2024 New Century Workforce Scholarship Recipients

In high school, Jadyn participated in the SkillsUSA Automated Manufacturing Technology Competition with her school and won first place in the state two years in a row. At nationals, Jadyn’s team placed fifth in the country in 2022, and in 2023, they placed third. While taking a drafting class, an instructor in precision machining noticed Jadyn’s talent and encouraged her to join his class. Since then, Jadyn has continued taking classes at her community college while in high school. She is pursuing a degree in advanced manufacturing, and she has an internship at Taylor Manufacturing where she works with engineers and architects on design.

Since receiving his first one at the age of 13, Austin has known that his passion is for computers, which is what led him to major in computer and information sciences. Ever since he has spent time building computers and helping his friends and family with their computer set-ups. As he continues his education, Austin is also advancing his learning through practical experience at his current job that works across various computer programs and systems.

In 2015, Angie received her degree in digital media arts from Glendale Community College, but the dynamic nature of technology inspired her to enroll at Scottsdale Community College to pursue her degree in Web Design. She is aiming to close the skills gap between her two degrees by becoming proficient in web design and coding. She wants to pursue a career in the ever-expanding tech industry and empower women and girls interested in tech by challenging gender stereotypes.

Telah graduated with her MBA in 2008 and immediately entered the workforce as a assistant manager. Eventually, she was promoted to manager, but she realized her real passion was helping people. Her family motivated her to return to school to become a nurse. The lack of education and poverty that predominantly affects children in her community has made her determined to become a pediatric nurse and be a guiding light for children and their families.

After struggling to find work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica decided to return to school to find a career that could provide her and her daughter long-term stability and a better future. After being a massage therapist for 23 years, Jamaica has returned to school to finish the physical therapy degree she began after high school. Physical therapy, like massage therapy, allows Jamaica to care for the human body and help it heal.

Judith is pursuing a degree in education to fulfill her goal of work with children with exceptionalities, a career choice that is very personal to her. In her 20s, her youngest brother, who had down syndrome, died alone in a school for children with exceptionalities where she was not allowed to visit him. Her goal is to provide the nurturing support for children with exceptionalities. As she earns her degree, Judith works as a substitute for a local elementary school.

As Leah pursues her degree in nursing, she also works at a hospital assisting nursing in patient care. In her role, she works in various departments at the hospital, giving her experience in a variety of patient care areas. Leah is also pursuing an internship as an operation room nurse and is aiming to get hired for a nurse residency program while she continues her studies and prepares to take the NCLEX.

Tina has spent 13 years in management, and in 2019, she received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. However, with her daughter in nursing school and serving as the primary caregiver for her mother, Tina learned a lot about the medical field and developed a passion for nursing. Her daughter encouraged her to pursue a nursing degree, and their dream is to one day work together side-by-side as nurses.

After graduating high school, Jennifer began teaching Physical Education and Art for K-12. However, six years later, she decided to go back to school for graphic design, and she opened her own business. Now, she is pivoting her business and is returning to school grow and apply her new technical skills to her business. Jennifer is also attending college with her two daughters who are dually enrolled.

Derek knew he wanted to work in the medical field, but he was not sure in what role until he received a pamphlet on certificate programs and was inspired to get his EKG certificate. He began working as a cardiac monitor tech at a hospital and fell in love with the field. With the help of the hospital, he enrolled in a degree program in echocardiography. As he completes his degree, he continues to work and build his practical experience.

Dylan is motivated to succeed by his family’s expectations and his own desire to have a stable occupation and a comfortable lifestyle. He plans on achieving his goals by getting his refrigeration and air conditioning associate’s degree, applying for an apprenticeship program, and obtaining his license. In 10 years, Dylan sees himself having achieved his goal with his journeyman license and having a stable job in the HVAC industry.

Without her parents in her life and or a stable home life, Caresse dropped out of high school.  However, with the desire to provide a better life for her daughter, Caresse has since received her GED and returned to school. She has spent the last 13 years working as a house manager and certified nursing assistant at an assisted living facility and is now pursuing her LPN an hopes to eventually become a registered nurse.

After receiving a degree from a trade school, Chad realized that the industry he was going into did not interest him. With his fiancée’s help, he decided to enroll in community college to pursue a degree in finance, and he immediately found interest in his classes and showed improvements in his grades. As he continues taking classes, Chad is also looking for an entry-level bank teller position, so he can develop practical skills and career experience.

