Success Corner – Acadiana Workforce Solutions

Emanie Elam visited Acadiana Workforce Solutions (AWS) to receive services on June 6, 2023. She enrolled in the Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer Work Experience (WEX) Youth Program as a Senior with Mamou High School in 2023. Emanie had no previous employment history at the time of enrollment and needed preparation for her college journey. Emanie was interested in joining the program so she could get the assistance she needed to continue a successful career path.

The participant received access to all 14 WIOA Youth Elements, including participating in a full time WEX position and receiving supportive services in the form of transportation assistance, leadership development, financial literacy, basic skills remediation, entrepreneurship guidance and post-secondary exploration.

Emanie has been accepted to the University of Louisiana at Monroe in Nursing. She entered the AWS WEX Youth Program as basic skills deficient and residing in a high poverty area. During the first few months in the program, Emanie was able to increase her comprehensive adult student assessment system scores to become basic skills sufficient. Emanie received tuition assistance in the form of the Ace's Award in the amount of $1,000 for maintaining a 3.0 or greater GPA and a Pell Grant.

Emanie expressed gratitude to the Acadiana Workforce Solutions WEX Program. She feels very fortunate to have gained employability skills during the summer. The Work Experience Program provided her with the opportunity to obtain employment while attending college. She has been motivated to step out of her comfort zone and does not wait for opportunities to come to her. She takes the initiative when an opportunity is presented.

Emanie has excelled in professionalism and is a pleasure to have as a program participant.

Tyler Henson is a 19-year-old, disabled, high school graduate who was working at Sonic Drive-In restaurant earning $8 per hour and only working about 20 hours per week. He expressed his interest in the Precision Machining course at South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc) in Saint Martinville in hopes for a career someday.

Tyler was a Summer Work Experience Program Participant in 2022 and as of now has also received funding for Precision Machining course.

Tyler earned his certification in Precision Machining (relies on the use of advanced computerized machine tools to shape large pieces of material into more precise parts, to meet very exact specifications) as of May 24,2024 from SoLAcc and has already begun working in his field, gaining employment with Don Mashburn Inc in Saint Martinville as of June 2, 2024. Tyler went from making $8 per hour while only working about 20 hours per week to now earning $18 per hour and working 40 plus hours per week.

Tyler believes he has really benefited from the WIOA Program. Receiving funding for training has opened new doors for him and made a way for him to begin a career at the age of 19.

Mikael Abud joined the Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer Work Experience (WEX) Program for youth last summer as a Junior at Southside High School. Mikael immigrated to the US in 2022 from Columbia and had zero work experience and he was an English language learner. He received access to all 14 WIOA Youth Elements, including participating in a full time WEX position, receiving supportive services in the form of transportation assistance, leadership development, financial literacy, basic skills remediation, entrepreneurship exposure, and post-secondary exploration.
Mikael has been accepted to Louisiana Tech University where he will pursue a degree in Professional Aviation. While utilizing some of the fourteen elements provided such as tutoring, Mikael was able to graduate his senior year with a 4.0 grade point average as an English as a second language student! Also, with the money he earned from participating in our summer WEX program during the year 2022-2023, he saved up enough to pay for private flying lessons. Mikael was recently tested and earned his private pilot's license for single engine planes! He is set to begin school at Louisiana Tech in the next few months and is looking forward to pursuing a successful career as a pilot.
Mikael has stated he enjoyed the ability to learn from his peers while participating in the Summer WEX Program. Also, he enjoyed the guidance and direction given by both his Career Coach and other members of leadership. He thinks that the atmosphere allowed him to open up more as a person and speak with individuals he wouldn't necessarily have the courage to do so in the past. He thinks, without a doubt, that some of the training provided, such as the financial aid workshop, or the financial literacy education have already helped him in preparing for college. He said that since he isn’t a native of the United States, there is still a learning curve when it comes to different things, but he never felt like anyone was judging him or looking at him differently because of his lack of understanding. He considers himself more self-efficient than he was a year ago and is thankful for the opportunity to prepare himself for the next four years of schooling.

August 14, 2023, De’Angelo Francis visited our American Job Center in Crowley (Acadia Parish). He was informed by a community member about the services that WIOA has available.
After Mr. Francis completed an eligibility assessment and his eligibility was confirmed, he began dual enrollment for his HiSet and occupational skills training at Southern Louisiana Community College (SLCC) in the welding program.
The WIOA training funding assistance he received enabled him to enroll in the welding training program without WIOA training funding assistance.
Mr. Francis stated that WIOA services enabled him to focus on his classroom training and regular follow-up kept him motivated.
Mr. Francis completed his HiSet certification and received his diploma in December 2023. His welding instructor has praised his dedication and leadership qualities. He was nominated by SLCC to the National Society of Leadership and Success for the 2024 spring semester.

