Today, DeVaughn Jones holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific, and works as a clinical pharmacist at Central Valley Specialty Hospital and at Rite Aid Pharmacy. He also is launching his own nonprofit organization, Cultivating Bright Future Scholars Foundation, as a way to promote educational opportunities for young people and have a meaningful impact in the quest for educational equality.

Sacramento Job Corps graduate DeVaughn Jones recently was awarded a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific.

That’s a far cry for the young man who barely finished high school and came from a single parent home where abuse, problems with the law and no support for higher education were the norm. However things started to change for the better for Jones when he enrolled in the Sacramento Job Corps Center in 2003. He enrolled in the medical assisting career technical training program there, and eventually persuaded then Center Director Peter Gregerson to allow him to simultaneously enroll in the college program. That opportunity to pursue higher education changed his outlook and his life.

Jones graduated from the Los Rios College School District in 2006, having completed classes at Cosumnes River College, where he earned a 4.0 GPA in science, Sacramento City College and American River College. He received a full academic scholarship to the University of California-Davis, where he studied neuroscience and African American studies, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. Throughout all levels of his education, Jones juggled his studies with working full time. Upon graduating from UC-Davis, he became a group therapist for EMQ Families First Inc.  He recently graduated with honors from the University of the Pacific with a doctorate of Pharmacy.

Throughout his academic career, Jones has distinguished himself as an accomplished scholar. He was listed on the National Dean’s List several times, was Sacramento Job Corps’ most outstanding college student, and is a former MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement) Scholar at Sacramento City College and UC Regents Scholar. As a high school student, Jones won the California High School Chess Championship, and was the only African American competitor to make it to the advanced division of competition for that championship.

Jones is a poet, pastor, husband, father, social and youth advocate, inspirational speaker and entrepreneur.

He traces his path to success back to the education, training and opportunities he received while enrolled in Job Corps. Jones will share his story with graduates during the National Job Corps Commencement Day activities at Sacramento Job Corps Aug. 23. This will be the second time Jones has addressed graduates – he was the center’s commencement speaker during 2009 graduation ceremonies.

DeVaughn Jones … an outstanding example of how “Job Corps works!”