One-page newsletter

Building futures
21st Century Learning
Volume 1, Issue 2
Pinellas County Job Corps
March 2016
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES
In this issue…

Graduation

CD’s Corner

Sunshine Division
Basketball
Tournament /
National
Basketball
Championship

Jordan Talley
“Player of the
Year” / Community
Relations Council

Call to Action /
NJCA Conference

ITI—GE Tour /
Advance Training
The Pinellas County Job Corps Center’s (PCJCC) Commencement Ceremony was held on
March 18, 2016. With nearly 100 graduates, this was the largest graduating class from the
PCJCC. Graduates were filled with excitement and joy as the day they have been anticipating
for, had finally arrived. The gymnasium was packed with proud family members, friends and
community supporters.
PCJCC Center Director, Jorge Pedroza served as the master of ceremony and provided opening remarks. Next, the Pinellas County Veterans Council presented Colors while Student
Government Association (SGA) Vice President, Jonathan Wilson performed the Pledge of
Allegiance; and SGA member, Maiya Mills sung the National Anthem. Assistant Chief,
Luke Williams welcomed everyone on behalf of the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Police Department. Additionally, SGA President, Armel Light performed a very inspirational song for the student body. Mr. Armel did such an awesome job and the song was so
inspiring that the District Director for Senator, Bill Nelson asked Mr. Light to come back on
the stage and sing the song for the government and the nation. Next, a video from US Senator, Bill Nelson personally thanking the Graduates and the Pinellas County Job Corps Center
for doing an amazing job, was played for the graduates and attendees. Keynote speaker Cassius Butts, who was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Region IV Administrator
for the Small Business Administration, gave a very motivating speech to our graduates. He
personally gave words of wisdom to each of them as they walked across the stage. Our ceremony concluded with the turning of the tassels by Council Member, Lisa-Wheeler Brown.
Following the commencement ceremony, refreshments were provided for the graduates and
their families. All graduations are special, but it is always extremely moving when you see
the parents/guardians of graduates touched by their child’s accomplishments and their success. There were also many parents thanking staff for all of their hard work and effort. It was
a truly beautiful day at the Pinellas County Job Corps Center!
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Building Futures
Pinellas County Job Corps
CD’S CORNER
Graduates - Your achievements are truly commendable and well deserved. My expectation is that you do
not let this be the end of you receiving awards, certificates and recognitions, but that this will be the beginning of the celebration of future success in your
chosen career path. Commencement ceremonies are
a highlight of great applause and recognitions for all
of your great work. They are evidence that signify the
accomplishment of goals, through dedication and
perseverance. However, they do not depict your end
results. Graduation is the “first step” as you enter
into greatness, that if you choose, can be a neverending journey of pursuing knowledge. Embrace the Career Success Standards
you learned and make them a way of life.
Former City Councilman,
Wengay Newton
Students- You will encounter some rough days; we all do, but you have to learn
to dig your heels in and declare that you shall not waver. Declare that you are in it
to win it because your desire to build a great tomorrow must never be halted.
Most of the time God takes you the long way on purpose. Remember you are not
alone; we all encounter battles between the body and the spirit. The body wants
to sleep and be always comfortable and it ignores the spirit of words that remind
us to “get up and work.” Do no ignore the words and the wisdom of words staff
shared with you because you’ll never grow. The harder you work, getting up early, doing some physical fitness, and eating healthy, the more you will grow. If
you are going to reach your highest potential, you must make up in your mind
that you will not be discouraged by life’s obstacles, being courageous and committed to do the right thing.
Staff – Let us continue to strive to increase more doors of opportunities for our
students, and give them the empowerment they need to overcome daily challenges. Everywhere our students go, they will be given expectations that we hope
they have learned from their experience at PCJCC. Our prayers and hope go with
them as they carry the “light” of an “I can do” attitude, an attitude that takes initiative, and an attitude of a superb work ethic all employers embrace.
