Celebrating Success!

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Celebrating Success!
T
he Launch Awards Banquet was held June 8 at Burritt on the Mountain
in Huntsville. Attendees included many of our award recipients, several members of the Chamber Foundation Board, Adult Education instructors, and staff. After a delicious lunch provided by Lawler’s Barbecue,
Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chairman introduced our speaker.
Melvin Allen from Boys and Girls Club challenged the group to pursue a
career about which they are passionate, adding stories and insights from
his life and experiences.
The Awards Ceremony began with the Launch “Rising Star” Award,
given to the participant in each county who has exhibited personal growth
through various programs and workshops, achieved education and/or
career goals, and maintained a positive attitude about improving their
lives. The 2006 Rising Stars are Casey Crutcher (Madison County), Whitney
Thompson (Jackson County), and Tiffany Davidson (Marshall County).
The “Most Determine” Award is given to those participants who, despite
extreme barriers, problems, and set-backs have not given up, but have
persevered to achieve an education and/or career goal. The Most
Determined awards for 2006 went to Travis Potter (Jackson
County), Madison Karr (Marshall County), and Akhevia
McNabb (Madison County).
Being a leader and a responsible young adult is being
involved in your city, town, or community, and volunteering to help those who are often less fortunate or in need.
The Launch Volunteer of the Year Awards recognizes
those participants who have been active in their communities. The winners are: Matthew Castillo (Marshall
County), Tawanda Jones (Madison County, and Sandi
Watkins (Jackson County).
Achievement of education goals is one of the primary
objectives of Launch. Nearly 50 participants obtained
their GED this year. The following people have achieved
the highest GED scores this year and are our recipients of the Educational
Achievement Award. Johnathan Spencer (Madison County), Melissa Lewis
(Jackson County), and Michael Short (Marshall County).
At the post-secondary level, 17 participants completed certification
and/or degree programs, with many others currently attending school.
The following students have excelled and received the award for
Outstanding Scholastic Achievement – Marissa Summers and Bridget
Gant, Registered Nurse, Associate Degree (Jackson County), Robert
Johnson, Electrical Lineman Certification (Marshall County), and Latoria
Pride, Associate Degree Paralegal Assistant (Madison County).
TOP: Robert Johnson (Marshall County)
competes during the Electrical Lineman
graduation rodeo. Robert received the
“Outstanding Scholastic Achievement” Award
at the Awards Banquet.
ABOVE: Recipients of the “Most Determined”
Award during the LAUNCH Awards Banquet.
(L-R) Travis Potter (Jackson County), Madison
Karr (Marshall County), and Akhevia McNabb
(Madison County).
First Dental Assisting Class Graduates
F
ive Launch participants recently
graduated from a new Dental Assisting
Program in Jackson County. The 15-week
program stresses both classroom and
clinical work and is offered through
Northeast Alabama Community College in
conjunction with Dr. Leslie Barrilleaux in
Scottsboro. Launch graduates include
Tiffany Dawson, Sandi Watkins, Brittany
Knight, Crystal Jackson, and Lisa Allen.
Dental Assisting ranks number 13 on a list
of high-demand occupations, and another
class is already being planned to begin in
August. Launch participants may contact
Sadie Bias at (256) 259-9199 for more
information.
1 Sandi Watkins prepares a “patient” for X-rays. 2 Brittany Knight
applies a dry-socket dressing while Crystle Jackson assists.
3Practice makes perfect. 4 The Dental Assisting graduates!
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Thank You to Our
2006-2007 Corporate Sponsors
LAUNCH Annual Awards Banquet
GOLD SPONSOR
SECOTEC, Inc.
www.secotecinc.com
LAUNCH Leadership Workshops
SILVER SPONSORS
Baron Services
www.baronservices.com
J.F. Drake State Technical College
www.dstc.cc.al.us
Wings-To-Go
256/746-1099
LAUNCH Leadership Workshops
BRONZE SPONSORS
Redstone Federal Credit Union
www.redfcu.org
Watring Technologies, Inc. (WTI)
www.watringtc.com
For information about sponsoring a LAUNCH event,
please contact Debra Dunbar @ 256/535-2012.
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Six Tips for Success at Work
(from Alabama Department of Industrial
Relations June 2006 Newsletter)
N
ervous about that new job? Wondering how to be successful at work? Where do you go to get that information?
Even though this information is crucial to being successful, you won’t find it in your high school classes, and it is
rarely even offered in college. So, don’t feel like you missed
something. These same questions are asked by high school
graduates as well as college graduates. Below are 6 tips for
success, taken from “They Don’t Teach Corporate in College: A
Twenty-Something’s Guide to the Business World”, by Alexandria Levit.
