VVHS Seniors Explore Trade School Opportunities in Reno

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

Sixteen students from Virgin Valley High School travelled nine hours through snow-covered highways to attend a campus visit at Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center in Reno, Nevada last week. The group left shortly after school started on Monday, March 27 and returned Wednesday evening. The trip was packed with visits to historic sites, Truckee Community College, and the University of Nevada, Reno. And along the way, the trip opened up a whole new world of options for the kids.

This trip was meant to provide seniors with an opportunity to explore the option of trades while introducing them to the Job Corps Campus.

Job Corps has a mission “to teach eligible young people the skills they need to become employable and independent and place them in meaningful jobs or further education.” The program is offered to young people ages 16-24.

Perhaps the most unique thing about Job Corps the training is free. That’s a big deal.
Trade programs offered by Job Corps include welding, construction, masonry, electrician, painting, office administration, certified Nurse’s assistant, security, culinary arts, pharmacy tech and more.

VVHS students were given a tour of the facility and a brief presentation on each department. School was in session, so students were able to get a real life glimpse as to what instruction would look like.
“It was a great experience for the kids,” said Bailee Noel, chaperone and teacher’s aide at VVHS. “The seniors got to see what Job Corps had to offer and experience some of the campus lifestyle.”

Students also took a tour of the dorms, rec hall and fitness facilities.
“It was also fun to see one of our previous students attending Job Corps,” Noel said. “I think it really helped our students see that this course of study is really doable.”

Allan Galarza, one of the VVHS students who attended this field trip, said he “was blown away.”
“Job Corps opened my eyes to what is really out there in the real world,” Galarza said. “From learning how to make modern medicine, nursing, to working on powerlines, setting up home grids for solar; it was everything that helps make a community grow and thrive.”

Galarza was impressed that the program was free to qualifying participants including free dental, eye, and health insurance. He was also pleased that Job Corps works at the students’ pace
“So if you wanted to work harder and graduate early, you could!” he said. “If you wanted to stick around longer and learn more, you could do that too. There were so many options.”

VVHS Special Education Teacher, Skyler Gleave, was also chaperone during the trip. “Job Corps is a very hands on approach,” Gleave said. “That was extremely helpful for the students we brought. I was so impressed with the schools willingness to help each student narrow down their field of choice.”

Within the first 60 days of attending Job Corps, each student works with a member of the staff to create what is called a Personal Career Development Plan. Upon completion of the Job Corps course, the school will help graduates be placed in a job, find a place to live, help find transportation and help with “family support resources” needed to be productive in the work force.