Devante Williams, Edward Strawder and Kevin Oswalt all had something in common on Dec. 15, 2016. All three students not only completed the Job Corps program at Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, but they also graduated from Big Sandy Community & Technical College (BSCTC) with their associate's degrees.

Devante Williams

Edward Strawder

Kevin Oswalt

Perkins has an ACT partnership with BSCTC that allows students to attend college to pursue a higher degree in a particular career path once they have completed their Job Corps career technical training program. To be eligible for the ACT program, students must be in good standing with the center's standard of conduct, have TABE scores of 600 or higher, and have completed their training on center.

Williams, 23, from Radcliff, KY, entered the Perkins Job Corps program on Jan. 13, 2015, to pursue the Security & Protective Services career technical training program. While at Perkins, Williams was a student leader and worked many hours on community service events and in work-based learning internships. He completed his Associate's of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice at BSCTC, and will attend Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY, in January.

Strawder, 25, from Elkins, WV, entered the Perkins Job Corps program on Feb. 11, 2014, to pursue the Security & Protective Services program. While at Perkins Strawder was a student leader and worked at Subway restaurant in the evenings to earn extra money as part of the Leisure Time Employment program. He completed his Associate's of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice at BSCTC and also will attend Eastern Kentucky University in January.

Oswalt, 24, from Jacksonville, FL, entered the Perkins Job Corps program on Jan. 7, 2014, to pursue the Security & Protective Services program. Oswalt worked as a recreation leader while at Perkins. After earning his Associate's of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Oswalt returned to his home in Jacksonville to work in the security field.

Perkins congratulates these outstanding graduates and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Culinary Arts student Artesian Hines, from Deland, FL, recently attended a hiring event for Golden Corral. Hines met with Hiring Manager Erick Rash to discuss employment opportunities at the new location in Pikeville, KY. If hired, Artesian will be able to continue to learn and practice her training as part of the center's Work Based Learning/Leisure Time Employment program. Through WBL and LTE opportunities, students work in their career field, get on-the-job training and earn money to assist with transitional needs after completing the program. Hines should know by the end of January if she will be hired for the restaurant that will be opening this spring.

Student Artesian Hines speaks with Golden Corral Hiring Manager Erick Rash.

On Dec. 8, Carl D. Perkins Job Corps held its Workforce Council meeting at the center. The purpose of the council is to review relevant labor market

	Center Director Paula Davis, right, talks with Jessica Hall and Brian Lafferty of the Floyd County Sheriff's Office.

information to identify employment opportunities in communities where graduates will seek employment and the skills and education necessary for those employment opportunities. The council also re-evaluates labor market information and recommends appropriate changes in center career technical training offerings, curricula and/or certification opportunities.

Members of the council talked with the Center Director Paula Davis, who welcomed veteran council members and new members from the Floyd County Sheriff's Department and Mountain Comprehensive Care Center. Career Technical Training Manager Jerry Tackett gave an overview of all career technical training programs at the center, job placement, labor market information and updates to credentials.

Members also heard an update on the center's new partnership with Core Civic Safety, a national leader in high quality corrections and detention management. Core Civic will be an employer specifically for the center's Advanced Training Security Class and Office Administration and Culinary programs.

The council meets twice a year, with sub-committees meeting every quarter or as needed. The next full council meeting will be July 13, 2017.

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps is pleased to announce that it has renewed its partnership with the University of Pikeville to provide valuable work-based learning internships to the center's culinary students. Seven students began their WBL assignments at the university on Nov. 29, and are working Monday through Thursday in the cafeteria, rotating assignments each week to work in different areas of the food service operation.

WBL provides valuable hands-on experience for students as they put the job training they receive on center to use in an actual business setting. Thank you University of Pikeville for providing this important opportunity for our students.

Congratulations to Aaron Blevins, residential living supervisor, who is the December Employee of the Month at Carl D. Perkins Job Corps.

Blevins started work at the center in May 2015 as a security instructor. During his time in that position he was very active in introducing students to new avenues in security. He worked with the students on multiple community activities, providing instruction and leadership. He consistently went above and beyond his duties to attend functions outside his regular work schedule to ensure the students' success. This extra effort allowed the students to take the skills they learned in his classroom and apply them to real work situations.

 
Blevins applied for and accepted the position of residential living supervisor in September 2016. In his new position, Blevins has accomplished a number of things by simply becoming involved with students and staff. He has taken the initiative by making decisions without constant supervision, being accepting of staff and working as a team member with the other dorm supervisors. Blevins is in constant learn mode and asks questions whenever he encounters things that are new or different from what he has experienced in the classroom and in his other occupations. Often on his days off, he contacts his supervisor and his cohorts to ask how things are going or to ask work-related questions. 

