The graduates of the first Solid Foundations class are Kevin Beese, David Brink, Tom Dineen, Tyler Healey, Eric Hutchins, Mike Rienstra, John Rondeau, David Ryan, Mike Schaffer, Chris Smith and Mike Waters. The next class starts Jan. 25. Interested students are asked to contact Ashley Cousens at 907-4296 or e-mail ashley@ncworkforce.com. Applications are also available at the OneWorkSource locations in Plattsburgh, Elizabethtown or Malone.
PLATTSBURGH — A recent graduating class has a real solid foundation for future employment.
The first class of the Solid Foundations program was honored at a graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon.
"We are here to celebrate these first-ever graduates of the Solid Foundations program," said Program Coordinator Ashley Cousens.
She said the 11 graduates received instruction in carpentry, electrical work and plumbing, as well as an introduction to welding and weatherization skills. They also received soft skills training to help make themselves more marketable to employers.
Kevin Beese was chosen by the students to address the audience.
"Today we celebrate all our hard work and everything we have accomplished."
He credited Solid Foundations with helping the students learn skills to make them good employees, such as being honest, respectful and always on time.
"Thank you to everyone who has been part of making Solid Foundations a success," Beese said.
John Masella, who recently retired as the New York State Department of Labor's North Country Team Leader, addressed the graduates with a quote by American philosopher and educator John Dewey.
"Arriving at one's goal is a starting point to another," he said.
Masella encouraged the students to pursue constant learning throughout their careers.
His gift to the students were the words passion, commitment, fun and find a way, which he used to have on the wall of his office. He said those words summarized his approach to life.
You need to show passion in everything you do, he said, and you have to be committed to achieve the desired results. There are no problems or issues that can't be solved, Masella said, and you need to celebrate and enjoy everything you do.
"It's very important you take those four words as gifts and think about them," he said.
Each student received a certificate from Cousens and State Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. They also received tools and a tool belt courtesy of The Development Corp.
Duprey told the students it was a special day, and it was an absolute pleasure to be part of the ceremony.
"You as a group of young men realized you needed to suck it up and do something with yourselves, and you did," she said.
The program was born from the desire of the North Country Regional Workforce Investment Board's Youth Council to reach out to assist out of school youths and help them acquire skills to start a career. Assistance came from the Workforce Development Initiative, CV-TEC, OneWorkSource and VESID, among others.
Cousens said Aaron Claffey provided instruction in carpentry, plumbing and weatherization, and Jim Finizio and Julie Johnson did the same for electrical systems.
It was the students who really put in the effort to better themselves, she said.
"I couldn't have asked for a better first class," Cousens said.
E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
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