An article honoring Collbran Job Corps student Patrick Coleman was published in the Plateau Valley Times recently.

   Coleman’s Job Corps career was outlined in the article, describing his realization that following moving out on his own, and working at a landscaping job after dropping out of high school, he couldn’t make ends meet.

   Two years at Collbran Job Corps saw Coleman succeed in earning a high school diploma and a trade in painting. He received honors and earned numerous leaderships at the center including: Education Leader, Recreation Leader, Top 5 in Dorm, Sergeant-at-Arms and Vice President of Pineridge Dorm, SGA representative, Peer Counselor and Gold Coat member (the most prestigious student leader group on the center). He was active in Kids Voting in Grand Junction, volunteered several times for security at County Jam and Rock Jam, participated in Collbran Clean-Up, and traveled with his trade to Camino Real, New Mexico where he worked on a U.S. Forest Service building for two weeks. Last May Coleman attended a leadership conference in Utah to develop skills to help improve the center.

   Following graduation Coleman plans to enlist in the Navy and take advantage of the college program, pursuing sports journalism.