Braden’s mother works as a nurse, which exposed him at an early age what a career in healthcare would be like and creating within him a passion for patient care. The effects cancer has had on his family fueled his decision to contribute to effective treatments by pursuing a career in radiation therapy. Braden looks forward to playing a role in the constantly evolving industry of radiation therapy and cancer treatments by providing expertise and empathetic patient care.

Peyton’s family farm Rolling Ridge Acres has given him the opportunity to oversee the operations of a bovine farm. Peyton is pursuing a degree in dairy science to increase his knowledge. Peyton has interned and worked at the Minnesota Select Sires, Inc, Hilltop Acre, Inc, and Einck Dairy. He is a 2024 All-USA scholar, chair of the Tri-State Dairy Expo, and has secured positions on the Farm Bureau, Township Board, and Community Development Board.

Michelle has always been motivated to succeed academically. In high school, she was her class valedictorian, and she maintained a perfect GPA obtaining her Bachelor’s of Education from Kansas City University. Since then, she has also gone onto to earn two nursing degrees, and she is now pursuing a degree in health information management at the urging of the chief operation officer at her hospital.

Rachel is pursuing a degree an allied health degree to become a physical therapist assistant out of a desire to help and enrich their lives. Her goal is to work with patients to help them reach the highest quality of life they can. She aims to treat patients in Kentucky who have chronic conditions and poor health. As she earns her degree, Rachel also works at a local nursing home.

Dylan’s decision to pursue a career as an electrical technician at a power plant was inspired by hearing stories from his father and grandfather about their jobs as instrumentation techs. The stories fascinated him even though he did not completely understand them, and he decided that he would receive an education so he could sit down and contribute to the conversation. Dylan has had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through internships at a natural gas power plant.

When Catalina realized that none of her college credits from Argentina would transfer to her new college in the U.S., she was daunted at the reality of starting over in a new place in her non-native language. Terrified, she signed up for her first class, English composition, a class that she came to love and that gave her confidence to continue her nursing education. Catalina spent 12 years working as a gardener, but she knew she wanted to explore something new. Her work as a doula and the birth of her first daughter made her realized that she wanted to become a nurse and support women in childbirth.

When Krista found herself a single mom to a toddler after going through a divorce in her 20s, she felt the pressure of providing for her son while giving him the best childhood possible. This pressure made her work to be an employee that could not be replaced. Like her mother taught her, she taught her son to bloom where he was planted and make the most of what he had. Later, in June 2022, Krista was laid off from the company she had worked at for 15 years, and a conversation with her husband made her realize this was her opportunity to return to nursing school. It was a dream she began years ago that she was now determined to see through.

At 44-years-old, David has had more jobs than birthdays. None of the jobs he worked had ever motivated him to stay, but after his son was born, David realized he wanted something stable. His son made him more curious and ambitious, so David enrolled in the aviation maintenance technician program at his community college, and he is enjoying learning about aviation and teaching his son about it. After he completes his degree and begins work, he wants to continue at Cape Cod Community College by continuing to earn certifications and by teaching part-time.

When her grandfather gave Jena her first camera at eight-years-old, she immediately fell in love with photography and videography. As she got older, she taught herself how to shoot and edit videos. Now, she is ready to turn her passions into career. One of her favorite things to film is commercials, and she often films them for her mom’s books and her brother’s small business. She works as the social media coordinator for her mother’s books, has interned for the City of Holland as a video producer, and serves as the vice president of social media and communications for her Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

After an unexpected herniated disc in her spine immobilized her left leg, Alexis was faced with making big changes to her limited mobility. Alexis underwent surgery to restore movement to her left leg and reduce pain levels, but the surgery also gave her the time and motivation to enroll in college. Her exposure through her surgery process made Alexis realize medical coding would be a perfect direction for her professional life. The career would provide her with the remote work she needed due to her limited mobility and residual neuropathy, and she would be able to help fulfill shortages in the healthcare industry. Her godmother’s experience in the profession and her encouragement is what sealed the deal for Alexis’s decision.

During the pandemic, Georgianna’s mother decided to homeschool Georgianna and her twin to help limit the negative effects of screen time for her and her twin who both have ADHD. Instead, Georgianna’s mother exposed them to hands-on experiential learning, and when a storm destroyed their porch, they also learned carpentry, which Georgianna immediately fell in love with. Georgianna intends to be one of the youngest licensed female contractors in Mississippi, and she has started her own company, Georgia Bells Woodwork, which specializes in custom cabinets and interior design solutions and aims to empower women interested in construction.

