Students honored for work ethic achievements
June 4, 2009
By By FELICIA KITZMILLER/fkitzmiller@indexjournal.com
In a time of increasing competition for jobs and college admittance, every little advantage helps.
Mark Warner, of Partnership Alliance, said he hopes the work ethics certificates presented by his organization and G. Frank Russell Career Center on Monday give the 44 recipients that extra advantage.
Last year, Partnership Alliance and the career center teamed up and created a program that evaluates student performance the way an employer would – based not only on grades and classroom performance, but also on soft skills such as communication and team work. At the end of the year, students can earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate.
Last year, the program was opened to one class. Nine students volunteered, and five received certificates. Don Lytch, teacher of the machine tool technology class that piloted the program, said the five students who earned the certificate all had two or three companies send them letters inviting them to apply for positions.
This year the program was opened to all juniors and seniors in trade and industrial classes, and was piloted in business and health. About 110 students participated and 44 earned certificates.
“I think it’s something worth bragging about,” Warner told recipients.
Students said the program focused on things they would do anyway, but made them realize anew the importance of certain behaviors.
“I wanted to be as involved as possible,” junior health science student Oreyale Briggs said. “I guess I took it more seriously.”
Senior engineering student Jamie Rambo said she has always been a good and responsible student, but still thought she took something away from the program.
“It feels good to be recognized for hard work,” she said.
She also agreed with Warner that it will give her a leg up on her peers who didn’t receive the certificate
“I know exactly what employers are expecting when I walk in for an interview,” Rambo said.
Director Chuck Graves said working toward the certificates made students more aware of the skills they would need, as well as the things employers would expect as they went about their daily activities.
“I think we take for granted that kids know what soft skills are and they don’t,” he said.
Graves said he hopes students continue to remember to focus on these areas as they go on with their lives, whether they move on to college, the work force, or are returning for another year of high school.
“It offers so much to get them ready for life beyond high school, and that’s what we’re here for,” he said.
