“The highlight of my time at Job Corps was my instructors. They made me who I am today.” When Tony Flowers first arrived at the Gary Job Corps Center, he was looking for a way to make money so he could purchase his own clothes. He had always worked dead-end jobs, including shoveling the snow […]
Region 4: Dallas
Michael Davis
Michael Davis always knew he wanted to work with electronics. He wrote his first interactive electronics program in his eighth grade history class and is now a leader at one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world. Due to difficult life circumstances, Michael dropped out of high school. He worked low-paying jobs unrelated […]
Lisaira DeLuna
Lisaira DeLuna never let traditional gender roles define her. She grew up helping her dad work with trucks and racehorses, bull riding with her siblings and cousins, and wrestling on her high school team. Lisaira and her brother, Abel, didn’t finish high school but soon realized they needed to take a more serious look at […]
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 […]
Ishmael Ramirez
“Whatever it is that makes you uncomfortable, even though it’s uncomfortable, that’s what you need to do. It’s learning all the things you’re not good at.” Ishmael Ramirez is comfortable now living in Denver, Colo., with his wife and two children. He has a great job working for Jefferson County Road & Bridge, where he’s […]
George Calix
From a teen in the division of youth corrections to a supervisor of a commercial maintenance company, George Calix proved he could take advantage of an opportunity in front of him and succeed. George got in trouble with law enforcement, was on probation, and eventually was placed in the division of youth corrections around 16 […]
Thaddaeus Vasquez
“Job Corps is a place that gives you all the tools to help yourself. Take full advantage because you will never get that kind of help again.” Growing up in Ogden, Utah, Thaddaeus had always known about the Clearfield Job Corps Center, but never understood the impact of the program until he experienced it for […]
Tatiana Volbrecht
A personal event that occurred in high school left Tatiana Volbrecht suffering from PTSD and feeling limited in her options for her future. After graduating from high school, she attended classes at Navarro College but found it was not the best fit for her. Tatiana became a day care teacher after leaving college because she […]
Raymond Briener
Raymond Briener always knew he wanted to go into law enforcement. Raymond had a lot of experience in public safety and volunteered in his town at the Kane County volunteer center. He was commander of the Kane County Community emergency response team, fire department, and search and rescue. He previously heard about Job Corps through […]
Maurice Jasmann
Maurice Jasmann grew up on a dairy farm in North Dakota. One of 13 children, Maurice was often labeled “the problem child.” He spent most of his teenage years getting in trouble until he eventually found himself in a juvenile prison. It was here that two police officers sat him down and told him “You’re […]