Horizons Youth Services

Honoring Job Corps grads at State Capitol in Frankfurt

Muhlenberg graduates

Fifteen students from the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center and 10 from Carl D. Perkins Job Corps were among student s honored March 26 at the historic Statewide Job Corps graduation at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, KY. Students from each of the five Job Corps centers in Kentucky – Muhlenberg, Perkins, Whitney M. Young, Earle C. Clements and Great Onyx – participated in the event, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Job Corps program. Kentucky has the most Job Corps centers of any state in the nation.

Karen Robinson, business community liaison for MJCC, served as master of ceremonies.

Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen, the event’s honorary guest speaker, told graduates, “Everything you have accomplished thus far is very meaningful for your future, but more important are your morals and how you conduct yourself by giving back to your communities.”

Perkins graduates

Kentucky House Speaker Gregory D. Stumbo recalled the history of the Job Corps program, including when Sergeant Shriver first began to develop the Job Corps program.  “The Kentucky Commonwealth is very lucky to have so many centers serving such a great program, improving the lives of so many young adults,” Stumbo said. “Congratulations to each of you for your many accomplishments,” he told graduates.

Two former Job Corps students also spoke at the ceremony – DeeDee Perkins, who graduated from Whitney M. Young Job Corps, and Patrick McLevaine, who graduated from Earle C. Clements Job Corps.

Perkins shared her story of leaving home at 19, and living for a time at the Salvation Army before enrolling in Job Corps. She graduated from Whitney Young with her Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Office Support certifications.   She urged graduates to “continue on from Job Corps with what you have learned, be successful, but never forget to thank those who have helped you along the way.  Those individuals may have been a parent, a grandparent, aunt, or Job Corps staff member.… Those individuals are priceless.”

All Job Corps students participating in state-wide ceremonies

McLevaine, who graduated from the automotive technician program at Earle C. Clements, shared, “I was kicked out of high school at the age of 15 for drugs.  I entered Job Corps with literally nothing.  I now own two vehicles and a house and I make all my payments the week before they are due.” Speaking directly to the new graduates, he said, “The only place you will find success before work is in the dictionary.  You must always work hard for what you plan to have in life. ”

Eric Jones, MJCC center director, conducted the tassel and gave closing remarks.

Muhlenberg JCC students participating in the state-wide ceremony are: Shania Beasley, Pharmacy Tech; George Brooks, Pharmacy Tech; Christine Chandler, Clinical Medical Assistant; William Cummings, Certified Nursing Assistant; William Day, Commercial Driver’s License; Aaron Dragoo, Welding; Kenyata Hayes, Heavy Equipment Operator; Jordan Hunt, Certified Nursing Assistant; Denise Joseph, Medical Office Support; Coty Laurilla, Medical Office Support; Stefanie Laverdure, Pharmacy Tech; Dorka Negash, Certified Nursing Assistant; Sabrina Nicholson, Medical Office Support; Camara Slappy, Medical Office Support; and David Stammer, Heavy Equipment Operator.

All Perkins students participating in the state-wide ceremony are from Kentucky. They are: Jonathan Day, Electrical; Jennifer Skidmore, Office Administration; Brittany Blevins, currently enrolled in Office Administration; Jessica Cook, Office Administration, currently enrolled in Culinary Arts; Paul Geiger, currently enrolled in Carpentry; Jacob Lytle, Culinary Arts, currently enrolled in Office Administration; Lawrence Lee, Security & Protective Services, now pursing Advanced Training within the Job Corps program; Devonte Lewis, High School Diploma, currently enrolled  in Security & Protective Services; Josiah McIntosh, HSD, Security & Protective Services, currently  enrolled in college, majoring in criminal justice; and Hakeem Mulholland, HSD, Office Administration.