Meet the College to Career Students

The proceeds from HOPE's 7th Annual Tournament benefit the College to Career (C2C) program.  Out goal is to raise $200,000 to purchase an additional building in order to provide more students with this outstanding opportunity.  Below are listed some of the recent graduate profiles including their major/degree, their graduation year, and a little bit about each student.  We hope will keep reading to learn a bit more about the program and to learn more about this incredible young adults who may just be the right fit for your company. 

Sam, pictured above, was our guest speaker at the recent Tournament.  He was eloquent, charming, funny, and showed grace under pressure.  His dream is to be a sportscaster and he was thrilled when the Tournament emcee, Rob Fukuzaki from Channel 7, offered Sam and his family a private tour of a news taping.  
 

This past year the program saw its very first graduate, Ashley, pictured above, and is expecting 5 more this coming year.  The goal of the program is to see these students gainfully employed in the community. With a degree or certificate in hand, and often an internship or two under their belts. these graduates are well equipped to take on the working world!  

The current cadre of students have a range of interests and focuses.  Majors include:

• Radio and Television

• Administration of Justice

• Human Services

• Communications

• Digital Media

• Accounting

• Child Care Services

• Child Development

• Library Services

• Culinary Arts

• Art

• Music

• Horticulture

• Electricity

If you are interested in hiring one of the graduates, or providing additional internship opportunities, the HOPE staff would be happy to facilitate an introduction.  Hiring a person with a developmental disability no only comes with some great tax incentives but also with on-the-job support and training provided on site by a trained job-coach who comes at no additional cost to the employer.  Employers undoubtedly find that they hire excellent employees with great work ethic, skills and enthusiasm.  

Please consider if you can provide an opportunity to one of these students.  Or perhaps you know someone who can.  It only takes one person--sometimes just one act--to make a life-long difference in the life of another.