🎉 Previewing Job Corps’ 60th Anniversary Celebrations 🎉 

Dear NJCA Community, 

Happy New Year! I am thrilled to begin celebrating the 60th anniversary of Job Corps with all of you! Over the past six decades, Job Corps has trained and educated more than three million alumni, and that’s truly something to celebrate.
 

Throughout this year, the NJCA will mark the 60th Anniversary through various initiatives, including recognizing community partners, hosting in-person events, and providing opportunities for students, alumni, and staff to share their stories. 

Today, we are excited to launch NJCA celebrations with the 60th Anniversary Student Essay Contest! Interested students have the chance to share how Job Corps has impacted their lives. One student essay will be selected from each center, and ultimately, one student winner from each region will be chosen. For more details, students can reach out to their Center Director or Community Engagement staff.
 

As we commemorate six decades of Job Corps’ impactful work, we extend a special thanks to the NJCA 60th Anniversary Planning Committee. This diverse group, representing the perspectives and experiences of alumni, staff, center directors, operators, the Forest Service, affiliate members, various NJCA committees, and the NJCA Board, has played a crucial role in shaping our celebratory initiatives. The committee members are:

• Sandra Catalan, Insights Training Group
• Roxanne Chin, Bizell
• Brian Daher, US Forest Service
• Alicia D. Bennett, US Forest Service
• Merle (Skip) Draper, ETR
• Jen Hanson, Alternate Perspectives, Inc.
• Rhianna Johnson, NJCA Board
• Trish Jones-Mondero, Eckerd/Odle
• Charisma Jones, Insights Training Group
• Helyse Markham, MTC
• Ashton Stripling, Edison Job Corps
• Jeff Barton, MTC
• Eric Tieles, MP&F Strategic Communications

A big thank you to all who have contributed to Job Corps’ success over the last 60 years! As we kick off 2024, we look forward to celebrating the enduring impact of Job Corps with all of you this year!

Best,

Donna

Donna Hay
NJCA President and CEO

🎬 Reflecting on December’s Forest Service Conference 🎬

In December, the US Forest Service Job Corps Liaison Specialists gathered in Washington, DC for an exciting training conference! They had a chance to visit Capitol Hill, meet with Senator Jeff Merkley’s staff, and explore the Capitol. The conference covered important topics like community engagement, sharing student success stories, connecting with work-based learning partners, and understanding Forest Service Dos and Don’ts. They also delved into the role of Legislative Affairs and other interesting subjects. A big shout-out to everyone for their hard work on behalf of students and Job Corps! 

🏆  Announcing the Job Corps Hall of Fame Winners! 🏆

In a culmination to the 2023 Job Corps Leadership Summit this past December, the Job Corps Hall of Fame ceremony recognized some of the greatest success stories at the staff, student and alumni levels.

The Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes a Job Corps graduate with five-plus years of career experience and exceptional career achievement, went to Wyatt Vele, a 2016 graduate of the Seamanship program at Tongue Point Job Corps Center. Currently a Division Officer in the United States Navy, Wyatt leads 11 sailors, manages warfare programs, and handles a commissioned warship’s navigation and operations.

Rising Star Awardees are a prime example of why Job Corps programs are so important and what it can truly do for students. The Rising Star Award is awarded to a student who leads by example, takes on key leadership roles, and goes above and beyond to better themself, their program, and their peers. This year’s Rising Star Awards were presented to two exceptional students, Blanca Maradiaga from Exeter Job Corps Center and Emily Harms from Trapper Creek Job Corps Center, for their leadership and commitment.

This year’s Job Corps Successful Graduate Awards celebrated the accomplishments of Safari Muyobe, Duane Bastarache, and Ruben Duarte-Ramirez. Safari, an alumnus of Keystone Job Corps Center, has excelled in the DC 21 Apprenticeship Program. Duane, a graduate of Grafton Job Corps Center, has become a Carpentry Instructor at Shriver Job Corps Center. Ruben, an alumnus of Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center, now serves as a Security Officer at Valley Wide Security. Each of them epitomizes success in their chosen career paths.

Ms. Clementine Carter, a Registered Nurse at Turner Job Corps Center, received the Staff Motivator of the Year Award for her dedication to supporting students in their career and education training.

Congratulations to all of the remarkable individuals recognized at the Job Corps Hall of Fame ceremony!

In this month’s Employer Spotlight, we’re celebrating Dr. Courtney Goode, the driving force behind the Goode Provider! ​​Dr. Goode’s journey with the Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center, located in Memphis, Tennessee, began in September 2023 when Job Corps students volunteered at her adult living home. This collaboration flourished, leading the Goode Provider to proudly become the Center’s work-based learning partner.

Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Goode!