Blanca Diaz Medina earned the Student of the Month award presented at Tongue Point Job Corps Center’s August business meeting. Students are selected for this honor based on their performance in training, leadership on center and volunteer service in the community. Diaz arrived at TPJCC in August of 2014 to train in Home Builders Institute’s  pre-apprentice electrical training program and quickly developed as a student leader.

Due to her leadership, experience and service, Diaz was selected to speak on Lower Columbia Diversity Project’s panel discussion focusing on women and wage inequality. She was also an active member of Tongue Point’s Student Government Association and greeted Rep. Suzanne Bonamici upon her visit to celebrate Job Corps 50th anniversary.

Diaz’s on center training was coupled with a Work Based Learning, or an internship, with Camp Rilea’s Maintenance and Operations department. Her weekly evaluations scores were always high and her supervisor, Henry Idica, stated “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy; Blanca embodies all three.”

Staff have many positive things to say about Diaz: “Blanca has always strived for perfection in everything she does,” attests Sharon Haller, her Career Transition Specialist. Jessica Harker, her Career Counselor, has this to say, “She is a great example for other students! She is a hard worker, determined, respectful… she sets the bar high, she is goal oriented and she sets a great example for women in hard trades!” “She has taken advantage of every opportunity here and is eager to begin her apprenticeship,” stated her electrical instructor Jim Kalmbach.

Haller also shared that prior to coming to TPJCC Diaz was a manager at Burger King. After completing our electrical program she applied for apprenticeship through Construction Industry Training Council in Washington. Because she completed our pre-apprenticeship training, she was approved by their Joint Area Training Committee and given direct entry into the apprenticeship.

Kalmbach reports that last year his pre-apprenticeship training program completed 19 students, with 70% of them going into apprenticeships, the remaining graduates went onto advanced training within Job Corps, onto the military or directly into the workforce.

Of her training and successes, Blanca says, “I am thankful for getting the opportunity to enroll in Tongue Point. It has given me all the skills to start my new career and I am excited to work as an electrician. Without their help I would not be as career ready as I am now.” In regards to her future she states, “I am starting my apprenticeship and in a few years after completing I look forward to running my own electrical business.”

Links to the Daily Astorian articles featuring Diaz:

Women challenge the wage gap: http://www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20150413/women-challenge-the-gap-secretary-of-state-others-discuss-wage-inequality

Job Corps cheers golden anniversary: http:/www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20150210/job-corps-cheers-golden-anniversary