The Cleveland Job Corps Center joined 126 Job Corps centers across the country in celebrating the 6th Annual “National Job Corps Commencement Day” ceremony on August 19, 2016. Approxi-mately 98 Cleveland Job Corps students showed that “Job Corps Works!” as they received numer-ous diplomas and vocational certifications. Many of the graduating students returned to the Cleve-land Job Corps campus from across the states of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to be part of the celebration. Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters filled the Cleveland Job Corps recreation facility in honor of students graduates.
Two term U. S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is an Ohio native and a former fellow educator who taught in Ohio’s public schools and at the Ohio State University, delivered the keynote address. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, Brown at 22 years old was the youngest state representa-tive in Ohio history. He has served as Ohio’s Sec-retary of State and a member of the Ohio General Assembly. “Cleveland Job Corps invests in our young people, providing them with education and training to advance their careers or pursue further education,” clarified Senator Brown. “The continued success of this year’s graduates will drive economic growth in northeast Ohio as they go on to earn good-paying jobs and become leaders in our communi-ty.” Facilities Maintenance student graduate Portia Gay, presented Senator Brown with a portrait she had sketched of him.
The staff of the Cleveland Job Corps Center oper-ate as an interconnected unit to assisted students in reaching this pinnacle point of their Job Corps ex-perience. “Many of these students have not only been counted out by others, but many times they have counted themselves out too,” commented Will Houston, Center Director. “So, the center staff and I are proud to be a part of a day like today and it is most encouraging to be able to celebrate their suc-cess with them and their loved ones.” While this may be the end of their Job Corps chapter, this is not the end of their stories as many of the graduates are headed off to college, the military and to work. The staff of the Cleveland Job Corps Center are extremely proud of all of the graduates and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!