Students at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center had only 2½ weeks in December before they left for Winter Break, but those weeks were filled with many community events, opportunities to help others, and the sharing of some holiday cheer with their peers and staff.

Students enjoyed a Christmas Party at the Jenny Wiley State Park on Dec. 10th, with holiday foods, games and a cool photo booth. Students even got to show off their dance moves after the dinner, as a dance floor was set up and staff played their favorite holiday tunes.

Students completed their holiday shopping during the annual Student Personnel Holiday Store. Students earned Santa Bucks for positive behavior and for going above and beyond. Students could then spend those Santa Bucks at the holiday store. The Perkins staff brought in new or gently used items such as children’s toys, clothes, movies and jewelry, and students chose items they wanted to purchase for their families at home. Staff are available to wrap the gifts for the students.

The Youth2Youth (Y2Y) Partners4Peace Student Ambassadors set up a hot chocolate bar during the Holiday Store event and gave all students stockings filled with candy and anti-violence messages. “The event is a huge success each year, and you can feel the holiday spirit throughout the room. Everyone’s smiling, laughing. It’s just a great feeling for students to have a gift to take home,” said Jalel Hester