Individual Achievement Award: 2019

19-year-old Teshawn exudes energy when he talks about plans to become a top performer in all that he sets his mind to. After reading the Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, he started waking up every day at 5:30 a.m. to strategize what he desires to achieve that day. He has written out his monthly and yearly goals and has found a mentor to help him stay accountable to himself and his goals.

Lucas was actively involved in Boy Scouts of America and played soccer throughout his high school years. After receiving his High School Diploma, Lucas attended classes at McHenry County College for two years in hopes of persuing a degree in Criminal Justice.

My name is Tammy, I am 40-year-old married mother of three children. When I entered the program the company I worked for closed/merged. I lost my job and our household income decreased by 50%. My colleagues and I tried to petition for trade adjustment assistance, since we trained a company from India before ours closed. The petition came back denied and I was left unemployed with no college degree. I did receive unemployment assistance. I tried unsuccessfully entering back in the workplace at a pay scale to make ends meet. I only had a high school diploma and a lot of the jobs I would normally qualify for are now requiring some sort of college education.

A vocational counselor with Department of Human Services (DHS) and a teacher at Sterling High School referred Charles to Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. for help with employment. Charles, a senior at Sterling High School, met regularly with Business Employment Skills Team (BEST), DHS and Sterling High School to review job search best practices.

Korina had been unemployed for several months and felt like a person without a future. “I had a rough childhood and have always lacked confidence. I didn’t think I could ever get a really good job and was afraid I’d end up in a low-skill job without potential,” Korina says.

Anne came to the workNet DuPage Career Center seeking a career after nearly two decades of working dead-end jobs and living paycheck to paycheck. She enrolled in the Welding Certificate program at College of DuPage (COD) through a WIOA training grant.

Aaron personifies what can happen when you seize opportunity, work hard and follow your dream. A resident of Chicago Heights, Aaron formerly worked part-time at a local retailer stocking shelves, sweeping floors/trash, and cleaning bathrooms. He had limited, low-level work experience prior to entering the Manufacturing Career Internship Program (MCIP).

Krzysztof (Chris) was laid off after 14 years with his company, and came to Workforce Services Division of Will County for training assistance through the Trade program. Holding several technical roles throughout his many years of employment, he felt that his options were limited due to his lack of formal education.

Leon had been incarcerated as a youth and sentenced to 23 years at Joliet Correctional Center and other facilities. After paying his debt to society, Leon visited the Workforce Services office seeking assistance from the WIOA program.

Bruce attended an informational session at the American Job Center® in Rock Island. He was seeking funding assistance for truck driver training at Scott Community College to acquire his Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL Class A Drivers’ License).

Ryan came to the Quincy Workforce Center as a dislocated worker interested in the John Wood Community College (JWCC) Industrial Welding program. Before his training was completed, Ryan was asked by a current instructor to teach one of the welding classes a few nights a week at JWCC.

At age twenty, Emily faced many overwhelming barriers, including grave medical problems, family dysfunction and debt. Emily surmounted these obstacles with courage, grace, and hard work, making her an excellent example for all.

When Kankakee Community College referred Kristy to our WIOA office, she was a single mother-of-two and had been newly accepted into the Registered Nursing program. She needed our training assistance to help her finance the program.

When Kamari enrolled in the First Institute Training and Management Youth Program, she was committed to taking her General Educational Development (GED) Test. She met with her GED instructor and they began to develop a plan for her success.

Bernadette had always wanted to be a nurse, but did not have the financial means to make it a reality. She found herself separated from her husband, applying for food stamps, working part-time as a CNA, and not knowing how she was going to support herself.

When Matthew was referred to the Illinois workNet Center, he was seeking financial assistance for the Respiratory Care program at Lincoln Land Community College. Matthew chose the medical field because he had lived with his grandparents and had taken care of his grandfather when he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Our DORS partner referred Emily to the American Job Center in LWA 21 for assistance. Emily was working as a CNA and wanted to pursue training as an LPN. Emily took the CASPN placement test and was accepted into their LPN program.

Shannon knew she wanted to help people ever since volunteering at a local hospital while in high school. Years later, when Shannon’s father-in-law was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator, she began to ask his respiratory therapist a series of questions to understand her father-in-law’s health condition and methods of treatment. Shannon’s interaction with the respiratory therapist increased her interest in respiratory care.

Jolena first learned about the WIOA Youth program from both her mother and grandmother, who had previously received WIOA program assistance. Jolena was unsure of her career direction. She had completed her CNA through Vocational Tech at her high school and decided to look for full-time employment at that time. However, Jolena returned for assistance when she became a single parent of two young children.

Miranda always wanted to become a nurse, but did not have the support of her family. She moved out of her parents’ home and began working at Red Bud Regional Hospital. After quickly earning her CNA, Miranda found employment at a wage of $12.00 per hour.

Briant had received an honorable discharge from the United States Army in December 2012. After leaving the army, Briant found a job at Premiere Utility Services in Marion, Illinois, where he worked locating and marking underground electrical and gas lines. He was “laid-off” after six months of employment.

Stacy, in her own words, “I started working at Airtex Products when I was eighteen years old. I think it is safe to say I grew up there. I got married and had my daughter while I worked there. I even divorced and faced a serious health scare all while working there. The people I worked with became more than friends, they were my family. This is one of the reasons why after 29 years I can honestly say I was devastated to learn the factory was closing.”