The gym was full and there were no more chairs. Or bleachers. Or standing room. The place was jam packed on Friday, Feb 26 when 57 students graduated at the Alaska Job Corps in Palmer. Community leaders, friends, family, alumni, colleagues, employers and staff watched these students, one by one, receive affirmation along with their diploma. For many of these students, they are the first in the family to actually graduate or receive a certificate. Their families came from all over the state—Barrow, Gambell, Nunapitchuk, Tooksook Bay, Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Chefornak, Anchorage, Houston, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Eagle River, Kipnuk, Sutton, Hoonah, Huslia, and Kwethluk.

The Keynote speaker was Wasilla’s own Department of Labor and Workforce Development Job Centers, Tamika Ledbetter. Her dynamic voice took over the gym and spoke to inspiration and commitment of American workers and the graduates’ personal value. The Colony High School Color Guard assisted with the presentation of the colors and Holly Utley, a Culinary Arts Graduate, sang the National Anthem.

Many of the graduates have already moved on to full time employment but they returned for the Friday ceremony. Cristian Rojas, from Anchorage, works for Prestige Care as a Certified Nurse Assistant. Ali Ali works for Signal 88 Security. Both grads were overcome with emotion as they shared their thoughts. “I miss Job Corps so much now; I didn’t realize how great it was until I was gone,” said Ali. Cristian agreed, “It’s a good place to learn and a good place to grow.”

Carpentry graduate, Alissa Panigeo, was the Class Speaker; she thanked her Carpentry Instructor Mark Cruthers for his continual help through out her training. She also looked out to the audience, where four generations of her family from Barrow, Alaska, sat proud and smiling. “Thank you for family support, “ Alissa said.