|
YOUTH SUCCESS STORIES
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme
YOUTH OF THE YEAR |
Octavio Gomez
Octavio Gomez, a 16 year-old junior from Channel Islands High school began participating in the Boys and Girls Club’s Job Ready Program in the beginning of September. He successfully attended all sessions of the Program during the school year.
This young man is a hard working student, and a dedicated community member. He gets good grades in school and has become very dedicated to his studies. Octavio found a job through the Youth Empowerment Program as a customer service associate for the Vallarta Market. Upon finishing high school he plans to attend UC Santa Barbara to major in architecture or pre-law. Octovio has overcome adversity and continues to grow and be successful.
Octovio Gomez was honored with the Dwight Brydie Scholarship at the California Workforce Association’s 8th Annual Youth Conference held Jan. 15-17 in Long Beach. The $1,000 scholarship is named in memory of longtime California Employment Development Department employee Dwight Brydie and encourages educational and workforce advancement for youth planning to continue their education after high school. The program teaches youth ages 16-21 the skills needed to get a job, get back in school or stay on track to receive a high school diploma. This program is funded by the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County and has operated for 3 ½ years. For more information about the program, call (805) 483-1118, ext. 305.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Lorelai Aguilar
Lorelai Aguilar, 21, started the Job Ready Program in August of 2006. When Lorelai started the program she was unemployed and was struggling to finish her classes at the local college. Although Lorelai did not have the easiest life, you could always count on her to have a smile on her face with a can-do attitude. During the job ready workshops, Lorelai was an active participant and was eager to learn.
Lorelai’s goal was to continue her education so she may one day become a teacher and make a positive difference in children's lives. Unfortunately, Lorelai’s educational goals had to take a back seat while she worked a full time job so that she could help support her family and save up for tuition costs. With the support of her case manager and job developer, Lorelai found employment as an office clerk at a popular electronics store. After working there for nearly a year, Lorelai was becoming increasingly frustrated, because she was not able to do what she loved most, which was working with children. Fortunately, soon after the Boys & Girls Club received additional funding through the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County. This funding would help a few deserving youth with vocational training costs. Lorelai took full advantage of this opportunity and is now attending Pacific Trade School and is enrolled in the Child Care and Development program. Lorelai is doing well in school and is now working a part time job; she is expected to graduate with her certificate in November 2007. There is no doubt that Lorelai will become a great mentor for our youth and make a positive impact.
|