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
All: When we go out each day, let’s represent PCJCC in a positive way. Let’s be
a witness and a testimony of achievement; be a positive influence in all we do.
Model the expectations we expect. If all of us put all these principles into action,
then we’ll not only make a difference in other people’s lives, but it’ll make a difference in our life too. Team, that’s the best legacy we can leave for our future
generations.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!! For a job well done and for making me feel at
home.
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Building Futures
Pinellas County Job Corps
PCJCC MEN’S BASKETBALL WINS SUNSHINE DIVISION
TITLE
The Pinellas County Job Corps
Center’s Men’s Basketball team is
back atop the basketball mountain
in the Sunshine Division. In
PCJCC’s first trip to the Sunshine
Division Championship game
since 2014, PCJCC came out victorious against the Miami Job
Corps Center with a score of 79 to
24, at the Phoenix Gymnasium to capture the 2016 Sunshine Division championship.
The victory gives PCJCC its second men’s basketball title in four years.
PCJCC started the game off strong in the first quarter with a 30 to 4 lead at the end of the
first quarter. PCJCC used their signature defense to contain Miami Job Corps leading
scorer and 1st Team All-Conference winner Jonathan Riley to zero points the entire
game. PCJCC leading scorer Jordan Talley finished the game with 15 points in 3 out of 4
quarters of action. PCJCC used their reserve by the 3rd quarter to rest the starters.
With the Championship win, PCJCC will enter the 2016 Job Corps National Basketball
Championship as the number two ranked team in the tournament behind Brunswick Job
Corps who is currently the Southern Region Tournament Champions and holds an undefeated record of (24-0). PCJCC will play against Earle C. Clemons Job Corps out of
Kentucky in the first round of the national tournament who is currently undefeated in the
Northern Division.
In other Sunshine Division news, the PCJCC Lady Phoenix fell short to Jacksonville Job
Corps’ Lady Panthers in the 2016 Sunshine Division Women’s Championship game.
PCJCC Lady Phoenix post season will continue March 23-26 as the Lady Phoenix’s will
defend their national title from 2015 in the 2016 Job Corps National Basketball Championship. The Lady Phoenix will enter the tournament as the number 5 seed, behind Atlanta Job Corps (Southern Region Champions), Mississippi Job Corps (Western Division
Champions), Earle C. Clemons (Northern Division Champions), and Jacksonville
Job Corps (Sunshine Division Champions).
NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
Pinellas County Job Corps hosted the 2016 Job Corps National Basketball Championship on March 23 – 26, 2016. The tournament featured teams from Florida (Pinellas
County, Jacksonville), Georgia (Atlanta, Brunswick) and Kentucky (Earle C. Clements). Each team displayed good sportsmanship on and off the court. Although the
team left everything they had on the floor, there could only be one national champion
in each division (men/women). Jacksonville Job Corps won the women’s division as
they defeated Pinellas County Job Corps in a two game playoff and went on to win
their first national championship ever. In the men’s division, Brunswick Job Corps
defeated Pinellas County Job Corps to capture their first national championship in the
men’s division, as well as, finishing their season with an undefeated record of 29-0.
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Building Futures
Pinellas County Job Corps
PCJCC JORDAN TALLEY NAMED
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Pinellas County Job Corps Point Guard, Jordan Talley has received
an award to finish his regular season performance in the Sunshine
Division. On March 12, 2016, the college basketball prospect out of
Atlanta Georgia was named the 2016 Sunshine Division Player of
the Year, making him the second player from Pinellas County Job
Corps history in the men’s division to garner the award.
Talley won in a close vote, edging teammate Keon Grey, the 2016
Sunshine Division 1st Team All-Conference winner. Both Talley
and Grey received first place votes from the other coaches from
Miami Job Corps and Jacksonville Job Corps. Jonathan Riley out of
Miami Job Corps, and Alexander Delgado from Pinellas County Job Corps both received 1st Team All-Conference Awards and received 2nd place votes falling behind
both Grey and Talley.
Talley, who averaged 17.7 points per game, is eligible for the 2016 Job Corps Athletics
Activities Association National Player of the Year award, as well as a First Team AllAmerican selection. If Talley wins the national player of the year award he would become the first player from Pinellas County Job Corps in the men’s division to win the
