NORWICH – The last few weeks in June that are usually reserved for traditional high school and collage graduations will play host to a more alternative, albeit equally important recognition of scholastic achievement this year.
Graduates of the CDO Workforce youth GED program will attend a recognition ceremony in their honor this upcoming Thursday, June 19 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus Community Room, and organizer Heather Schaap is welcoming the community to come and join in on a celebration of successes of the 12 students who have worked hard to obtain their high school equivalency, despite the odds.
In addition to the nine students who earned GEDs, three students will be acknowledged for the completion of their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate which will enable them to immediately enter the workforce, which is a common goal amongst students and staff at CDO Workforce.
“These youths have put forth a tremendous amount of work to get to get to this point and deserve support and validation from our community for their efforts,” said Schaap who acts as CDO Workforce Center Employment and Training Counselor and liaison to the youth training program.
Youths who completed the training program vary from age 16 to 21 and come from diverse backgrounds, most have battled with emotional self-worth struggles in the recent past making the feat that much more rewarding.
2014 will mark the third year that CDO has held an event in honor of those who have completed hours of studying and preparing to sit for the New York State Department of Education accredited test, which enables recipients to enroll in colleges and universities.
“We've slowly been building this celebration over the past three years because we at the CDO Workforce center felt that our younger high school aged youths should have something to reward their efforts in completing their high school level curriculum, much like a traditional graduation ceremony for those who completed their basic education in traditional high school,” said Schaap.
Schaap added, “With this addition of local sponsors like the Raymond Cooperation, Price Chopper, and Norwich Pharma Services, we were able to expand upon the first two events and we are very thankful for the assistance of all of the local sponsors who know that rewarding our youth for a job well done is paramount.”
Schaap indicated that ACCO Brands, Preferred Mutual and New York Central Mutual Insurance Companies, as well as UnaLam also contributed to make the recognition event a success.
Serving as the capstone to the youth's basic education, the event will allow graduates one last opportunity to mingle and celebrate with their fellow “classmates” before entering the workforce and/or continuing with their education goals.
“We're very proud of them, and we want the community to know of their accomplishments and all of thier hard work,” said Schaap. “They are to be commended.”
For more information regarding enrollment into the youth education program or any other services offered by the CDO Workforce Center, call 334-2201.
The recognition dinner and ceremony will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. this Thursday, June 19 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus Community Room, located at 20 Conkey Avenue in Norwich.