Charleston Job Corps Center Director Curtis Price, a true champion of the Job Corps program

It is with great sadness that the Charleston Job Corps community notes the death of Center Director Curtis Price Jr., 63, on May. 30.

Price, a native of Charleston whose 27-year Job Corps career began at the Charleston Job Corps Center, returned to head the center in April 2012.

This past February, Price was among 24 honorees recognized at the Governor’s 10th Annual Civil Rights Day for “Advancing Civil Rights through Advocacy.”

During his Job Corps career he served as center director at six different Job Corps centers, including Charleston; Delaware Valley in New York; Westover in Massachusetts; Gary in Texas; Potomac in Washington, D.C.; and Penobscot in Maine.

Additionally, he has served as director of student support services and vice president of government and community relations for Management & Training Corp., a major operator of Job Corps centers.

Price began his Job Corps career at CJCC, serving as an employability specialist/job developer at the center. Prior to joining Job Corps, he served as the equal employment opportunity administrator for the state of West Virginia, Governor’s Office; director of the recreation program at Central Charleston Community College; and head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia State University.

Many in the Charleston community remember Price for his exceptional talent on the basketball court during the 1960s and early 70s.

He was a star player on the Charleston High School teams, including the 1968 state championship team coached by Lou Romano, and was named a Street & Smith's first-team All-American. Although he suffered a severe knee injury his senior year in high school that ended hopes of playing basketball professionally, he did go on to play three seasons for the University of West Virginia, averaging 7.7 points per game for his entire career there, and 10 points per game his senior year.  

However as important as his basketball career was to him, his education took a higher priority. Price earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/social studies from WVU.

Price used basketball and his coaching experience to connect with students and staff at Charleston Job Corps, making a free-throw competition, with prizes for the winners, part of the center’s Monday business meeting.

Price’s wife noted that, despite his declining health, Price always maintained his focus on the success of the students and staff at the Charleston Job Corps Center.

Pete Calvo, president of Horizons Youth Services, which operates the CJCC, said, “Mr. Price has been a great champion of the Job Corps Program for many years, and will be deeply missed.” 

New National Director visits Cleveland Job Corps Center

The new national director of Job Corps, Grace Kilbane, visited the Cleveland Job Corps Center on May 23. Kilbane met with representatives of Serrato Corp., the operator of the Cleveland Job Corps; Horizons Youth Services, which is a subcontractor at Cleveland; and DESI, which was recently awarded the OA/CTS contract for Ohio.

During the meeting, the representatives and Kilbane discussed Job Corps funding, including the position and potential use of under-runs to forward fund contracts; the need to promote collaboration between the National Office and Job Corps operators to address challenges and promote continued improvement in the program; and placing a renewed focus on the mission of the Job Corps program.

The group also discussed strategies to promote the arrival of new students at the Cleveland center and at other Job Corps centers nationwide.

Following the meeting, Kilbane enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria and visited with student government representatives. She also visited various classrooms and spent time in the Clinical Medical Assistant class.  

The students and staff at Cleveland Job Corps Center thank Ms. Kilbane for visiting the center, and wish her well as she assumes duties as the national director of Job Corps.

Muhlenberg Job Corps MudDogs raise money for A Cure for Cancer

Nolyn Fueller and Aliah Fueller

Congratulations to the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center Mud Dogs for an outstanding race April 19 at the Owensboro Mud Run, a fund-raising event for A Cure for Cancer. The 20-member team was recognized for being the largest team to participate in the event.

The weather was sunny but cool, with highs in the low 50s, but the competitive spirit and the camaraderie was at all-time highs!

Team members included Kenny Brown, Linda Clapacs, Gavin Gorham, Lydia Adams, Mary Sue Phillips, Lucas Adams, Cristian Mancilla, Jordan Vincent, Matthew Osborne, Mike Bratcher, Nolyn Fueller, Susan Lyons, JT Sharp, Tabitha Puryear, Ashley Knight, Kim Jones, Karen Robinson, Julie Copple, Troy Fitzhugh, and Aliah Fueller.

Jordan Vincent and Kim Jones

Cheerleaders to cheer the team on to success were Michelle Robinson, Dwight Payton, Kelly Knight, Amy Wells, and Dena Scott.

The team’s per member registration teams, paid for by Horizons Youth Services, the operator of the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center, went to support A Cure For Cancer.

The Muhlenberg Job Corps Mud Dogs

Charleston Job Corps participates in Global Youth Services Day

Student Clarence Hensoon with Janet Clark of AARP

On Saturday, April 27, Charleston Job Corps Center joined an estimated 2 million young people participating in Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) activities nationwide. By volunteering with WV State University’s Community Service Day with AARP to shred documents for the public and Thomas Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Health Fair by working participating booths and dressing as care bears, students demonstrated their commitment to addressing the needs of their community and its citizens.

“GYSD is an important day for students of the Job Corps program nationwide to give back to the local community,” HYS Director of Operations Nolyn Fueller stated.  Ms. Janet Clarke of AARP stated, “We love having Job Corps students help, and we are a work-based learning site for the Charleston Job Corps Center.” 

Tia Welch, business & community liaison at CJCC, and student Clarence Henson volunteered with WVSU Community Service Day partner AARP, and Medical Office Support Students Shanae Brown, Kara Miller, Arunya Rimongrua and Stephanie Rager volunteered with Thomas Memorial Hospital for the Children’s Health Fair.

Each year, Job Corps provides training and support to more than 60,000 young people. Job Corps also teaches social skills and encourages leadership development, and GYSD is a great way for students to build their leadership skills through community service.

CJCC students volunteering at the Thomas Memorial Hospital Children’s Health Fair were, left to right, Stephanie Rager, Kara Miller and Arunya Rimongrua (dressed as Care Bears) and Shanae Brown.

Carl D. Perkins SGA officers meet with Senator Mitch McConnell

On April 29, members of the  Carl D. Perkins Student Government Association (SGA) and Business & Community Liaison Jimmie E. Slone visited with United States Senator Mitch McConnell during his recent stops in Pikeville and Hazard, Ky., to announce his plans to introduce the Coal Jobs Protection Act.

Students got to educate McConnell about the Job Corps program and the success at Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, which is currently ranked #8 in the nation out of the 125 Job Corps centers.

Senator McConnell thanked the students for talking with him and wished them success in their future endeavors.

After returning to center, the SGA leaders discussed their meeting with the Senator with other students and staff.  SGA President Ian Sarginson stated, “What a great learning experience this was for all of us.” 

Pictured with Senator McConnell are Student Government Association members Nicole Madison, secretary; Ian Sarginson, president; Carolyn Castle, treasurer; Rayshad Thompson, vice president; and Shaqualla Avery, committee chair.

Three Charleston Job Corps students complete ACT College Program

Three Charleston Job Corps Center students enrolled in the ACT (Advanced Career Training) College program are completing this latest phase of their education and job training. Students Heather M. Dunihue and Alemayehu Mengste will participate in the Kanawha Valley Community & Technical College 2013 Spring Graduation Ceremony May 12. Dunihue earned an associate’s degree in accounting, and Mengste earned an associate’s degree in computer information technology – Management Information Systems.

Also completing the ACT College program is Sheicho Muze, who has completed more than 95 credit hours at West Virginia State University in the pre-pharmacy program. Muze has been conditionally accepted in the University of Charleston pharmacy program, pending results of the PCAT exam which he will take in September.