 
His background in police work has contributed greatly to his success as an employee of Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center.

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps students were top winners in the 2016 Floyd County Conservation's Art & Writing Contest. The Floyd County Conservation District sponsored the Conservation & Writing contest for the first time at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center in 2010. Since then, this contest has helped foster a sense of conservation of our natural resources (soil, water, forestry & wildlife) in students.

This year's student winners of the creative writing category were Samuel De Freitas with his poem "The Aroma of Burning Oak" and Lakeria Smith with her short story "Cycle to Save Nature." Student Celeste Barnett won the creative artwork category with her collage of nature scenes that included animals, streams and mountains. All students received a certificate and $25 gift cards.

Congratulations to our talented students, and thanks to the Floyd County Conservation District for its continued support of the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center.

Pictured are Samuel De Freitas, Floyd County Conservation Manager Tony Grub, Celeste Barnett, Lakeria Smith, and Floyd County Conservation

Assistant Manager Michelle Hamilton.

Math and Reading students at the center put aside their work on math and reading skills in early December to learn the importance of extending a helping hand to others, expecting nothing in return. Students from Debora Osborne's and Betty Bartlett's classes worked for several days with the First United Methodist Church in Paintsville, KY, sorting food to make food boxes for families in need. The boxes were distributed to families in Johnson County. Students also spent their free time wrapping presents for the event.

Perkins Job Corps students in Melissa Hicks' office administration class made ornaments for the Perkins tree that the academic classes decorated for display at the Bear Creek Methodist Church Winter Wonderland of Trees Festival held Dec. 10. Students also enjoyed attending the event. All proceeds from the festival went to support the local food pantry. 

Perkins students also assisted the Christian Appalachian Project with the organization's Christmas give-away to families in need the week of Dec. 5-7. Security & Protective Services students performed traffic control, filled boxes, carried boxes to cars and did anything else that was needed for the event. Christian Appalachian Project provides food, clothing, disaster relief and other assistance throughout Appalachia. 

	Appalachian Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Charly Sholty shows the doves crafted by Perkins students that were used to decorate the tree.

On Dec. 9, Appalachian Hospice Care hosted a remembrance service for those lost with the Hanging of Doves ceremony at the Mountain Arts Center. The Perkins Job Corps Carpentry Class made each dove for the event.

The event is held to give families a means of honoring their loved ones and to help them understand that even though they've lost a loved one, they can still enjoy the holidays.

The Carpentry Class made the pattern for, cut and painted more than 100 doves. This is the second year that the class has assisted with this event, which allows students to support families as they remember their loved ones and work as a team to plan and complete the project in time for the event.

	Student Terry Massey assists a resident with his gift bag.

Perkins Job Corps students assisted the Rotary Club with its holiday party Dec. 9, at the Golden Years Nursing Home, bringing holiday cheer to the residents there. Perkins' Business Community Liaison Jimmie Wilson, who also is a Rotary member, and students Terry Massey, Hannah Fowler and Melea Whaley assisted with the Rotary's annual Christmas Party by handing out gift bags for the residents. Community members, businesses and Rotary members adopted the residents of the facility. Each resident received an outfit, shoes and personal hygiene products. The Rotary also provided a pizza party and with Christmas cupcakes.

The Perkins Y2Y student ambassadors and the SGA also held a food drive, with all food donated to an area food pantry.

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps students and staff enjoy the opportunity to assist the community with projects such as these holiday events and events throughout the year.

Students at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center headed home for the holidays and their winter break with their arms filled with gifts and goodies for family and friends. The center continued its tradition of hosting a Holiday Store before students left. As part of the center's policy to reward positive behavior, students had the opportunity to earn "Holiday Bucks" to spend at the store for gifts to take home to family and friends for Christmas.

Perkins staff and community members donated new or gently used items for the store. The holiday store was held on Dec. 12, after the training day. Students shopped for gifts and had them gift wrapped at the wrapping stations manned by staff and community members.

This is the seventh year that the center has hosted the Holiday Store as a way to recognize students who are following the center standards of conduct and provide some holiday cheer with the gifts.

The Perkins staff also treated students to hot chocolate and candy canes after they shopped as part of a special day of kindness on Dec. 13. Positive notes were displayed throughout the center, and staff and students did special activities to show kindness and appreciation for one another. Several staff brought in special treats for students and fellow staff.

Center staff also gave students a fitting holiday send-off as they hosted them to the center's annual Holiday Dinner with all the trimmings and a visit from good old St. Nick himself. Staff members served each table, holiday tunes played throughout the cafeteria, and Santa visited and talked with all, wanting to know those last minute requests. Students and staff even held a manikin contest when all music and conversation froze for a minute, with students winning the contest.

Students left for winter break on Dec. 14 and 15. Classes resumed on Jan. 3.