Dec 1, 2003 – Representatives from the St. Croix Job Corps office will attend a career fair from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Vocational School to provide some guidance to approximately 1,000 students who might be considering their futures beyond high school.
Job Corps representatives will be available in the gymnasium to describe the Job Corps program and the benefits it can provide to students in the territory.
“Many students from the Virgin Islands have been successful in the Job Corps program," Sergei Davidenkoff, executive vice president of ResCare, said. "And we encourage men and women from 16 to 24 to come to the career fair and become acquainted with the program and the career possibilities we offer."
The event will be the first in a series of visits to schools in the area to kick off the winter recruitment campaign.
Established in 1964, Job Corps is claimed to be the most successful training program of its kind, annually serving 70,000 students. Qualified applicants who satisfy the program’s age and income requirements live at — and learn from — one of 118 Job Corps centers nationwide.
The program offers free room and board, training in more than 100 trades from accounting to welding — and even a spending allowance. Other benefits include:
• One-on-one career counseling;
• A personalized career plan;
• An opportunity to earn a high school diploma or General Educational Development certificate;
• Internships and hands-on training through Job Corps’ work-based learning model;
• Partnerships with companies like Dell, Roto-Rooter, HCR Manor Care, Sears, AAMCO, Walgreens, and Home Depot;
• Health benefits;
• Computer training;
• A start-up fund: Students who complete a trade and earn their high school diploma or GED while on center will receive $1,200 upon graduation; and
• Follow-up services: Job Corps counselors assist students with their job search and other needs for up to two years after graduation
V.I. students often enroll at one of the 11 centers in the New York Region, which includes two centers in New York City: Brooklyn Job Corps Academy and South Bronx Job Corps Academy. Those two centers alone offer training in accounting, business technology, computer repair, culinary arts, desktop publishing, information technology, medical-office occupations, network cabling/fiber optics, retail pharmacy, security and Web-page design.
Last year, 91 percent of Job Corps graduates found employment, enrolled in higher education or enlisted in the military, according to Job Corps officials.
For more information, call 777-9892 in St. Thomas or 773-1001 in St. Croix or visit the Job Corps New York Region Web site at www.jobcorpsny.com.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name, and the city and state/country or island where you reside.
