PRIMROSE — Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor Kelly Austin said Thursday at a breakfast honoring students who completed a special business-oriented program that the things they learned will help them far into the future.
“You’re now much better prepared for the challenges that will come,” Austin told 282 students, plus teachers and officials, attending the YES Northeast Certificate Program Recognition Breakfast at St. Nicholas Hall.
Austin said Your Employability Skills program will help the students maximize their growth and talents by showing them how to enter and succeed in the workplace.
“You are part of something special,” he said.
Sponsored by the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employes Council Inc., the program operates in 17 school districts in Schuylkill, Luzerne and Erie counties. An 18th, Lake-Lehman in Luzerne County, will join in 2016-17.
The program offers participating students a chance to tour businesses and industries, prepare resumes, sit through interviews and learn more about thriving in the working world.
“This really puts you guys at an advantage,” state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, said.
Students in the program also praised YES for helping them to learn skills, including time management and stress management, that they will need to succeed in life.
“You will use the skills throughout your whole life,” Lenny Dulsky, Mahanoy Area High School student, said.
Loran Garnett, of Pittston Area High School, said the program has helped her with resume preparation, dressing and interviewing.
“It has been nothing but helpful,” she said. “I am positive I will use the skills ... to pave the way for a successful future.”
Fellow Pittston Area student S. Delmar Guziewicz said the learning goes beyond preparing to work by including how to conduct yourself in the workplace.
“We need to know how to conduct ourselves with other people,” he said. “You need to know when to talk, when to listen and when to interact.”
State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, also stressed to the students that the lessons they learn in the program will help them in many ways, and at many times, during their lives.
“Never stop learning. Never stop taking advantage of opportunities,” Tobash said.
He also said Schuylkill County employers know how valuable the program’s graduates are in a time when those business owners are seeking solid employees.
“They are starving for a skilled workforce,” he said. “This is an outstanding program. We all need to keep advocating for it.”