Cierra Matthews was a participant in Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer Youth Academy as a Senior at New Iberia Senior Hiigh School in the summer of 2023. Cierra was in need of additional work experience skills and college prep assistance. She was able to gain the experience and knowledge she needed by participating in WIOA Work Experience (WEX) Program, which is a part of the Summer Youth Academy. She received leadership development skills, financial literacy skills, entrepreneurship exposure, basic skills remediation and post-secondary exploration.
Upon entering the WEX Program Cierra had been accepted to attend Grambling State University, the WEX program assisted Cierra with increasing her Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) scores to become Basic Skills Sufficient. She was also recently accepted into the Honors Program at Grambling State University and was selected to present at Grambling State University's Financial Literacy Summit. She is a double major in Psychology and Sociology. As a result of entrepreneurship exposure during the Summer Youth Academy, Cierra has decided to start her own small bakery service business called Ciess Cookies and Sweets, llc.
The support and guidance Cierra received from the Summer Youth Academy enabled her to achieve a high level of self-efficiency and advance not only academically, but also to become a small business owner.

Philemon Torres visited the St Mary- Morgan City American Job Center for assistance with how to obtain self-sufficient employment in a career pathway that fit his aptitudes. Philemon met with youth career coach, Andrea DeVore, in July of 2023. After his interview with his career coach he completed HiRE assessments that indicated the he would be a great fit for CNC Machinist Career. The youth career coach was able to assist him in participating in the H & B Grant that South Louisiana Community College- Morgan City had available to pay for the training. During the training, Philemon showed up to class at least an hour early every day. He utilized this time to study and practice his skills. As a result, Philemon was at the top of his class and even finished his projects early. He kept in contact every Monday with the Morgan City career coach and shared his experiences and projects from the previous week. Philemon even contacted APEX CNC and asked to job-shadow on his holiday break (just so he could see how the shop worked) for three days. With the help of the Business Services Representative Philemon was able to gain employment with APEX CNC, LLC by participating in the On-The -Job training program with WIOA. Philemon Started his OJT on 01/17/2024. His job with APEX CNC included hourly pay, health insurance and PTO to start with. Philemon is grateful for the on-the-job training and his first job. His goal now is to save up for a car and be able to rent his own apartment.

Gerard Lorden was an unemployed Veteran when he visited the Acadia Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions American Job Center in September of 2023. He was an unemployed Veteran and was seeking employment in a growing profession. He expressed interest in Non Destruction Testing (NDT) as a career. He received basic and individualized career services, LMI exploration, career guidance, occupational skills training, tuition assistance, resume assistance and interview preparation. He attended occupational skills training in order to obtain employment. He is now employed as an NDT Technician.

Seth Torkowski visited St. Martin Acadiana Workforce Solutions American Job Center in July of 2023. He was exploring a career in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). He received labor market information, career exploration and guidance, tuition assistance and job search assistance from staff. Mr. Torkowski was able to enroll in NDT training and was able to find employment at Bayou Testing as an assistant while in training. After completing his NDT training he was able to work 80 plus hours per week and earn $18/hour.

In June of 2023 Robert Davis visited the Acadia Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center. He was in need of assistance with obtaining self-sufficient employment in a career pathway that matched his aptitudes. Mr. Davis received Basic and Individualized Career Service, LMI Exploration, Occupational Training Tuition Assistance and Supportive Services. He was able to successfully complete Fiber Optic training at South Louisiana Community College which opened the door for him to enter into employment with Acadia Parish American Job Center.

John Kennedy walked into the St. Martin Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center in June of 2023 searching for a new career that would enable him to support his family. At the time he was a self-employed commercial fisherman whose income was affected by inflation. He completed the Machine Tool course at South Louisiana Community College. Shortly after graduating, he received employment with the first company he applied to, Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette, LLC, and currently he is still employed there and earning self-sufficient wages, allowing him to provide for himself and his family.

We would like to introduce you to Austin Theriot. Austin visited the St. Martin Parish, Acadiana Workforce Solutions, American Job Center in August of 2019 for assistance with paying for Aviation Technician Training. Austin received maximum allowable funding for a Tech grant but required further assistance. He received a career match, labor market information, tuition assistance and support from his career coach to obtain his certification and license to become an Aviation Mechanic.

Theriot started Aviation Training in the Fall of 2019. Although he was eligible as an Adult in the Spring of 2020, due to the Pandemic he had to adjust to virtual on-line classes for his second semester, and his six-semester training was extended to eight semesters due to the Pandemic and the lack of teaching staff. He completed his training in May 2022.

He then began the process of becoming certified through the US Department of Transportation. It consisted of four parts with the last segment location in Texas. This process took over a year to complete and Theriot was required to pass four certification tests to achieve his final certification. Theriot maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout the three years he was in school.

Theriot received his final certification for aviation maintenance technician, A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) license on September 18, 2023. At the age of 23 he will begin a new job at Arrow Aviation on Monday October 9^th. He feels that he was able to achieve one of his life goals with the assistance he received by visiting the St. Martin Parish Acadiana Workforce Solutions Career Center.