Armand Planter to Serve in AmeriCorps | By:  Jacob Groves

Muhlenberg Job Corps student Armand Planter is busy finishing up training here and preparing for the next leg on his journey to success. In February he plans to volunteer for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community program. Planter will be based in Vinton, Iowa, and will spend approximately one year in AmeriCorps helping fellow Americans. He is among an elite group of young people selected to serve in AmeriCorps. Only 25 percent of those who apply for the program are accepted.

At Muhlenberg Job Corps, Planter has completed the Pharmacy Technician career technical training program and has earned a number of nationally recognized certifications, including Electronic Health Records and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. He also received many accolades including Outstanding Student, Outstanding Leader, Safety Awards, Student of the Month for Pharmacy Technician and Student of the Month for Health Clusters. Planter held a number of leadership positions on center, including recreation leader, the recreation president, a health advocate, Youth-2-Youth (Y2Y) member and the Student Government Association president. All of these positions were part of Planter’s way to give back to a center that helped him find direction in his life. This leadership experience also motivated him to continue to give to others through the AmeriCorps program.

After he graduated from high school, Planter knew he wanted a successful life, but wasn’t sure how to achieve that success. “What led me to Job Corps is the opportunities that would open up if I came and completed a trade here. It was an alternative to college for me, but it still allowed me to work toward a fulfilling career.”

Planter offers this advice to young people considering the Job Corps program:

“You have to approach the program with an open mind. It is a program that provides an opportunity for those who might not have thought they could succeed in life, but with that comes structure that an individual might not be used to. Give the opportunity at least two weeks. It is a new environment that you need to slowly adapt to.”