Graduates of the Youth Automotive Training Center Celebrate

COMMUNITY
NEWS
June 2015
Graduates of the Youth Automotive Training Center
Celebr ate Completion
of the
Life-Changing Program
remediation, job readiness and life
management skills. The center’s
goal is to prepare the students to
become self-sufficient, productive
citizens. This latest class now joins
more than 600 other graduates
who have been given brighter
futures and are continuing on a
path toward success.
“This is the first time a lot of these
students have seen things through
to the end, so tonight is an exciting
and important moment for them and
their families,” said Terry Routley,
Graduate Jerome McClam (center) received the 2015 Bruce Rossmeyer Memorial Kick Start
Scholarship Award presented by (from left) Larry McGinnes, president of the YATC Board of
Directors, Jan Moran, Sandy Rossmeyer and Terry Routley, executive director of YATC.
D
YATC’s executive director. “YATC
has had such a positive impact on
this phase of their lives, and when
eerfield Beach, Fla. –
celebrated becoming the 36 th
they graduate, they don’t lose us as
Twenty-eight troubled young
class to graduate during a special
family. We will continue to provide
men were given a second
ceremony attended by family,
support when these young men
friends and supporters.
need us.”
created by automotive legend and
Jim Moran established YATC
Students are referred to YATC in a
JM Family Enterprises founder
in 1984 with the mission to
variety of ways, including through
Jim Moran. On May 21, students
train and educate at-risk young
Florida’s Department of Juvenile
ages 17 to 22 of the Youth
men and women in basic
Justice and Department of Children
Automotive Training Center (YATC)
automotive repair, academic
and Families, as well as YATC
chance to transform their lives by
completing a nine-month program
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alumni, local clergy and by word
of mouth. Many of these young
people have experienced poverty,
crime, abuse and addiction even
before reaching their teen years.
Thirteen scholarships for continuing
education were awarded at the
commencement ceremony and
five students received special
recognition for their notable
achievements. Longtime friends
of YATC, former tennis pro
Duby Petrovich and former
NFL players Troy Drayton,
Friends of YATC (from left) former tennis pro Duby Petrovich, football Hall of Famer
Jim Kelly and former NFL players Ki-Jana Carter and Troy Drayton helped YATC
Executive Director Terry Routley (far right) present certificates of completion to all the
graduates, including Julian Cintron (third from left).
Ki-Jana Carter and Hall of Famer
Jim Kelly congratulated the
graduates and presented them with
their certificates of completion.
Kelly delivered an inspirational
message to the outgoing class,
using his own experiences and
personal challenges to encourage
them to continue overcoming
adversity and taking advantage of
opportunities to become successful
in their chosen careers and in life.
With the assistance of YATC and its
volunteer tutors, one of this year’s
graduates earned his GED and two
have received their high school
diplomas.
Terry Routley (third from left), YATC’s executive director, presented special awards to
(from left) graduates Roosevelt Butler (Outstanding Attendance Award),
Ricardo Galvan (Jump Start Award), Jerome McClam (Bruce Rossmeyer Memorial
Kick Start Scholarship Award), Elijah McDuffy (Outstanding Attendance Award)
and Chris Moise (Turnabout Award).
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NEWS
Start Award for excellence in
automotive knowledge and
repairs.
• Chris Moise, 18, was honored
with the Turnabout Award for
making significant changes in all
areas of his life.
• Elijah McDuffy, 19, and
Roosevelt Butler, 20, received the
Outstanding Attendance Award
for demonstrating exceptional
commitment.
Larry McGinnes (left), president of the YATC Board of Directors, and Terry Routley
(right), executive director of YATC, presented Vicki Shafer (center) and her late
husband, Harold, owners of Centurion Auto Logistics, with the 2015 Jim Moran
Award in recognition of their loyal support and longtime contributions to the school.
During the ceremony, YATC also
recognized the owners of Centurion
Auto Logistics — longtime supporters
Vicki and Harold Shafer — with
Jerome McClam, 21, received the
“After seeing YATC help my brother,
the Jim Moran Award, which is
Bruce Rossmeyer Memorial Kick Start
Isaiah, I was convinced the program
presented annually to one of YATC’s
Scholarship Award. Established in
could lead me on the right path,”
outstanding community partners.
2009 by Jan Moran in memory of
McClam said. “YATC is a place
Mrs. Shafer accepted the award
Bruce Rossmeyer, this recognition
where you progress from your past
on behalf of herself and her late
includes a full tuition scholarship
mistakes and are given a second
husband. They have been generous
to attend a technical/vocational
chance. I give Mr. Moran and the
donors and loyal advocates of
school. Rossmeyer, founder of Bruce
YATC staff my deepest thanks for this
YATC since it was established
Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson
wonderful program and the limitless
more than 30 years ago. As one
and Daytona Toyota, was a devoted
opportunities.”
of their many gifts, Centurion Auto
friend and generous supporter of
Logistics provided YATC with a bus
YATC. In honor of her late husband,
Other standout award recipients
for student transportation in 2013
Sandy Rossmeyer, along with
include:
and continues to fund its annual
Jan Moran, presented McClam
• Ricardo Galvan, 21, was
operating expenses.
with the award.
presented with the Jump
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Youth Automotive Training Center Class of 2015
For more information about the
Youth Automotive Training Center,
please visit www.yatc.org, or call
(954) 428-0909. YATC is located at
399 SW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue,
Deerfield Beach, Florida.
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