When Frankie enrolled in college for the first time, she was overwhelmed with work, assignments, and not knowing what she wanted her future to look like. Ultimately, she withdrew from college, but she took the time to learn what she was interested in and to realize there is no timeline for success. Focusing on her own health and fitness made Frankie realize she wanted a career in physical therapy to help others care for and heal their own bodies.

Jacob grew up on a farm surrounded by a forest as part of a family that valued time being outdoors and hunting. As a result, he has been interested n firearms since he was young, and he began learning about firearm safety and competing in firearm competitions. Now, he is working on turning that interest into a career in gunsmithing through the firearms technologies program. At his community college, he teaches people about firearm safety and handling through the gun club.

When Michael was a young boy, he used to lay in his front yard with a pair of his dad’s binoculars to watch the planes fly overhead. He’d watch as they sped by or course corrected, he’d check out books on airplanes, and he’d bike to his local airport for their airshow. In 2006, he received his private pilot’s license. Now, at 48 years old after 15 years of owning a semi-trailer manufacturing business, he has returned to school for aviation maintenance. He is excited to uses his mechanic skills and become more involved in the aviation industry, and over the summer, he had the opportunity to work at a general aviation airport.

Sarah returned to school to set a good example for her children by getting her degree. While taking prerequisite classes, she discovered her school’s radiology degree, and she knew that was what she wanted to study. Returning to school after years of being a stay-at-home mom has presented challenge since Sarah has to drive two hours away and spend three nights away from her family to attend summer clinicals. However, she is encouraged by her desire to provide an example for her children and by her husband who reminds her this is temporary setback to help her achieve her dreams.

For the past 25 years, Tara has lived her primary of working with dogs at the grooming salon she owns, but the physical nature of the work means it is not sustainable for her to continue long term. Revisiting her other interests led Tara to prepare for a transition to a career in graphic design. She is pursuing her associate degree in interdisciplinary studies and a certification in mindful communication.

As a child, Jocelyn loved watching the Food Network, Pioneer Woman, and Gordon Ramsay’s cooking shows. She would try to recreate the dishes on her own and was delighted when she created something amazing. Now, she is enrolled in a culinary arts program, where she has improved her technical skills as well as met other chefs who were able to open new doors for her. Thanks to the opportunities she’s found at Atlantic Cape Community College, Jocelyn has gone from working at Popeyes to being hired as a manager for a meal prep kitchen. One day she hopes to run a kitchen as a head chef and start her own small business.

In 2008, Megan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in photography and began her own business, and she continues to do photography. However, in 2014, she had her first experience building in her community when she began building off-grid homes. The power of working towards a common goal led her to enroll in a certification for alternative/green building technology, and she plans on using the tools she has and skills she’s learned to help her community build affordable, healthy homes as part of the non-profit that helps build eco-friendly homes for people in need.

Kristi’s interest in nursing was sparked when her family friend asked if she could sit with her mother, Patricia, during the day since she was ill. Kristi would sit with her, do puzzles, and make breakfast and lunch, but as the disease progressed so did Patricia’s needs and Kristi’s care. When Patricia was eventually moved to a long-term care facility, Kristi decided to pursue her nursing assistant certification, and she got a job as a CNA on an Alzheimer’s unit at a care facility where she was able to care for other patients like Patricia.

For the past 20 years, Timothy has put his career on pause while being primary caretake while his spouse served in the military. Now, he is ready to resume professional training by getting his degree and seeking a career in government cyber security to protect the nation and its citizens from digital attacks. Timothy looks forward to serving his country through increasing its cyber security and to being the first in his family to attend college.

Being raised on his family’s farm instilled in Braden an appreciation for hard work, efficiency, and the joy of seeing a job completed. In his junior year, he took a class in construction and fell in love with the process. Researching the career options, Braden became confident in his abilities and is confident that one day he will be the manager of his own construction company. As he chases his dream, Braden is gaining experience through working various construction jobs.

Samantha’s experience living with brittle bones as a result of a bone disease has been challenging, but it has also made her resilient and adaptable. Samantha says that living with her disease has taught her about the importance of treating people with kindness and empathy and has instilled in her a love for the healthcare field. She is pursuing a career in radiographic imaging in order to use her experiences to help her succeed in a career that will help improve others’ lives.

