Muhlenberg Job Corps Center held a graduation ceremony on December 6th, honoring the accomplishments of 26 new graduates. These graduates completed their career technical training programs, amassing new skills and certifications that make them sought-after employees, and, in the case of students who had yet to complete high school when they enrolled in MJCC, earned their high school diplomas. Additionally, some received certifications in multiple career technical training programs, some are also graduating with their associates degrees they earned from the Madisonville Community College through the MJCC ACT program, and others have been accepted into advanced training programs through Job Corps.

The ceremony began with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem by MJCC student Kiara Overton. Following the national anthem, one graduate, Jasmine Stevenson, had an emotional reunion with her mother who unexpectedly made it to see her daughter not only graduate, but receive the honor of salutatorian.

Other guests, including community and family members, were on hand to celebrate the success of the graduates, with cameras in hand, having come from near and far to join in the joy of this special day.

Graduates who have been accepted to advanced training programs within Job Corps and stand out among their peers in the realm of career pathways are; Malik Jackson, Avanna Morrell, and Allison Snell. Jackson and Snell will both be attending the Clearfield Job Corps Center in Utah, for their United Autoworkers driven, Toyota Mechanics program. Morrell will transfer to the Potomac Job Corps Center in Washington DC for the Transportation and Communications Union program where she will learn airline customer service through Southwest Airlines.

Graduates who completed Associates degrees through Madisonville Community College are; Daniella Burrell, earning an Associates in Applied Sciences; Jacob Crumb, earning an Associates of Arts; and Niklas Swords, who has earned both an Associates of Arts and an Associates of Science.

The ceremony included special recognition of the valedictorian, Niquella Griffin, who was nominated unanimously by senior staff and managers due to her positive attitude, exceptional motivation, academic success, leadership capabilities, and her successful completion of the CVS externship where she represented MJCC well. Also recognized were two salutatorians, Daniella Burrell and Jasmine Stevenson.

NFL Legend, Minniefield Enterprises CEO, and Founder of the Kentucky Football Hall of Fame, Frank Minniefield, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Minniefield told students about his life lessons as a rising football star and how he once got kicked out of the dorm at the University of Louisville and nearly did not complete his education as a Mathematics major. “I had two choices, I could go back to the projects in Lexington, in that two bedroom apartment with six people living in that space, or I could choose to go down a different path. You have that choice! I went back to UofL and separated myself from all of those people who were a distraction and I got my head in the books because I knew what I wanted. If you work towards your goals, you will achieve them.” He said, reminding the students that they aren’t just going to class at job corps, they are working on building a life for themselves.

Graduate speaker Jacob Crumb delivered an inspiring message as he recited the poem, ‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’, by the late, Dylan Thomas. “We must stand, we must fight, we must ‘rage against the dying of the light’.” Said Crumb, before explaining how that poem applies to the lives of the graduates who have overcome adversity to succeed.

Fellow student Cameron Lewis sang Green Day’s, ‘Time of your life’, to entertain the graduates and congratulate them, before closing comments by Center Director, Pete LaFleur.

Afterwards the graduates and their families gathered in the multipurpose room for refreshments and graduation gifts courtesy of the Muhlenberg Job Corps Center, putting closure to another outstanding graduation ceremony.