award.
The 2016 Sunshine Division Women’s All-Conference award winners were also announced. A few of the Pinellas County Job Corps Lady Phoenix received awards. Almetra Nelson and Isay Gulley both received 1st Team All-Conference honors, while
Sherry Tucker and Calponia Martin received 2nd Team All-Conference honors.
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COUNCIL
The Pinellas County Job Corps Center
(PCJCC) Community Relations Council
Meeting was held on March 15,
2016. Sixty business and community
partners were in attendance for the
event. Attendees had an opportunity to
network, provide updates in reference to
their business or organization, and learn
ways they can continue to partner with PCJCC. Several of the business partners
and community members expressed how pleased they were with our students in
reference to community projects, work based learning and employment opportunities that our students have performed within their establishments. PCJCC Center
Director, Jorge Pedroza provided updates on the successes of our Center as well as
gave an overview of our new contract with Serrato/Horizons Corporations. The
Student Government Association, Community Service Committee and Food Committee assisted in setting up for the event, serving food, and greeting our
guests. The council truly enjoyed the meeting including the Chief of Police, Anthony Hodges, who informed our Center that the St. Petersburg Police Department
is an avid supporter of Job Corps and will help our Center in any way we need.
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Building Futures
Former Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
Pinellas County Commissioner
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
Pinellas County Job Corps
CALL TO ACTION FORUM
On Monday, March 14, 2016, Sixteen Pinelleas County Job Corps Center (PCJCC)
Medical Assistant students attended the
"Call to Action: Making A Change Forum”
at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. The students had the opportunity to attend educational break-out sessions, as well
as network with various community and non-profit agencies, including the Pinellas County Job Corps. They also enjoyed live music, giveaways and showcase
dancers. PCJCC Medical Assistant Students expressed that they had a great time
learning, interacting and networking.
The Forum was sponsored by the Department of Juvenile Justice, Pinellas County
School System, Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Lealman Police Athletic League, Pinellas Sheriff's Department, City of St. Petersburg
Police Department and several other community partners at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. Sixth Judicial Judge Patrice Moore, and the Juvenile Welfare
Board Co-Chair Jim Sewell were Keynotes speakers at the "Call to Action: Making A Change Forum.” Middle and high school age students along with their parents, college student in addition to people from the community were in attendance
at the event.
NJCA CONFERENCE
The National Job Corps Association (NJCA), 2016 Policy Forum
was held in Arlington, VA., March 2 – 3, 2016. Pinellas County
Job Corps Center’s (PCJCC) Center Directors, and corporate
staff traveled to the Washington, DC area to attend the NJCA
conferences. The conferences allow center staff, operators, and
government officials the opportunity to view and discuss current
issues facing the Job Corps (JC) program on a National level, in
addition to reporting new and upcoming policies that affect Job
Corps.
Center staff and operators, spent one day during the NJCA conference on Capitol Hill visiting congressional staff; updating
them on current JC outcomes, student achievements, as well as
soliciting their ongoing support of the Job Corps program. While
on Capitol Hill PCJCC Center Director, Jorge Pedroza met with
Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman David Jolly and the
Office of Congressman, Gus Bilirakis. Mr. Pedroza requested
their support for the 2017 funding request to improve mental
health, information technology, safety and contextualized learning in the Job Corps program. Mr. Pedroza also met with legislative assistants for Senator Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio's office.
They both confirmed their continued support for the center.
Mr. Pedroza and Serrato Corporation President, Ramon Serrato
attended a follow-up meeting held at Congressman Jolly's office
in St. Petersburg Florida with his local representative Stephani
Lavely. She re-confirmed the Congressman's support for the Pinellas County Job Corps Center as well as the mission of Serrato Corporation.
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Building Futures
Pinellas County Job Corps
INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS INC
(ITI) / GE
Mrs. Whitney Ford gave us a tour of the Instrument Transformers Inc., a subsidiary of General
Electric. Plant Manager, Erik Olson who manages both the Florida and New York plants, and
Paul Gauvin, the Shop Manager, had nothing
but positive things to say in reference to our
students and the Job Corps program. They were
extremely impressed with the skills and work
ethics of our students. Mr. Olson stated that he
likes how our students are always on time, well mannered, and already come in with
the foundation and skill sets needed for the job. They stated that our students have a
higher quality than other applicants they would get from somewhere else.
Both Eric and Paul repeatedly stated how our students know how to get the job done in
a timely manner; they do not get distracted, and exemplify hard work ethics. One of
our students they spoke of in particular was Larry Bran, who they stated that the majority of departments on site want to hire him because of how well he comes in and gets
the job done. Pinellas County Job Corps has three paid work based students that are
getting between $9.00 and $10.50 an hour and three direct hires that are receiving
$15.00 at the plant right now. They are currently working on obtaining more work base
learning students and planning on hiring as many students as possible.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Name: Willy Ward III
Age: 20
Center: Pinellas County Job Corps Center (PCJCC)
Region: Atlanta
Hometown: Avon Park, FL
Career Area: Facility Maintenance
Dates in Job Corps: April 4, 2015 – Present
Advanced Training: Rail Mechanical Carmen - TCU Excelsior
Springs Job Corps Center, MO
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
Willie Ward came to the PCJCC on April 4, 2015 and chose Facility Maintenance as
his trade. Upon completing the Facility Maintenance trade, Mr. Ward applied for the
TCU Rail Mechanical Carmen program at Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center located
in Excelsior Springs, MO. Mr. Ward received his acceptance letter and on March 15th,
he left his PCJCC home to start a new chapter in his life at the Excelsior Springs Job
Corps Center.
“Willie is one of the most kind hearted students I have encountered at Job Corps. He
always stayed away from any of the drama and was quick to help defuse any situations
that arose. He is very intelligent and will do great at whatever career he takes on. I will
miss his easy going smile and his great attitude and view of life.” ~ PCJCC Facility
Maintenance Instructor, Jim Chapin.
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Building Futures
ACADEMICS
*DIPLOMA
Kristen Tigno
Clarissa Lagares
Brittany Johnson
Jordan Talley
Twanda Neal
Keon Gray
Quanasia Watkins
Gregory Jones
Erika Blalock
*TABE
Kenney Vincent- Math
Arthur Butler - Math
Jose Acevedo - Reading and Math
Erica Brown - Reading
I’Munique Clark - Reading
Rejeca Elmore - Reading
Mercades Landry - Reading
Antonio Taylor - Reading
ALLIED HEATH
*COMPLETERS
Medical Assistant
Clarissa Lagares
Jonelle Jackson
Lyndsay Hartzell
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
*CERTIFICATIONS
Denisha McLoud - CBCS
I’munique Clark - CCMA
Lyndsey Hartzell - CCMA
Caridad Mendoza-Cruz - CCMA
Clarissa Lagares - CCMA
Lauren Rohl - CCMA
Malcom Waller - CCMA
Clarissa Weaver - CCMA
Kenisha Hardy - CEHRS
Bonnie Delaney - CEHRS
Dovonte Edwards - CEHRS
Raquel Duran - CEHRS
Brittany Johnson - CEHRS
Courtney Hofer - CEHRS
Brittany Holmes - CEHRS
Raquel Duran - CMAA
Courtney Hofer - CMAA
Pinellas County Job Corps
Dovonte Edwards - CMAA
Brittany Johnson - CMAA
Alberto DeValle - CMAA
Bonny Delaney - CMAA
Brittany Holmes - CMAA
Thomas Lewis - EHR
De’Shone Richards - EHR
Tomla Tomlinson - EHR
Jonelle Jackson - EHR
Lyndsay Hartzell - EHR
Clarissa Weaver - Phlebotomy
Kevin Butler - Med Tech Cert.
Kahadeja Cain - Med Tech Cert.
Raquel Duran - Med Tech Cert.
Rejaca Elmore - Med Tech Cert.
Patrice Radsdale - Med Tech Cert.
Haley Swan - Med Tech Cert.
Lionel Thomas - Med Tech Cert.
Asleigh Walker - Med Tech Cert.
Terri Yount - Med Tech Cert.
CONSTRUCTION
*COMPLETERS
HBI Pre Apprentice Plumbing
Dangil Cosme
Salama Aleson
*CERTIFICATIONS
Bradley Brunner - OSHA Cert.
Roland Bynum - OSHA Cert.
Michael Lewis - OSHA Cert.
Theodore Spear- OSHA Cert.
Lahkevia Young - OSHA Cert.
WORK BASED LEARNING
*COMPLETERS
Tom Meeks
Ebony Paris
Caridad Cruz
*EMPLOYMENT
Malik Nolan – City of St Pete
Mike Juene – Walgreens
Tikiera Watson – Jacaranda Manor
Jodie Worthham – Good Hope of
Pinellas
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Building Futures
The Word on the Street…!
Congratulations
GRADUATES!
Honor
Courage
Commitment
Pinellas County Job Corps
500 22nd Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 551-2900
Pinellas County Job Corps