For the second time in Job Corps’ successful 48-year history of serving America’s out-of-school, out-of-work youth, the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center along with 125 Job Corps campuses across the nation will host the “NationalJob Corps Commencement Day” August 3.  The ceremony will take  place at 2 p.m. in the Batesville Civic Center. Although more student employees have completed the requirements to participate in the ceremony, the center staff estimates approximately 100 students will return to participate.  The Job Corps community and supporters will celebrate the Job Corps students who have successfully graduated the residential academic and career preparation program for economically disadvantaged youth. Thousands of Job Corps youth will graduate with the skills they need to become employable, nancially independent members of society. Recent Job Corps graduates employed in Mississippi, employer partners, local policymakers, community leaders, parents and many more will recognize these students’ achievements and the investment they made in their futures and our community.  State Representative George Flaggs, Jr. of Vicksburg will be the commencement speaker. Representative Flaggs has a long history of working with young men and women as a Youth Court counselor.  He has served on several House committees during his 24 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives that allowed him to advocate for improved services for youth.  According to Cordella Smith, center director, the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center is ranked number 30 out of 125 centers across the country. The center is ranked number two in the Atlanta Region.  “We are proud of the accomplishments of our student employees with the assistance of our staff and supporters in the community.  However, we will continue pushing to improve because we believe together we can do better,” said Smith.

-Panolian