Carmen Swink smiled and clapped loudly as students' names were called last night at Forsyth Technical Community College's first JobsNow graduation.
When it was her turn, she walked up, still smiling, and proudly reached for her certificate for completing the Medical Office II Billing program.
The ceremony, which was held at Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina on University Parkway, was also the first JobsNOW graduation in North Carolina.
"We hope to have many, many more, but you've got the head start on all those other folks in getting out there and getting a job," Art Gibel, the president of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, told the graduates.
JobsNOW offers training in the top 12 occupational areas in six months or less, including healthcare and skilled-trades industries. Forsyth Tech develops the curriculum and provides instructors. Goodwill handles admissions, provides classroom space and assists with job placement when students successfully complete the curriculum.
Forsyth Tech said that 60 percent of the JobsNOW graduates have already found employment.
Of the 84 graduates from eight night programs held this year at Goodwill Industries, 47 participated in last night's graduation.
"I know that each one of our graduates made a decision that you wanted to make more from your life and you were willing to do something about it," Mayor Allen Joines said, speaking before an audience of about 200. "I'm very, very proud of the work that you have accomplished during this program."
Lamont Young of Winston-Salem is a graduate of the Plumbing Helper program. He said he decided to sign up for JobsNOW to advance in his recently acquired job as a plumber's helper with Arkwright Inc.
"Eventually I want my own business," he said.
Swink, who lives in Germanton with her husband, Craig, said she was laid off from her job with Republic Mortgage Insurance Co. in January after 22 years with the company.
She has not found a job but will start volunteer work soon at Forsyth Medical Center. She hopes that it will open doors to a medical-office job.
She said she thought that she would never go back to school.
"Then I thought, ‘This is a great opportunity to try to learn something new.'"
fdaniel@wsjournal.com
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