[View ALL News Press Releases] Seven young area residents were the third group to successfully complete the first phase in Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's "YES I Can" program, when they graduated from the Human Resources tract. The seven students received certificates from the Society of Human Resource Managers, the leading national human resource organization. Eight students graduated from the HR program in January and 11 graduated from the first phase of the Allied Health tract in December.

The students completed training in Essentials of Human Resource Management, Employment Law in Your Workplace, Effective Recruitment and Selection Techniques, Basics of Compensation and Benefits, Orienting and Training Your Employees, Ensuring Quality Performance, Business Writing and Resume Preparation.

Students that completed the Human Resource Management Entry Level Training in the "YES I Can Program" have qualified for up to $4,000 per year towards a degree in Human Resources, or any high demand field. All seven graduates plan to enroll at ECTC for the Fall Semester in high demand career fields. Five of the January graduates enrolled full-time this Spring in ECTC's HR Associate Degree Program and the other three are working and plan to enroll in the Fall Semester.

"YES I Can" - Youth Employment Strategies - is a grant-funded program targeting young people between the ages of 17 - 21 who meet certain income, employment and education criteria. The program is a partnership with Lincoln Trail Area Development District and the Lincoln Trail Workforce Investment Board, serving Hardin, Meade, Grayson, Breckinridge, Washington, Nelson, LaRue and Marion Counties.

Depending on the career exploration track chosen, the program lasts from one to two semesters. Students can choose from four career tracks, including Allied Health (Nurses Aide); Human Resources; Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics; and Advanced Manufacturing - Process Technology. Eleven students graduated from the first phase of the Allied Health tract and have moved into the second phase.

Phillip McKinney, program director, explained the goals of the program. "The 'YES I Can' program is designed to prepare students with nine essential skills to continue in college or to enter the workforce in a high growth career field. The skills include reading, document use, math, writing, oral communication, working with others, thinking, computer skills, and continuous learning. Their tuition is paid and we provide assistance with other expenses like clothing or uniforms and transportation. In addition, students can earn up to $2,000 in incentives if they achieve certain benchmarks throughout the semester, based on their progress, participation, attendance and other factors."

The seven graduates of the Human Resources Program are: Tameia Higgins, (Radcliff) Jennifer Halcomb, (Ekron), Josh Heberle (Radcliff), Justin Valentine, (Radcliff), Monroe Cropes III, (Radcliff), Travis Franklin, (Radcliff), and Ryan Glenn, (Ekron)

For more information about the "Yes, I Can" program, contact Phillip McKinney at 270-706-8602 or e-mail pmckinney0010@kctcs.edu. Openings are available for the Information Technology program starting in April, and for the summer program starting in May.