A Job Corps experience so nice, he did it twice! When Xavier Edwards graduated from high school in Charlotte, N.C., he was looking for a more cost-effective education path than college. His mom did some research and introduced him to Job Corps. Xavier moved to Brevard, N.C., and completed the Culinary Arts program at Schenk […]
Hospitality
Michael Ponder
Michael Ponder is booked and busy. He’s the head chef at a senior living community, the owner of his own catering business and the father of a 3-year-old son—and he’s not stopping there. Fresh off winning “Best Dessert” for his banana pudding at a prestigious local event, “Mr. Pudding”—as the community has begun to call […]
Matthew Mahmoodtorabi
Before enrolling at Job Corps, Matthew Mahmoodtorabi worked at his family’s small, independent Italian restaurant cooking mainly pizza and pasta. He had over 10 years of experience under his belt when he enrolled in Job Corps, but wanted to refine his skills and “reach for the top shelf.” Matthew dreamed of one day becoming an […]
Andrew Frydenlund
Andrew Frydenlund always hoped to find a career he would enjoy and a financially independent life. At 8 years old, Andrew journeyed with his siblings from an orphanage in Lithuania to the United States. He was adopted by a family in Carmel, Ind., on Sept. 1, 2004. But he was living in a homeless shelter […]
Heidi Mann
Heidi Mann knew that there was something for her outside of her hometown in “middle of nowhere, Wyoming.” As much as she loved where she grew up, she knew she had to search for an education elsewhere in order to reach her full potential. When she was denied a scholarship to study sign language from […]
Carlos Ocasio
Carlos Ocasio is the head chef at Iannuccilli Cranston, a high-end Italian restaurant in Rhode Island, making $65,000 a year and leading his team. He’s in the process of hiring two former Exeter Job Corps students, the same center Justin graduated from in 2021. This full-circle moment wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for […]
Robert Gagnon
Robert Gagnon wants to be the first Job Corps graduate to run for president. While he admits that it’s an ambitious goal, he feels confident about what he can achieve—thanks in part to how Job Corps helped him grow. Robert’s skills as a natural leader shone in his time at Gerald R. Ford Job Corps […]
Angel Leija
Families pass down all sorts of things, from kitchen recipes to career recommendations. Texas native Angel Leija got both from her family. Angel’s mother got her involved in the kitchen from a young age, but it was when she started selling breakfast tacos to her fellow high school students and was racking up dozens of […]
Jamaya Troupe
Jamaya Troupe says that one of her proudest moments as a Job Corps student was the day her instructor her asked her to cook lunch for a group of 100 children. The kids attended a school close to New Haven Job Corps Center in Connecticut, where Jamaya was studying Culinary Arts. “That was my first […]
Joe Collins
Joe Collins was eager for opportunity. Joe graduated high school but had no desire to attend college right away. After hearing about Job Corps through a family friend that was planning to attend, Joe researched the program and was enticed by learning a trade and receiving free training all while getting paid. “Why not go?” […]