Major congratulations are due to our graduate, Wendell Castillo who was recently awarded a “Certificate of Achievement” from the Dallas region  for Women in Nontraditional Occupations  (WINO).   She had to be nominated by the Career Technical Training Manager, Renee Lowden, so she and Dr. Emily Salazar wrote up the nomination in hope of her winning.   She came back to the center with her mother, sister and boyfriend to accept the award.   Eunice Johnson, Center Director, and Mike Salazar, Deputy were in the room as well Ms. Lowden and Dr. Salazar as they acknowledged her winning over the Polycom.  She later toured the center with her family to show them what she used to do and to talk with old friends, her instructors, Mr. Bill  Casias and Mr. Hassan Bilal and  then sought out Ms. Benita Castillo and Mr. Joe Castillo.
Wendell was the only female in our welding class to work on our now famous globes.  She is pictured here with the first globe they had to build before  they told us we needed a smaller one.  Her signature is on the inside of the globe in DC, along with all the others that made the globe.  It was our little secret until recently.
She and her boyfriend went back to the welding class after the tour and acceptance and spoke to the Center welders.  They gave them a real world view of what can happen if you work hard here and then once you graduate with your certifications and accomplishments you get a job.  The two are headed to Virginia to work there in their  field.  Wendell’s mom was so proud and told us she has always encouraged her children to go out there and spread their wings, experience the world.  She is very anxious to have them get set up in Virginia, so she can join them and spread her wings.