On Friday, August 16th, Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center participated in the 9th Annual National Job Corps Commencement Day. Approximately 50 students returned to the Center to celebrate in their success of completing and graduation from the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center.  Along with the 50 graduating students, in attendance was their families, peers of the whole student body, staff of the Center, local community members and supporters, local elected official, Jerry T. Miller of district 36 and staff of Senator Rand Paul, Robert Augustine and staff of Congressman Thomas Massie, Stacie Rockaway.

“You belong here, this world is yours” said Reverend Daniel Corrie Shull, Senior Pastor at the Burnett Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and the keynote speaker at Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center’s ceremony. He told the students, “You are enough to pursue. You are enough to achieve your dreams. You are enough”, and then asked the students to repeat after him, “I will succeed!” Approximately 50 students that participated in the commencement all followed, in unison, and yelled, “I will succeed!” to the Reverends prompt as it filled the gym with the sound of proud praises and self confidence from the students.

“You are following in the footsteps of powerful and influential people.” said Ian Crump, the center’s Acting Director, as he talked about the history of Whitney M. Young Jr., his accomplishments and his legacy, which surrounds the students every day.

The graduating students and their families continued to celebrate their success with refreshments and live music after the ceremony.