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The Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. would like to say “hats off” to our participants
and projects listed below.
So often success comes from the common moments of everyday life when we have summon up uncommon strength to keep on keepin’ on. As Carly Simon put it, “It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. It’s the slow and steady fire.” So, congratulations on getting to class and getting the grades when it’s difficult to just get out of the house (or out of bed) because the kids are sick, your throat is sore, the car is as temperamental as a teenager and the mercury is in the single digits. The best is yet to come.
Updated
10/15/2009
In May of 2009, Amanda Michel stood in front of
hundreds of people at Sauk Valley Community College’s commencement
ceremony and spoke about determination, hard work and volunteerism.
She had been hand-picked by the college to deliver a student address
and the audience quickly learned why.
Amanda had never planned to go to college but
as a single, working mother of three young children, her job didn’t
pay enough to support her family. She decided to earn a nursing
degree and enrolled in college.
The college recommended that Amanda apply for
the BEST Inc. program in Dixon. She did that and was grateful to
learn that the program would provide her with tuition and book
assistance, mileage reimbursement and other supportive services.
Amanda was determined to be successful and to be a positive example
to her children. She volunteered for many activities at her son’s
school and at the college, became President of the Single Parent
Association, was a student delegate and was even chosen to represent
the college at a Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
But the challenges of attending school,
working, volunteering and raising a family alone were enormous.
Among her many challenges, Amanda was forced to step away from the
nursing program for a year due to a serious illness diagnosed in one
of her children.
Amanda didn’t give up. After six years in
college, she earned her ADN degree. She loves her new job as a
nurse at a local hospital.
SUMMER YOUTH GREEN PROJECT
Collaboration is the key to most success
stories and this one is no different. On June 5, 2009, BEST, Inc.
and the Youth Service Bureau of LaSalle County entered into a
partnership to help area youth. The goal was to teach work ethics
and soft skills to the youth while also teaching them skill sets for
landscaping. The project not only provided Ottawa and the
surrounding area with “green” upgrades and beautification, but it
also provided a “green” career exploration for the youth.
Some of the projects included: landscaping for
cities, parks, and other public agencies, growing and caring for
organic foods in a lot which was donated for the project to use and
then donating the product to area food pantries, planting, mulching
and general upkeep of Ottawa’s river walk, clearing trails at a city
owned park and helping out with the landscaping at the Veteran’s
home.
The kids had this to say about their learning
experience and how that experience met their career plans:
“Learning how to work, show up on time, and also doing different
experiences”, “It helps me to know what it feels like to have good
work habits”, “I love my job!”, “I enjoy learning something new”, “I
am going into the army and this helps with hand on work and
responsibilities”.
Seven youth participated in this program and
all 7 of them increased their work readiness scores and 6 of them
successfully completed the work experience. 2 individuals were
hired in unsubsidized employment and two entered another work
experience for the extension of the summer. The teens also were
invited to be guests at the Ottawa Noon Rotary because of all the
work they did on the Riverwalk. Success like that does not happen
accidentally; it takes a good partnership and hard work for those
results.
Nicholas
was a Summer Youth
Internship participant that has been working at Combined Cleaning &
Restoration Inc since June 18 and was extended to September 30,
2009. Combined Cleaning & Restoration Inc. is considering placing
Nicholas utilizing the OJT Program to make him a regular full time
employee. Nicholas received high rankings on his training
verification and the Supervisor comments are quite favorable of
Nicholas and his job skills. Comments indicate that Nicholas is
excellent to work with and has learned well, he gets along with
co-workers and is very cooperative. Prior to Nicholas placement he
has had a limited work history, and is eagerly awaiting full time
employment.
Congratulations To All!!
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