Shameka Rabon was raised in the small military town of Lawton, Oklahoma. With a large family that included four brothers and three sisters, there was rarely a dull moment in her house. Shameka consistently made good grades, but after the unexpected passing of her youngest brother during her senior year, she had trouble coping with […]
Blue Ridge
Quanise Chatman
In addition to earning her high school diploma and completing two training areas at Job Corps, it was there that Quanise Chatman discovered her passion for volunteering. Quanise graduated from the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center on May 29, 2014, having gone through the Certified Nurse Assistant and Medical Office Support programs. She then worked […]
Lashae McConnell
Lashae McConnell came to Job Corps in May 2017 because she didn’t have a college degree and wanted to accomplish more in her life. While enrolled at the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center, Lashae completed her certifications for Certified Nursing Assistant, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and ServSafe. […]
Niah Marble
After seeing a Job Corps ad, Niah Marble thought it would be a great program to help her start a career. She enrolled and began her training at the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center in October 2014. “Always stay focused on the reason you came to Job Corps in the first place. It won’t always […]
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 […]
Joycelyn Wroten
Joycelyn Wroten arrived at Blue Ridge Job Corps in May of 2017, from Columbia, S.C. She had graduated from high school but wanted to further her education. She learned about Job Corps while researching programs online. “I wanted to make it out of the situation that I was in and become a better version of […]
Aaliyah Bland
Aaliyah Bland spent her childhood and most of her adolescence in Hawaii, where she graduated from James Campbell High School. Originally, she had no plans to pursue education beyond high school, but she began wanting more out of life. “If you want something, you have to work hard for it, and Job Corps can help […]
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 […]
Julia Vazquez
Inspired by her hardworking and supportive parents to reach her full potential, Julia Vazquez received her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification from Smyth County Career & Technology Center in May 2019. That journey began with Job Corps. After joining Blue Ridge Job Corps in September 2016, Julia completed both the Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant […]
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. […]