Awards and Success Stories - Madison Bond Workforce Board

Awards & Success Stories

While working with hundreds of individuals and businesses throughout the course of a year, you come across a variety of amazing success stories, including those deserving of special awards. We periodically list extraordinary individuals and businesses on this page.

Great River Workforce Development Corporation, Inc., NFP Proudly Presents Its 2007 Educational Scholarship Winners

Kenneth Dalton … Graduate of Collinsville High School

During his high school years, Kenneth Dalton was known for his leadership skills and diligent work ethic and always had a fond interest in music. Since the fifth grade, he participated in the band program and in high school he was a member of the marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band and honors band. He is also very active in his church and plays his trumpet with the Worship Team. A hard worker and entrepreneur, Kenneth began cutting grass for a few elderly neighbors and his business is now thriving with 24 full-time customers. The income he attains will be used to offset some of the cost of his college education.

At the end of his junior year at Collinsville High School, Kenneth enrolled in a Cisco Systems Networking class since he has always had a fondness for video games and assisting people with their computer problems. Finding the class to be exciting, it turned into a fine opportunity as it propelled him into the decision to pursue a career in the computer field in either networking or software engineering. And, because of his interest in technology, Kenneth planned to work part-time during the winter months in the Information Technology Department of a family friend’s local business. Opportunities such as this will allow him to gain practical experience setting up small networks and various software applications and will help send him on his way to a lucrative career.

Lucas Dye … Graduate of Triad High School

Lukas Dye has always been recognized as an extremely intelligent, conscientious and responsible individual with a passion for technology. While a student at Triad High School, Lukas enrolled in four years of electronics classes and participated in SIUE school musicals, Knightfest, Chorus. He also enjoyed Robotics and participated in the First Robotics competition as a Triad High School team member in 2006 and 2007.

Lukas found part-time employment at a local retail store where he is enrolled in management training courses. He recognizes this as an opportunity to become employed in retail management and help finance his college classes. In addition, in the Spring of 2007, Lukas was awarded an internship at the St. Louis Science Center. He currently works there offering visitors an opportunity to see demonstrations on robotics as well as other forms of emerging technology. This internship has proven to be a fine opportunity for someone who loves and desires to be active in the “information age.” With a desire to work on the leading edge of technology, Lukas intends to have a career as an electrical engineer and he has proven that he has the passion, ability and skills to be successful.

Cara Moore … Graduate of Collinsville High School

Cara Moore excelled not only in the classroom but was involved with numerous extracurricular activities. She was a member of the Student Council, her classes’ Executive Board and a member of Mu Alpha Theta. She also gives back to her community as was a volunteer with the school’s Key Club and the Student Council.

A winner of numerous nationally recognized awards, Cara was honored with inclusion into Madison County’s Saturday Scholars Program and was inducted into the Collinsville High School Chapter of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of the Who’s Who among American High School Students, on the National Honor Roll, named an All-American Scholar, and a member of the Who’s Who among American High School History Students. In 2007, Cara was also nominated to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Diplomacy and Intelligence in Washington, DC.

Discovering in her senior year that she had a talent for and interest in electronics, Cara joined her school’s VICA/Skills USA Club. Skills USA propelled her into a regional electronics competition where she placed third in the region. Cara was also allowed to participate in the national competition where her competitors included college level students. As a result of the competition, she placed twenty-eighth in the nation. Cara intends to become an Electronics Engineer and we have no doubt she will achieve her career goal.

Brandon Spears … Graduate of Triad High School

Brandon Spears discovered welding in his senior year at Triad High School and found that he was quite adept at it. After receiving three (3) college level credit hours, he made the decision to pursue Welding Technology as a career and will be seeking an Associates Degree in Applied Science.

For several summers, Brandon has had an opportunity to gain some very valuable experience. He has worked for a family members’ construction company and attained experience in building large structures and reading blueprints. The knowledge he has attained has proven to be very beneficial to others as well. He has been able to utilize his expertise for the past three (3) years by participating in church mission trips to Florida where he has assisted in restoring properties damaged by tornadoes.

During his high school years, Brandon was known to be very responsible and dedicated to his work. He has a fine work ethic, demonstrates perseverance and has a serious interest in his future career. He no doubt will achieve success in welding.

Individual Achievement Award Winners

*State Winner Carmen Roberts …* After her husband unexpectedly asked for a divorce, Carmen Roberts struggled to find a means of survival for herself and her four children. Because of the strenuous demands of the nursing program at Lewis & Clark Community College , she was advised to drop out to get her affairs in order. Carmen was desperate for any help and resources she could get. Determined to remain in school and provide for her family, Carmen applied for help from Family Services, the local food banks, Catholic Family Services, CHASI Daycare, and Madison County Employment and Training. She was able to complete her education with financial assistance for her classes, fees and even books. Her Career Specialist provided the much-needed resources and counseling during the stressful times. Carmen stayed on the Dean's list every semester and graduated in December of 2006 with an Associates degree in Nursing. She is currently a nurse at St. Louis University with great benefits. She believes working as a nurse is not just a means to provide for her family, but also that helping others is her mission in life.

