Donte Ashley Newman 23 of Lakeland Florida, enrolled in the Perkins Job Corps Center in March 2014 to pursue the Security & Protective Services (SPS) Trade. Donte said he came to job corps to find a career and that he did. While at Perkins Donte worked hard and was a leader in his class. He worked on community projects with Jenny Wiley State Park, City of Pikeville, and completed a 6 week internship with the Prestonsburg Fire department i through the work based-learning program. As part of student training they are required to do a six-week Work Based Learning internship with employer partners that relates to their field of study for that important on the job training.

When Donte completed the SPS trade he wasn’t finished with his career goals. He applied for Advanced Transportation Training Program at the Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens, MA. On January 12, 2015, Donte entered the program with his goals set, and followed through on all of them. Donte completed the program and began working full time in August 2016,as a Senior Attendant for Amtrak in Boston, MA, earning $21.00 an hour. Donte stated that “It was because of Job Corps that gave me this opportunity that I’m here today, earning a livable wage, and on my own”. His advice to other young people is to focus on your goal, and work hard.