Growing up, Sage enjoyed watching cartoons and creating her own characters and stories. After initially going to school for computer coding, she decided to instead pursue a degree in 3D modeling and animation. Since changing majors, she has loved her classes and coursework. Sage’s career goal is to become a 3D modeler and animator and helping tell stories and create characters.

Jai is pursuing a degree in Human Services to fulfill her career goal of working with children and helping them meet their developmental milestones and educating families on how to help their children meet their growth needs. As the oldest of four children, Jai is familiar with how behavior and developmental milestones are affected by environment, age, and education. Through volunteering, Jai has gained experience in working with children in orphanages, teens and families dealing with mental health issues, and children with health problems.

In her senior year of high school while unsure of what career or major she wanted to pursue, Zoie took an elective anatomy class and was immediately fascinated by the subject. With her interest sparked, she decided to major in radiographic technology at Harrisburg Area Community College, so she could continue studying the human body. The radiographic technology program gives Zoie a chance to learn about multiple types of medical imaging, which will help her find a career after she graduates.

After the death of her mother, Jennifer decided she needed a distraction and a change in her life, so at 33, she returned to school. In the wake of COVID-19, she decided she wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, so she began working on her associate degree in general education and entered a dialysis tech program. While getting her education, Jennifer is also working full-time while raising a child.

With the goal of mastering and innovating electrical systems, James is pursuing an education in electrical engineering. After completing school, James wants to become an electrical engineer and leverage his knowledge and skills to make advancements in renewable energy, automation, and telecommunications to help fight climate change. As he completes his degree, James is applying to internships to gain hands-on experience and networking with professionals in his desired field.

Over 30 years ago, Allisa received her Bachelor of Science degree in business management and got a job at a large publication company where she climbed the corporate ladder before she left to purchase an insurance agency and became a licensed agent. However, now she is ready to become a registered nurse for her final act in her professional life. Allisa views nursing as an unwavering commitment to the well-being of others, and she is determined to make a tangible and meaningful difference in the world, one patient at a time.

In high school, Annabelle took a digital media class and fell in love with digital art and began interning and doing work for free, so she could work on her portfolio. The projects were so enjoyable that they did not feel like work for Annabelle. She began earning certifications and enrolled in a graphic design program at Kilgore College to make herself more marketable to employers.

As a child, Reagan liked experimenting with electricity, making small circuits to turn on lights or make noise and upgrading an electronic Nerf gun to chase his brother with. When he enrolled at New River Community College, he knew that he wanted to major in instrumentation. His advisor also told him that he could add two more majors without drastically increasing his courseload, so he is triple-majoring in instrumentation and control automation, electrical engineering technology, and electronics. Reagan has already received several prospective job offers to begin after he graduates.

Growing up, Emily loved playing “doctor,” and unlike most kids, she liked going to the dentist and the doctor’s office. This made healthcare the obvious career choice for her, and she is currently a certified nursing assistant on her way to becoming a registered nurse. Emily knows her calling in life is to love and care for others. Upon graduation, she wants to immediately begin work in labor and delivery. If she continues to specialize in labor and delivery, she may return to school to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse-Midwifery.

After a layoff and finding herself overqualified for many of the careers in her previous field, Karoline decided it was time for change. She moved from Colorado to West Virginia and enrolled in community college to pursue a new career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Karoline was drawn to this choice because of the low-risk of layoffs, stable schedule doing meaningful work, and the opportunity it offers her to make a difference in people’s lives.

Joseph has always been an artistic person, but after dropping out of local university where they were pursuing creative writing to care for their father, Joseph never really thought they could have a professional art career or return to college. However, after Joseph’s dad passed, they knew they had to act, so they reenrolled in community college to pursue a degree in graphic design. At the college, Joseph blossomed. They built relationships with the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Marketing departments, where they interned in the spring. They hope the internships result in long-term, salaried positions down the road.

After dedicating 20 years of her life to caring for her family and her children, Kayla has decided to return to school to become a nurse. Having always found herself a natural caretaker and wanting to show her children that anything is possible, and that learning is a lifelong commitment, Kayla knew she wanted to pursue a major and career in healthcare. Since enrolling, Kayla has become a certified nursing assistant, began a job at a nursing home, and is very close to testing into the Gillette College Nursing program.