The Cleveland Job Corps Center celebrated the accomplishments of its trainees with a Winter Commencement Ceremony on Friday, January 18, 2019. Fifty trainees were eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony. Twenty-one of the graduates earned Honors Cords and four earned double Honors cords for attaining a 12.9 grade level equivalent in math and/or reading. Center Director, Mr. William Houston welcomed the attendees and thanked the parents and guardians for putting their trust in Cleveland Job Corps.

The keynote speaker was The Honorable, Terrance Upchurch, Ohio House of Representative for District 10. Representative Upchurch presented each graduate with a personal letter stating, “it is with great pleasure that we commend you for outstanding achievement and salute you as one of Ohio’s finest young citizens.”
One of the day’s honored guests, Chremeh Freeman, Medical Office Support graduate, stated “graduating and walking across the stage felt great. I felt as though I had accomplished something. I felt like a new man.”
The ceremony concluded with Deputy Center Director, Mike Salazar directing the graduates in moving their tassels from the right to the left side of their cap, and graduates throwing their caps in the air. Afterward graduates spent time with family, friends and Job Corps staff.