The Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center honored the accomplishments of 39 new graduates during its National Commencement Day ceremony Aug. 25 at the center. Keynote speaker for the Perkins Job Corps commencement was Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton, a Job Corps graduate himself. Stapleton, a Kentucky State Police officer, told graduates that he was proud of their hard work and their decision to change their lives for the better.

Following the graduation ceremony, the Perkins Culinary Class prepared a first-class reception for the graduates and their friends and family. More than 50 family members attended the ceremony, with several driving from across the state and as far away as Florida and West Virginia to join their children on this special day. Perkins Job Corps thanks Mayor Stapleton, families of students and community members for their continued support of the Job Corps program.

The following students participated in the National Commencement Day ceremony: Mannan Ahmad, 20, from Miami, FL, received his High School Diploma (HSD) and completed Security & Protective Services; Curtis Barnes, 19, from Winchester, KY, received his HSD and completed Office Administration; Johnathan Cannon, 18, from Nicholasville, KY, received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services; Dominique Carter, 18, from Paducah, KY, received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services; Abigail Castillo, 18, from Mt. Hope, WV, received her HSD and completed Culinary Arts; Gage Childers, 19, from Alexandria, KY, completed Office Administration; Michael Combs, 19, from West Van Lear, KY , received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services; Robert Collins, 17, from Lexington, KY, received his HSD and completed Office Administration; Jayden Dillard, 17, from Cecila, KY, received his HSD and completed Facilities Maintenance; Tre’Shawn Dillard, 22, from Paducah, KY, completed Carpentry; Sasha Feliciano, 18, from Ocala, FL, received her HSD and completed Office Administration; Quontavia Fugerson, 20, from Athens, GA, completed Office Administration; Daniel Garrett, 18, from Baxter, KY, received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services; Phoenix Gosper, 21, from Lexington, KY, completed Office Administration; Ja’Qwian Hamlin, 22, from High Point, NC, completed Security & Protective Services; Kenneth Hamilton, 20, from Ravenna, KY, received his HSD and completed Facilities Maintenance; Samuel Henderson, 20, from Lexington, KY, completed Security & Protective Services; Brian Hodge, 21, from Dorothy, WV, completed Office Administration; Austin Justice, 19, from Pikeville, KY, completed Culinary Arts; Robert Kestner, 23, from West Van Lear, KY, completed Office Administration; Kap Khup, 22, from Bowling Green, KY, received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services; Dylan Kincaid, 18, from Lexington, KY, received his HSD and completed Carpentry; Greg Kinsey, 19, from Hedgesville, WV, completed Office Administration; Jabori Lattimore, 23, from Louisville, KY, completed Security & Protective Services; Tiffany Linder, 24, from Stanton, KY, received her HSD and completed Office Administration; Renee Marshall, 20, from Athens, GA, completed Security & Protective Services; Tyler McPherson, 22, from Vine Grove, KY, completed Security & Protective Services; Matthew Moran, 18, from Fort Knox, KY , received his HSD and completed Facilities Maintenance; Ismael Perez, 18, from Dade City, FL, received his HSD and completed Facilities Maintenance; Cole Raney, 19, from Winchester, KY, completed Office Administration; Corey Robertson, 23, from Adairsville, KY, completed Culinary Arts; Samuel Spence, 20, from New Port Richey, FL, received his HSD and completed Carpentry; Timothy Singleton, 20, from Berea, KY, received his HSD and completed Carpentry; Davion Spinner-Alexander, 25, from Charleston, WV, completed Security & Protective Services; Alex Vanhoose, 19, from Paintsville, KY, received his HSD and completed Carpentry; and Jerome Watts, 23, from Jacksonville, FL, received his HSD and completed Security & Protective Services.