CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Charleston Job Corps Center operated by Horizons Youth Services, held its graduation ceremony on March 2, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the center’s gymnasium, featuring guest speaker Nancy Cline, Coordinator for the Office of Special Education, Department of Education and WV Women’s Commission. The ceremony opened with the national anthem rendered by Kira Finn and welcome from career services director Andrew Walters. Frances Shearin, Career Counselor served as mistress of ceremony.

James Carter, Leisure Time Learning Coordinator, sang “America the Beautiful.” America the Beautiful is an American patriotic song. The guest speaker was introduced by business community liaison Tia Welch. Nancy Cline congratulated students on receiving their career technical training certification and academics. She said, “I am excited to be here and to the graduates, this is a wonderful achievement.”

Nancy Cline was relatable and engaging with the audience. Once a student graduates the program he/she is prepared to obtain full time employment in a job training match, further their education or enlist in the military. Cline said, “Don’t sell your birthright.” What is a birthright? A right or privilege that you are given at birth to be the person you were created to be and utilize the gifts, talents, skills and abilities within you to accomplish great things. The center presented Nancy Cline with a plaque following her speech.

Training Director Bryan King called graduates to the stage for conferring of diplomas while Andrew Walters greeted students on stage along with Nancy Cline to shake hands and pose for photos.

Student graduates included Abu Bah, Nicholas Billingly-Jenkins, Alicia Caldwell, Marquida Clark, Cyrus Dunbar, Jacob Elliot, Chantell Gross, Jazmine James, Anthony Luckey, Robert Lynch, Yasmine Mickel, Mark Oxley, Jesus Perez, Samath Prak, Yasmine Tolliver, Hilton Tynes, Naomi Washington, Tyquan Wiley, Calesha Wilson and Ariel Workman.

The Job Corps Alumni Association induction was performed by alumni and career services secretary Tierah Williams. A reception followed the ceremony by Lisa’s Catering. Graduation Photography was done by Preston Hall.

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16-24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. The Charleston Job Corps Center is overseen by the Philadelphia Regional Office of Job Corps and is operated by Horizons Youth Services.

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