Shortly after starting his college career, Albert Martinez realized continuing the higher education route was going to be too expensive. Once he heard about Job Corps from a family friend, he couldn’t let the opportunity pass him by. Albert enrolled in the Carpentry program at Gary Job Corps in Texas with the dream of becoming […]
Carpentry
Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts has served the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) for over 30 years and was recently recognized as the Park’s 2021 Employee of the Year. Originally from Winston-Salem, Brad started serving the GSMNP when he was 16 years old, and it all began with a move to Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center […]
Brianna Clark
Brianna Clark went from crafting sandwiches to a career in construction, all thanks to Job Corps. She was working at Subway in her hometown of Coeburn, Va., when a staff member from Flatwoods Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center came in for lunch. The staff member chatted with Brianna and learned she was interested in finding […]
Felix Barragan
As Felix Barragan planned for his future career path, he was first drawn to forestry. However, from his first step into the Carpentry shop at Angell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Oregon, Felix knew he was home. Prior to enrolling at Job Corps, Felix worked landscaping, roofing and construction side jobs. With one foot […]
De’Jonne McCorkle
One stint at Job Corps just wasn’t enough for De’Jonne McCorkle. After completing his Carpentry training, De’Jonne decided to follow his family’s footsteps in Electrical. “I wasn’t too big on school; but I heard from a friend that, within two years, I could get my high school diploma and a trade, then immediately get to […]
Andie Beltran
Andie Beltran knew it was going to be tough. They had no prior experience with carpentry. But did that stop them? No. Andie swore in as a member of Local 1503 in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) in Portland, Ore., and is now a first term apprentice general carpenter earning $26 an hour. “Everyone […]
Raymond Barley
Raymond Barley keeps a notebook where he writes his goals down—and at just 20 years old, he already has a lot of items checked off his list. He is a first-year apprentice with the carpenters union and works as a foreman on a construction site. Just a few years ago, though, his life looked very […]
Kasandra Miranda
Kasandra Miranda was no stranger to setting high expectations for herself when she first arrived at Cassadaga Job Corps Center in March 2020. Before she even set foot on campus, she had taken bold steps to improve her life by getting sober at 23. She wouldn’t get to begin her program in earnest until September […]
Cristian Aquino
When Cristian Aquino arrived at the Iroquois Job Corps Center in November 2019, he didn’t know what the next year had in store for the world. All the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic—including having to finish his career training from home—wouldn’t stop him from completing the program, though. Cristian enrolled in the Carpentry training area […]
Rashawn Williams
Rashawn Williams was working at fast food restaurants in Colorado after high school but knew he wanted more. One customer changed his life after suggesting he check out Job Corps. Rashawn was already looking into programs and was very interested in firefighting. Once he found out about Collbran Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center and its […]