CCCC’s YouthBuild holds annual awards ceremony

Bear Creek, N.C. — Central Carolina Community College offers a variety of opportunities for students in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties who have previously dropped out of high school to continue their education. 

One of those is YouthBuild, a federally funded program that challenges and supports youth, ages 16 to 24, to gain their high school equivalency diploma, earn a trade certification, complete 30 hours of community service, and participate in leadership development training, all in the span of six months. 

The program then helps place students in jobs or further education, providing support over the next year of their lives. 

YouthBuild Student Services Director James Thomas said his favorite part of working with the program is seeing the change in confidence in students from the beginning of their participation to the end.

“Watching them come in and be nervous about coming back to school and not sure if they made the right decision and then watching them succeed and do great things,” he said. 

YouthBuild recently held its annual ceremony that recognizes participants for completing various components of the program. About a dozen students attended and received their recognitions. 

Among those students were Connor Castleberry, Jason Phelps, and Miracle Harris. 

Castleberry and Phelps both chose the construction track for their vocational training, learning about topics like putting up drywall, flooring, and frames. Castleberry said he plans to seek a career in construction, due to good pay.

Harris picked culinary arts, the other current option. She enjoyed making pizza and cookies as part of her studies but is taking her next educational step in a different direction, currently studying at CCCC to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. 

She praised Thomas and YouthBuild Assistant Director Lauren Pickens for their helpfulness, patience, and understanding. 

Thomas told the honorees at the event that all the staff is proud of them. 

“We know the blood, sweat, tears and perseverance," he said, then stressed the values at the core of the program. “Take care of people, be kind to people, and I know that you can do it, because I’ve seen each and every one of you to do it.”