WCC graduates first JobsNOW class
By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 6, 2010 1:46 PM
Wayne Community College has graduated its first JobsNOW class.
Seven women have completed all of the requirements for the "12-in-6" worker training initiative of the JobsNOW program, including the skill component, Human Resource Development class and Career Readiness Certification testing.
Receiving JobsNOW certificates of completion at the conclusion of their Nurse Aide I course were Ross Blackman and Veronica Gervin of Goldsboro; Wanda Kelly, Sheila Heath and Teresa Watkins of Dudley; Gladys Hewett of Rosewood; and Kim McKown of Pikeville.
Becky Taylor, JobsNOW coordinator, commended the women for taking the additional course and CRC exam, when they could have only taken the nurse aide class.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity," said Ms. Hewett. "At my age, it reminded me of things I need to implement more. ... All of my life I've wanted to be a nurse. I'm 63 years old and now I'm finished with my CNA class."
Ms. Heath is unemployed and said she knew she needed to learn new skills but was concerned about coming back to school at her age.
"It has been a long time," she said. "I'm one of the older students in the class and we had to work extra hard."
The "12-in-6" workforce development program of Gov. Bev Perdue's JobsNOW initiative provides community college training in 12 career areas that can be completed in six months or less. Students may be eligible for assistance with course fees.
In addition to the nurse aide program, WCC offers hydraulics, welding, programmable logic controls, emergency medical technician and weatherization as JobsNOW programs.
For more information on these courses, contact Ms. Taylor at 739-6938 or rstaylor@waynecc.edu.