Jeffrey Willie moved closer to his career goal on May 18 when he graduated, along with sixteen other students, from the Charles County Public Schools Adult Independence Program (AIP).
Willie aspires to be a maintenance worker like his dad, and he learned many of the life skills he needs to reach his goal in the AIP. “I am going to keep working and apply for a maintenance job to follow in my father’s footsteps. He was a maintenance worker and worked hard for 25 years,” said Willie, who works at Safeway and volunteers at Morningside House as a maintenance assistant.
Joining Willie, and accepting graduation certificates were, Derek Cleland, Lorenzo Flaim, Kevin Ford, Tonia Hagens, Nashea Hart, Alexander Johnson, Nicole Johnson, David McGhee, Samantha Noel, Jenna Reyes, Katie Stillwell, Takia Thompson, Courtney Trusty, Kyle West, Edwin Willie and Marcellis Wills.
Students in the program are trained to search for employment and to complete job applications, as well as how to access the public transportation system. There were 24 participating employers in the 2011-12 program. Some of the participating employers include Texas Roadhouse, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Goodwill Industries, Melwood, Safeway, Nanjemoy Landscaping and T.J. Maxx.
Graduation was an exciting day for the AIP graduates. “I won,” said Courtney Trusty as she raced to hug her parents. Other graduates grinned, while some held their certificates high in the air. Another graduate took a bow as he ended his experience with the AIP that has provided him with learning and life experiences.
The Adult Independence Program provides students with community-based le
