As the groundhog got ready to look for his shadow, Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center joined thousands of employers and students around the country who took part in Groundhog Job Shadow Day, during the week of February 2, 2015. The students visited many business and offices throughout the week.

Even though the groundhog managed to see his shadow on February 2^nd, which of course means 6 more weeks of bad weather, the students from the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center cast a lasting impression on the staff at the Prestonsburg office of Congressman Hal Rogers. Perkins students Therasis Godfrey and Whitney Crew had the opportunity to visit with and shadow Field Rep. Adam Rice and Case Worker Tonya Owens. The two students spent time talking with students about the day to day operations of the office and what their jobs entailed. Discussions on how the congressman represented the people of Kentucky and what each office does to get the information back to the Congressman. Rice and Owens also went on to discuss some of the programs that the Congressman has implemented such as the PRIDE program and Operation Unite.

Rice and Owens also discussed the different types of career options for the two students with such a wide variety of training both of them already have. They also reminded them that giving back to their community, helping others and having a positive attitude is just as important as the education portion.

Rice and Owens also congratulated Therasis and Whitney on their accomplishments and complimented the Job Corps Program as a whole. Therasis Godfrey is 22 and he is from Sebring, Florida. He is currently in the Security & Protective Services program and working at the Floyd County Detention Center four days a week as part of the center leisure time learning program. Whitney Crew is a 20 year old student from Nancy, Kentucky and is currently enrolled in the Office Administration trade focusing on cyber security after already completing her first trade of Security & Protective Services.

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, Security & Protective students Christine Taul and Javaaron Hale along with Jimmie Slone , Business Community Liaison traveled to Frankfort, Kentucky to shadow Kentucky State Senator Johnny Ray Turner and Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo. The students worked closely with the Senator and Speaker attending meetings with them and really getting to see up close the day to day operations of their jobs. Hale and Taul ended the day when they got to go on the House and Senate floor. “What a great day” stated Javarron Hale.

On Friday, February 6^th, 2015, Deputies Tim Clark and Bob Hyden from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department visited the Security & Protective Services classes. The officers discussed the daily operations of the sheriff’s department and some of their experiences in the field both good and bad. Social media, bullying, human trafficking, and drugs were among the topics discussed with the students.