Gavin Walden went from lacking direction and wanting a different purpose for his future to being a leader in so many ways, thanks to Job Corps. At 16, Gavin was behind on his education, struggling with drug abuse, and constantly fighting. But Gavin made the decision to take back his life, and that’s just what […]
Caucasian
Jordan Ussery
After his father discussed the Job Corps program with him, Jordan Ussery decided to enroll. He earned his high school diploma from Penn Foster, and he obtained his Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, ServSafe, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Electrocardiogram Technician credentials. “Job Corps is not to be considered an alternative to college, but a valuable resource […]
Levi White
Trapper Creek Job Corps graduate Levi White succeeded through the program, being named one of the Corpsmembers of the Year at the 2019 Corps Network National Conference in Washington, D.C. Although Levi already had his high school diploma and multiple jobs before enrolling in the program, Job Corps gave him the career training he needed […]
Eileah Morris
Originally from Roanoke, Va., Eileah Morris enrolled in Blue Ridge Job Corps in April 2017. “I was going down the wrong path, and I wanted better for myself,” Eileah said. “Blue Ridge Job Corps helped me learn to be successful, not only in my career, but in all aspects of my life.” She recently graduated […]
Fiona Erskine
When Fiona Erskine walked across the stage to receive her associate degree at Virginia Highlands Community College’s commencement in June 2019, she was celebrating not only her recent achievement, but her persistence to overcome any obstacle that stood in her way. Her journey to this moment began with Job Corps, where Fiona dedicated many hours […]
Christine Porter
When Christine Porter was 16 years old, she was homeless and scared for her future. She knew she needed “something greater” for her life. That’s what brought her to the Glenmont Job Corps Center in 1997. But what helped her stay, graduate, and go on to a successful career was a drive and passion to […]
Stephanie Williams
Stephanie Williams was inspired by her grandmother’s battle with cancer to pursue a career in the medical field, and Job Corps helped her get there. After graduating from Mathews High School, Stephanie began taking classes at Rappahannock Community College. Unfortunately, she was unable to finish her degree because her grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer. […]
Laken Widener
After graduating from Chilhowie High School in 2013, Laken Widener began classes at Radford University. After her first semester, she knew that was not the right path for her, so she decided to return home to take prerequisite classes at Virginia Highlands Community College until she figured out which major she wanted to take. The […]
Amanda Short
Amanda Short knew she would not be able to raise her three children and give them a better life if she did not make a change. She learned about the Job Corps program through Head Start, her 4-year-old daughter’s preschool, and decided to contact the staff at Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center. While at […]
Elizabeth Beachy
After finding out about Job Corps through a childhood family friend who had attended the program in North Carolina, Elizabeth Beachy decided to enroll at the Blue Ridge center. While at Job Corps, she completed the Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Electronic Health Records Specialist, EKG Technician, Patient Care Technician, and Phlebotomy credentials. Elizabeth also […]