1. Capitalize on your skills and project a competent,
professional image.
2. Network with your co-workers and business contacts
to move forward in your career
3. Work with your boss to develop specific goals to help
you advance.
4. Stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude
despite difficult circumstances.
5. Get people to cooperate through negotiation.
6. Ask for feedback about your progress and performance
to stay on track with your career goals.
You can also talk with your Launch coordinator and
counselor, attend Job Shop Classes, Launch Leadership
Workshops, and other programs designed to address workplace behavior and concerns.
Congratulations Graduates!
Launch Calendar
April - June 2006
Ropes Course – Oct. 2006
Experience the challenge and fun of
the ROPES course! Learn the parallels
between the course and skills we all
need in life! Ask your coordinator for
dates!
GED Graduates
Nicole Burger
Angela Cahela
Jesse Cervantes
Kathy Crane
Leadership Workshop – Nov. 2006
An interactive and insightful look at
the "Real World" led by business leaders and community speakers and covering a number of topics designed to
enhance your life skills and success in
the workplace.
Casey Crutcher
Aaron Filteau
Madison Karr
Cameron LaMonica
Travis Potter
1
Michael Rehkamp
Stephanie Shaver
Dwight Shoulders
Dylan Sorter
Corvette Stancil
Sadie Tibbits
Sherrell Tisdale
Sandi Watkins
2
Post-Secondary Graduates
Dental Assistant
Lisa Allen
3
Tiffany Dawson
Crystal Jackson
Brittany Knight
Sandi Watkins
Lineman
Robert Johnson
Phlebotomy Certification
Amber Murdock
Associate Degrees
Paralegal Assistant
Latoria Pride
Registered Nurse
Bridget Gant
Marissa Summers
Pre-Engineering
Ryanne Jones
Computer Imaging
Jonathan Gunter
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1 J.J. and Tiffany Davidson
are a brother/sister act
receiving their GED’s in
Marshall County.
2 Latoria Pride (Madison Co.)
is all smiles after receiving
her Associate Degree in
Paralegal Studies.
3 Corvette Stancil (Marshall
Huntsville CareerLink:
“Job Shop” Workshops
Take advantage of a wealth of
information for job seekers every
Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 –
11:30. Location: 2535 Sparkman
Drive, Huntsville. Call 256/851-0537,
ext. 312 to register. Check with James
McDonald (256/851-6411) for
weekly topics.
“Now What?”
Finished High School or completed a
GED? Congratulations! But now what?
Undecided about your future – whether
to go to college, join the armed services, find a job? And what KIND of
job? How do I know I’ll even LIKE
what I’m doing? Go straight to your
LAUNCH counselor for an indepth
career counseling session using the
Myers’Briggs assessment tool! Match
your personality to jobs to increase
your job satisfaction and success.
Group Sessions
Led by your LAUNCH counselors,
these sessions offer practical life skills,
financial management information,
work readiness skills, and pertinent
topics of discussion. See your counselor for details.
Awards Banquet – June 2007
Join us for this special Banquet and
awards ceremony when we honor
your achievements during the year.
Check with your counselor for details
Co.) models her graduation
cap and gown!
4 Michael Short (Marshall
Co.) at GED graduation day.
5 Kim Riddle (Marshall Co.)
at GED graduation.
Visit us online at
LaunchProgram.org
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LEFT: Lineman graduates form “human trees”
at the completion of the graduation rodeo.
Located in Trenton, Georgia – just 30 minutes from Scottsboro –
the Southeast Lineman Training Center will prepare you to
work for power line construction and utility companies as
apprentice lineworkers. The Electrical Lineworker Program (ELP)
provides students with the necessary skills needed to be
extremely productive on utility and/or construction company
line crews. The program is 15 weeks long and is very demanding, but graduates say it is well worth the time and the work.
Most graduates receive job offers before they finish the program.
This is one of the most lucrative programs available to anyone
seeking training for a successful career. Applicants must be 18,
have a GED or High School diploma and be willing to work
hard. Check them out at www.lineworker.com.
Launch Staff
Jackson County
Sadie Bias, coordinator / Lindsey Thompson-Sparks, counselor
Madison County
James McDonald, coordinator / Donnie Towle, counselor
Marshall County
Sandra Davis, coordinator / Pam Lomax, counselor
Debra Dunbar, director
Marilyn Lands & Jane Orten, counseling supervisors
Launch Youth Services
P.O. Box 408
Huntsville, AL 35801
LAUNCH Youth Services is funded under the Workforce Investment Act through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.