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 […]
Treasure Island
Anthony Lugo
Following his medical separation from the United States Navy in 2020, Anthony was looking for a career outside of the only one he had ever known. He had his high school diploma and the ambition to do more but was looking for an extra level of support to get started. “I needed something to feel […]
Riya K.
Job Corps turned Riya into a planner. After graduating early from high school, she was looking for her next step before she attended college. A school counselor recommended that she attend Job Corps, where she would be able to learn skills that would help her find a good job to pay her way through college. […]
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 […]
Wendy Chen
When Wendy Chen arrived in the United States from China, she realized not knowing English was going to be a challenge for her. She wanted her chance at the American dream and knew that learning English and getting an education were necessary to do so. After being unable to gain employment for a while due […]
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 […]
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 […]
Marcus Forde
Plastering graduate Marcus Forde is working for Western Partitions as a full-time apprentice, making $20.30/hour. Marcus came to Job Corps eager to obtain his HSE Certificate and learn a skill. While at Job Corps, Marcus demonstrated a strong desire for success. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But I also knew I would […]
Jalon Johnson
Jalon J. came to Job Corps with a goal in mind. Having earned his high school diploma prior to his enrollment, Jalon looked forward to joining the Carpentry training area and eventually joining the union. Due to his hard work and determination to succeed, Jalon is now working for Liberty West Construction Services LLC as […]