YES breakfast salutes Schuylkill County student achievements
The Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council hosted the annual YES Recognition Breakfast, celebrating a successful year of the Your Employability Skills (YES) program, on May 9 at St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose.
The event highlighted the achievements of regional students who have spent the year honing crucial workplace skills, from effective communication to time management, preparing them to enter various industries with confidence, the council reported in a news release.
YES is a 120-hour elective course designed for high school juniors and seniors. It equips students with essential skills that employers in various industries value highly, such as effective communication, time management and interview techniques.
This year, the program maintained strong enrollment with 965 students enrolled and 182 earning YES certificates. Since its inception, the program has seen 12,512 students participate, with 3,693 successfully earning certification.
The program’s ongoing collaborations with higher education institutions have significantly benefited students. For instance, Penn State University has awarded 235 scholarships totaling $235,000 to YES graduates at its Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses since 2011.
Additionally, Johnson College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology have also partnered with the program, offering scholarships and other educational opportunities that further support YES graduates as they transition to higher education.
The breakfast event featured testimonials from students who benefited from the program, including Jocelyn Whitecavage, of Blue Mountain High School.
“Earning the YES Certificate will set us apart in a competitive job market, and some of us will even earn scholarships because of it,” she was quoted in an event release. “I’m grateful for the academic experience I’m having at Blue Mountain High School, but the YES program has truly equipped me with the skills I need for success in college and the workplace.”
Students who earn the YES Certificate meet rigorous criteria including achieving a high school diploma; scoring at least grade level 9.0 in reading and math on the Test of Adult Basic Education; scoring 21 or better on the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test; passing a 6-panel drug screening; and demonstrating attendance of 95% or better while completing 120 hours of coursework.
This year’s program also included engaging classroom speakers, tailored mock interviews and industry tours that provided practical insights into various careers, with over 60 professionals from the business community participating in these events.
Darlene J. Robbins, president of NEPA MAEC, emphasized the program’s impact.
“Your dedication is a testament to the strength of this program and its importance to our community’s future,” she said in the release. “A big thank you as well to our business partners for their unwavering support and commitment, which are instrumental in preparing these young adults for successful careers.”
The breakfast also underscored the continued success of the program in building a skilled and prepared workforce through collaborative efforts between education, business, government and the community.
For a video detailing the YES program, visit https://nepamaec.com/yes-program.
