sutton in Hopkinsville every few years and they stay in contact by phone in between visits. 

During the visit Sutton met many MCDC staff he had worked with during his tenure at the Job Corps center. Hagan agreed to come back in the near future to speak at a MCDC graduation ceremony.

Carl D. Perkins student Amber Jones gets more out of Job Corps than just job training

Most students enroll in Job Corps to gain skills to help them launch successful careers and gain independence. Amber Jones_, a 20-year-old student from Miami, Fla., is getting those skills, but she also is getting much more from Job Corps. In addition to completing the hospitality career technical training program at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, and enrolling in the Culinary Arts program there, Amber also has gained the knowledge and self-confidence she needs to pursue a healthier, happier life.

Amber, who enrolled in the Perkins Job Corps program on Oct. 24, 2011, came to the center weighing 225 pounds. Soon after arriving she began using the center’s weight room and gym facilities each evening, and started learning more about nutrition from the Wellness staff. Her new knowledge and fitness routines have paid off – she has lost 65 pounds since enrolling in Job Corps and is continuing her goal to reach her target weight. Amber stated that her successful weight loss not only has made her a healthier person but has given her a new self -confidence and a sense of pride in herself that she has never had before.

Amber said that coming to Job Corps was the best decision that she had ever made. In addition to learning so much from her CTT programs, she has received the encouragement from staff she needed to make necessary changes in her mental and physical health that will benefit her throughout her life. She has developed a positive attitude that she can do anything she sets her mind to do in life.

Amber’s advice to other young people is: “Don’t walk around mad and angry at the world each day. That attitude will waste so much time and energy.  Always keep a positive attitude and believe in yourself, and you can achieve anything.”  

“Job Corps changes your life completely,” Amber said.

Charleston Job Corps Center welcomes new Work-Based Learning Partner

Charleston Job Corps Center welcomes One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Charleston as a new work-based learning partner. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, which began its partnership with CJCC June 14, currently has two students, Demetrius Smith and Shawnkie Stevens from the HVAC career technical training program, doing work-based learning internships. The students are working with the HVAC technician to repair air conditioning units at various Charleston locations.

MCDC earthquake drill featured in national Job Corps newsletter

An article about an earthquake drill recently conducted by Muhlenberg Career Development Center in Greenville, Ky., was featured in the June 2012 edition of the Safety Circle Newsletter, a publication of the Job Corps National Office.

The drill, dubbed “the Great Central United States Shakeout,” was conducted as part of a state-wide event that was coordinated locally by Keith Putnam, Emergency Services Director for Muhlenberg County. MCDC students were instructed on how to respond in case of an earthquake. Many safety drills are held on the Muhlenberg campus each month, but earthquake preparedness is not usually one of the top priorities.

Putnam stated, “The Muhlenberg Job Corps sits very close to the New Madrid Fault. In the event of an earthquake along this fault line, the center’s campus and structures would more than likely suffer severe to moderate damage.”

With a real earthquake being a distinct possibility, Susan Lyons, the center’s Safety Supervisor, felt a drill would be a good way to help students be more prepared. Many MCDC students come from other states that are not accustomed to the possibility of an earthquake. “We hope an earthquake never occurs in our area, but we want to be the best prepared we can be if it does become a reality,” Lyons said.

MCDC honors 7 graduates during June commencement

The Muhlenberg Career Development Center celebrated its June 2012 graduation with seven students participating.  Graduates Orlando Northington led the Pledge of Allegiance, Tanisha Jack delivered the graduate welcome, and Ashley Gilbert was the commencement speaker.  Kenny Brown, center director and Jimmy Haley, Student Government Association president, distributed the diplomas and led in the tassel ceremony.  Gary Jones served as master of ceremonies. 

Students graduating were Ashley Gilbert, Lexington, Ky., Medical Office Support and Heavy Equipment Operator; received GED on center; Jessica Gonzalez, Lakeland, Fla., Medical Office Support and Pharmacy Tech; received High School Diploma (HSD) off center; Tanisha Jack, Memphis, Tenn., Medical Office Support and Pharmacy Tech; received HSD on center; Farah Joseph, Haines City, Fla.; Medical Office Support and Pharmacy Tech; received HSD on center; Orlando Northington, Bowling Green, Ky., Medical Office Support, received HSD on center; Britney Speights, Pensacola, Fla., Medical Office Support and Pharmacy Tech; received HSD off center; and Arthur Vibanco, Hammond, Ind., Heavy Equipment Operator; received GED on center.

MCDC June 2012 graduates are, front row, left to right, Jessica Gonzalez, Tanisha Jack and Ashley Gilbert; back row, Britney Speights, Authur Vibanco, Orlando Northington and Farah Joseph.

Perkins students assist with Hillbilly Arm Drop Drag Race

Pictured  front, left to right kneeling, are students Travis Smith and John Grove; standing, left to right, students Anthony Colone, James Tunnel, Willie Smith, Dustin Singer, Benny Casilis and Ciara Jones; Kent Rose, event organizer; and students Xyla Munn, Tony Morrison, Alexander Prinns, and Andrew Weslow.

On June 23, the Paintsville and Prestonsburg tourism bureaus held a catered barbeque dinner to thank Security & Protective Services students from Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center for their work and professionalism during the second annual Hillbilly Arm Drop Drag Race. The event was held May 4 and 5 in Prestonsburg. Students and S&PS Instructor Carol Wilson helped with parking, directing traffic and patrolling the grounds to ensure safety during the event.

Kent Rose, who oversaw the Hillbilly Arm Drop Drag Race event, and Prestonsburg Mayor Jerry Fannin presented each student with a certificate of appreciation and a $25 Wal-Mart gift card, following the catered barbecue dinner.

S&PS students are scheduled to work their next event Sept. 12.