Lancaster: On Wednesday, March 4, 2008, nearly 300 Lancaster County residentsreceived a Career Readiness Certificate in recognition of their completion of the Ready2Work program at the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County during a ceremony at Liberty Place. The Certificate is sponsored locally by The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County, and the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board. It is affiliated with a national program using the WorkKeys assessment system that is a part of American College Testing services. More than 1,500 people attended the Job and Career Fair that followed the graduation.

Mayor Rick Gray, Commissioner Craig Lehman, Chamber President Tom Baldrige, and Workforce Investment Board Director Scott Sheely addressed the graduates as did Mark Moosic, General Manager of the new Convention Center complex. Officials of the Lancaster County Convention Center and the Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square have promised Ready2Work graduates that they would receive preferential consideration when hiring begins next week. Sheely complimented the graduates for increasing their skills in advance of the economic recovery that is to come. Mayor Gray spoke to the positive investment by so many City residents in training that will prepare them to be a part of the new Convention Center. Commissioner Lehman stressed the enthusiasm and positive attitude of the graduates while Baldrige thanked the 40 other employers who attended the event and commented on the hopeful attitude of all involved in these trying economic times. Moosic reminded those present that the hiring for the Center begins next week.

Lancaster: On Friday, February 27, thirteen Lancaster residents graduated from Construction 101, a pre-apprenticeship program for careers in the construction industry that is co-sponsored by the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in partnership with Lancaster County Adult Probation and Parole Services, Neighborhood Services, the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County, SACA, and the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, at a ceremony held at Stevens College.

Those graduating included Carl Christmas, Jason DeVirgiliis, Jason Geiger, George Gonzalez, George King, Nevin Lehman, Jesse McCuistion, Victor Nelson, Taylor Penwell, Santos Rodriguez, Kevin Rogers, William Whitfield, and Kiernan Wright.

Participants completed a six-week, 240 hour program of classroom instruction and on-the-job training that qualifies them to work in the construction industry and that provides a curriculum which is at the introductory core of the apprenticeship programs for carpenters, electricians, masons, plumbers, HVAC, and other construction careers. Coursework includes safety, hand and power tools, construction math, and other topics.

In this class, Taylor Penwell received honors for having the Highest Grade Point Average while William Whitfield was honored as Most Improved Student and Jason Geiger was selected at Most Outstanding. Victor Nelson, Jason DeVirgilis, Jason Geiger, and George King were recognized for their Perfect Attendance.