Philadelphia – U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan joined local officials, business leaders, Job Corps staff, students and their families to congratulate seventy (70) graduates from Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute in Philadelphia, PA.    The ceremony was part of National Job Corps Commencement Day.

Congressman, Patrick Meehan, commencement keynote spoke with compassion, warmth and enthusiasm congratulating students on their accomplishing a significant milestone today; he expressed how fortunate they were to participate in the Job Corps program, specifically in ‘Life Sciences’ proudly he boasts, “this program is important; it helps; it’s needed and there will be growing jobs in healthcare especially at the hospitals in the Philadelphia area: I know this, because my wife is a nurse! ”

Tuesday’s event marks the first time ever Job Corps centers across the nation held commencement celebrations on the same day.

Philadelphia’s Center Director, Earldene Lewis, know too well many students come to the Job Corps program with barriers to success, “students have worked very hard to get to this point, some with tears while others with joy however, no matter the sentiment and as staff push students to discover their self-worth, that does not stop her as she leads by encouraging the center-wide theme, “Believe” advocating to students and staff alike as the centers’ ‘BELIEVE TEAM’, believe. You can accomplish all your heart’s desires:  And anything is possible when you believe”.

Solomon Jones, also commencement speaker, community relations director for Congressman Chaka Fattah, author, award winning journalist, producer, who rose from homelessness to critical acclaim.  Confidently he shared his personal testimony of life challenges while reaffirming to students, “finish what you start; never give up; and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do, you are in control of your success”.

State Representative Vanessa Lowry Brown presented students with citations explaining to students and their families it’s  life long significance, “this means you are now forever named in the House of Representatives history log of honor”.

Philadelphia Job Corps educate and train over 500 “at promise” young adults yearly: Graduation occurs twice a year. Students must earn a GED or online high school diploma (unless they have one) and complete a trade to be in the graduation ceremony