Job Corps celebrates 45 years
JD Banks, of Oregon, reaches out to shake the hands of a guest at Tuesday's 45th anniversary of the Columbia Basin Job Corps.
MOSES LAKE — Johanna Connor, 20, was determined to build a better life for herself when she came to the Columbia Basin Job Corps.
MOSES LAKE - Johanna Connor, 20, was determined to build a better life for herself when she came to the Columbia Basin Job Corps.
Her start in life was rough. Her mother was a drug addict, leaving a young Johanna at McDonald's to fend for herself.
Johanna is now a Job Corps student body president.
She shared her story during the Moses Lake center's 45th anniversary celebration Tuesday.
As a child, she lived with four foster families and experienced a failed adoption.
At 16, she dropped out of school. She started supporting herself by working in the retail industry and as a waitress.
Growing tired of only having enough money to pay her rent, she decided to take her social worker's advice and enter Job Corps.
Johanna has since earned her high school diploma, completed Certified Nursing Assistant training and finished two quarters at Big Bend Community College.
"Columbia Basin Job Corps has done everything it promised," she said.
Job Corps celebrated successes like Connor's and others achieved during the 45 years of operation on Tuesday. The celebration started with a barbecue luncheon prepared for 500 guests, which included Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members, legislators, community relation luncheon members, former staff, alumni and former Larson Air Force Base commander Col. Clyde W. Owen.
Culinary instructor Theresa Clement's students prepared the meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, devilled eggs and salads.
One of the guests, Trina Schmid, drove from Spokane to attend the event.
She works as a career transitions specialist through Dynamic Educational Systems Incorporated, which helps students with job placement.
The event gives Schmid an opportunity to meet with upcoming graduates and to help the center celebrate 45 years.
Dennis Clay, Job Corps' Community Relations Council president, spoke during the celebration's program.
Through his past employer, the state Department of Employment Security, he was a Job Corps recruiter.
At the time, the Sunrise Group Home in Ephrata helped incarcerated youth by sending them to Job Corps.
When Job Corps opened, the property it sits on was part of the Larson Air Force Base.
Clay commented about events having reversed since Job Corps' opening.
In the beginning, Job Corps was dropped in the middle of an air base.
Now, the Air Force is trying to find housing for their airmen when they temporarily relocate to Moses Lake next year during reconstruction of Fairchild Air Force Base's airstrip.
Col. Owen was the last commander of the Larson Air Force Base.
When the base's closure announcement came in 1964, officials wondered what would happen to Moses Lake, he recalled.
Officials in Washington, D.C., discussed what could be done to keep Moses Lake's economy going.
Opening a Job Corps center in the community was discussed and later decided upon.
The first trainee arrived in Moses Lake in December 1965. Later, 500 girls were brought in for the program, in addition to 200 boys already on site.
Owen joked about how Patton Boulevard was considered the "line of demarcation" between the boys and girls.
Moses Lake Mayor Jon Lane said they've seen graduates return and work in the community.
"I know in the next 45 years you will be building lives and making a difference," Lane said.
Grant County commissioner Cindy Carter told the audience she knew their race was tough and showed a video of runner Derek Redmond during the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Redmond was ahead in the race, but his hamstring tore. He fell to the ground and lost his lead.
As he stood up and hobbled across the track, his father ran through the crowd and helped him finish the race.
"God is like that, when we are hurting, he comes to help us," Carter said. "You probably are helping people. You have no ideas of the lives you are helping."
Staff from the offices of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., read congratulatory letters from their bosses.
Gov. Chris Gregoire appeared on a video address. She talked about how Job Corps builds lives, launches careers and has helped thousands of disadvantaged youth.
Peggy Hendren, Job Corps center director, commended students and Moses Lake. She also admitted that her demands in the office keep her from seeing students as much as she would like.
"You guys have done an awesome job here," she said. "I'm not out there with you and that's what I want to do."
U.S. Forest Service Becki Heath said she always feels welcome when visiting the campus.
Along with the Columbia Basin Job Corps, the forest service has a partnership with Fort Simcoe Job Corps at White Swan.
She commented about students' work at a Lake Wenatchee facility and hopes to see more of their efforts.
Job Corps students will be the next generation of Forest Service leaders.
The program promotes conservation of national forests and helps youth prepare for careers.
The efforts go back to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. The tradition continues with programs like Job Corps and others.