JOB CORPS Nearly 200 students at Talking Leaves Job Corps recently celebrated earning a high school diploma, GED certificate and trade certifications in culinary arts, office administration, electrical wiring, facility maintenance, nursing assistants and clinical medical aides.
Cherokee Nation’s Talking Leaves Job Corps joined 125 Job Corps centers across the country in celebrating the 5th Annual National Job Corps Commencement Day.
U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin delivered the commencement address at the Aug. 21 ceremony in the campus gym on Bald Hill Road in Tahlequah.
Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen from Westville, congratulated the graduates on all their accomplishments and encouraged them to strive for success by using four key principles: honesty, hard work, being respectful and responsible.
“I love speaking to young people. They are without a doubt the future of our country,” Congressman Mullin said. “We must speak words of encouragement and let them know that they don’t have to be perfect to still have success in their future.”
Each year, Job Corps gives 60,000 at-risk youth across the country a second chance to complete their high school or GED diploma and get specialized career training for a work-ready job market.
Callie Peck, of Tulsa, came to Talking Leaves Job Corps with her high school diploma in hand, but was looking for a career alternative to college. She graduated with job training certifications in culinary arts and as a medical clinical assistant.
“They help a lot of students here. They give students a place to learn and get a career, a really good career,” Peck said.
The national Job Corps program started in 1964. To date, it has trained more than 2.7 million young people in more than 100 career technical areas, ranging from automotive to nursing assistants to information technology.
The Cherokee Nation started a Job Corps program in 1978. It currently serves 197 students between the ages of 16 and 24. The center is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Celebrating our graduates today was very special as we were one of 126 Job Corps centers across the Nation taking part in the 5th Annual National Job Corps Commencement Day,” said Jay Littlejohn, Talking Leaves Job Corps director. “Our program is in the business of training and educating today’s youth so they may become successful, independent individuals. I am confident that each and every one of our graduates will make a difference in their communities with all they’ve accomplished at Talking Leaves.”