*Local Winner Senica Bishop...* Senica and her two young children were forced north after Hurricane Katrina took her home and job. She sought disaster relief locally and came to the Madison County Employment and Training Department for job training. She enrolled in the Medical Office Specialist program at Career Alternatives Learning Center (CALC) through the WIA program but experienced several hardships. Her Aunt's house, that she was planning to buy, became too expensive to repair, and a Habitat for Humanities house opportunity did not work out either. She endured a series of illnesses, even her car engine blew up, but through it all she maintained a positive upbeat attitude. Senica completed her training two months early and is now successfully employed as an administrative assistant with DGI/Mercury, Inc. in Granite City .
*Local Winner Bonnie Crim…* Bonnie was an at-risk youth from Madison High School and was referred to Madison County Employment and Training for the Youth Employability Enhancement Program in December of 2001. The intention was to provide her with hands-on learning experience for real pay, and show the direct correlation between education and its utilization in the work place. Her academic program helped prepare her for college while she learned new work readiness skills. She completed an internship during the summer of her junior year in high school at Michigan State University, and she was selected to represent the school at the Kellogg Foundation sponsored Food Blast. Bonnie was granted financial aid and awards to attend Michigan State University when she graduated from high school in May 2005. Currently a college sophomore, she maintains an excellent GPA and returns home to speak with other students about what they can achieve.
*Local Winner Michelle Evans…* Michelle had been working for several years in a good union job while going to school and raising two boys on her own. She was able to maintain an adequate standard of living while attending school until she suddenly found herself unemployed. She went through several jobs that were inadequate to support her family, usually getting laid off within a few months. Her unemployment was close to running out. Michelle met with a financial aid counselor who put her in contact with Madison County Employment and Training, and she enrolled under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to complete her nursing program at Lewis and Clark Community College . She took advantage of several other forms of assistance and received a grant for nursing students from the Lewis & Clark Foundation as well as from the Illinois Health Association. She received Pell and Map grants, Federal Student Loans, and a Perkins Grant to provide additional assistance. Michelle graduated in May 2006 and maintained a 3.5 GPA. She has taken positions with Advantage Nursing Services and Kindred Hospital in St. Louis .
*Local Winner Michael Hall…* Michael was a high school dropout and living in a friend's home due to an abusive family relationship. He had no support to help him cope with his serious medical problems. He needed to complete nearly half of his high school credits and sought help through the Madison County Employment and Training E-Learning on-line program. Michael was unable to complete the work-study component of the program due to hospitalization for his medical problems but it didn't stop him from finishing his diploma requirements, career planning module, and job search training. Michael is now married with a child on the way and entered the military February 21 st . Without help from Employment and Training, Michael wouldn't have had the guidance or financial resources to help him overcome his numerous barriers and achieve success.
*Local Winner Renee Doss…* Renee had been accepted into the Radiology Technology program at Southwestern Illinois College and her financial resources were exhausted when she came to the Madison County Employment and Training Department in July of 2003. She had been working part-time since her divorce, but now with heavy course work and clinicals, she would have to cut back on work hours and did not know how she would pay for classes. Renee was approved for funding and spent long hours studying to receive top grades. She received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in May of 2005 and shortly after was employed by the Radiology Department at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital in East St. Louis where she remains today. She is self-sufficient and a contributing member of society while serving the healthcare needs of people in the region.
*Local Winner Tonya Koonce…* After Tonya graduated from high school, she decided to focus on occupations that required very little or no schooling. Her lack of marketable job traits kept her from leaving the fast food job that she had at the time. After a year of aimless wandering a friend begged Tonya to join her in taking the three-week nursing assistant certification program at the hospital. Tonya agreed and took a position with a local nursing home after completing the course. After spending time with the residents, she was confident that receiving her nursing assistant certification was the best thing she had ever done. When her son was born, Tonya left her nurse's aid job to care for him and worked at several other positions over the following fifteen years. She was eventually laid off from a telecommunications position, but was sponsored under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) so she could attend the licensed practical nursing program at Kaskaskia College . She attended classes full-time while working 12-hour shifts on the weekends, and received the award for “superior scholastic achievement” upon completion. She intends to use part of her earnings as a licensed practical nurse to continue her education and attain an Associate's Degree in the Registered Nursing program. She has also successfully obtained employment in Greenville at Cardinal Hill Healthcare.
*Local Winner Robin Padgett…* Robin was attending Sanford Brown's Medical Coding and Billing program when she came to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program looking for financial assistance for her final terms. She was a twenty-nine year old single mother of two young children, who was recently divorced with no skills or work history. She was a food stamp recipient and thousands of dollars in debt due to student loans. Robin was able to graduate from Sanford Brown with a 3.89 GPA and complete an externship at Forest Park Hospital in St. Louis . She was hired there as a Coding Specialist after completion of her Certified Coding Specialist exam. Forest Park Hospital later subcontracted out their coding so Robin applied and was offered a position at St. Louis University Hospital with a higher salary.
*Local Winner Patricia Schreiber….* Patricia needed to improve her computer skills to better prepare her for today's job market. She had lost her customer service and accounting jobs due to closure and layoffs and those fields were not growing. She felt locked out of many job opportunities. Patricia was married with a son still at home and really needed to work. She was able to enroll in the Technology I & II classes through Southwestern Illinois College and received A's in her courses. She was then able to get a job at Gateway Fluid Power in Granite City as an Office Manager with a full benefit program. She really likes her job and is very pleased with the outcome.

*Barb Whitworth . . .* For over thirty years, Barb has been dedicated to the businesses, customers, partners and staff of the workforce development system. Starting in 1976 as a participant in the CETA program, she held many titles and was the Program Operations Manager for the Madison County Employment and Training Department thru August 2007 when she resigned her position to move to the Colorado area with her family. She was the President of the Illinois Employment and Training Association, the chair of the Illinois Workforce Partnership's Performance Task Force, and was active in many of the area's economic development activities such as employer recruitments and evaluations, local Job Fairs, and directing special projects. She was instrumental in arranging, overseeing and providing testing services for the area's refinery industry and recruiting for the logistics industry. Barb has been willing to work any time on any day to serve the needs of our employer community. Barb's management of resources for her statewide involvements is exceptional and her uncomplicated approach, commitment to service, dedication to quality and “great to work with” style are what makes her a true leader.