It was a graduating class that faced obstacles like none other – and yet, they succeeded anyway.

Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center celebrated the graduation of its class of 2022, celebrating 28 students who completed their trade education throughout the year, starting in January. Of those students, 19 walked at the ceremony.

“These students exhibited great grit and perseverance,” said Training Director Stephen Burch. “I say that because they had to endure the pandemic and all the restrictions that come with a pandemic, all while still learning in their academic classes, their high school diploma classes and their trade.”

That meant there were some things that students did not have the opportunity to do though they normally would – opportunities such as work based learning, where students get to learn at an off-center job in their trade.

“They get to not only work on those skills, but soft skills when it comes to working with other employees,” Burch said. “They had to only utilize the experience from the classroom. That right there puts them at a little bit of a disadvantage.”

In addition to the challenges there, the students also endured difficulties due to the social isolation that came with the pandemic.

But the students shined anyway, mastering their trade skills and, for some, even completing a high school education or GED.

One thing that truly set these students apart, Burch said, was the class of 2022’s leadership qualities.

“I see them as employees who will move up the ranks in their professions to leadership positions quite quickly,” Burch said.

Whitney’s class of 2022 includes:

• Abdiqafar Ahmed
• Damontae Axtmann
• DaQuan Bailey
• Joshua Bennett
• Jamison Burton
• Donte Butler
• Tayana Carnell
• Nutthasit Chujan
• Annick Clarke
• Scarlett Emerson
• Kimberly Ford
• Dylan Harris
• Roan Head
• Antonaeja Jordan
• Trayvon Lewis
• James Mackey
• Dallas Marshall
• Ngolo Nundu
• Azhane Ortiz
• Lamarrion Petty
• Monquiez Reed
• Adneri Sanchez Rodriguez
• Arturo Sanchez Rodriguez
• Rayna Shake
• Keke Shelton
• Alexis Tessier
• Jordyn Trowel
• Logan Wallace