"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN-TLJC Announces Summer Graduates

*"OK Lt. Gov. Jari Askins delivers the commencement address to the Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps 2009 summer graduates as they wait anxiously to cross the stage and receive their diplomas."*

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - More than 80 students at the Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps (TLJC) in Tahlequah crossed the stage and received their diplomas last week, as family, friends and faculty applauded their accomplishments.

At Talking Leaves the faculty and staff help students acquire the job skills and leadership training they need so they can continue to be successful and have the opportunity to accomplish anything they choose. Helpful advice for the graduates was still being passed along during commencement.

“A good leader has a mission that everyone on his or her team understands and when the mission is clear, then expectations and goals can be established,” said Jay Littlejohn, center director for Talking Leaves Job Corps. He added that once goals are established, timelines and other mechanisms can be set into place to measure accomplishments with respect to that mission.

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins gave the commencement address to the graduates, many of whom also achieved their graduate equivalency diploma (GED) while attending classes at the center. Askins’ message to the students likened their graduation to the start of an important race. “On your mark, get set, go,” said Askins, who continued, “It’s about the students finding their place in life, preparing for their dreams and not being willing to just sit on the sidelines, but to take action and go follow those dreams.”

“Talking Leaves and the faculty and staff here allow an opportunity for these students to learn in a way that is comfortable to them and inspires them to do greater things,” said Askins.

TLJC students received diplomas in several vocational areas and two students received special awards as outstanding graduates. The Outstanding Female Graduate was awarded to Amanda Brown and the Outstanding Male Graduate was awarded to Diontrae Williams.

Students who received diplomas for Business Office Technology included Luke Anderson, Jesse Anico, Jacinda Begay, Marcella Blackbird, Carlos Cardoza, Heaven Caudle, Sisouvahn Charley, Tim Clark Granklin Coachman, Danyce Collins, Yavonne Concho, Jessica Dison, Morgan Farris Katie Gaither, Jennifer Glass, Thelisa Gunville, Yoniyah Harjo, Felicia Humphreys, Erica Jones Owen Livers, Lucas Kelsey Aaron McCleland David McReynolds Jonathan Nyman, Angela Scarberry, Chastity Scott, Jonathan Silver, Joshua Swake, Marino Thomas, Shamber Thomas, Enacio Valencia, Ashleigh Villines, Jessica Walters, Leah Webster, Rylan Yazzie, and Letitia Fletcher.

Students graduating in Culinary Arts were Ronnie Antonio, Cameron Bradley, Amanda Brown, Aaron Chavis, Michael Dowling, Donavan Hamilton, Michael Largo, Taima Locust Taylor Meely, William Rowley, Steven Sago, Kaleb Wassom, and Matthew Wood.

Electrical Wiring graduates included Eric Burbank and Diontrae Williams.

Students in the Facilities Maintenance field who graduated were Andre Blackhorse, Allan Bryant, Leland Denetdale, Davidson Livingston, Charles Natewa, Bruce Tiger, and Kevin Williams.

Students graduating in Health Occupations included Aimee Beard, Charliah Begay, Charlie Brittain, Jimmi Buckhorn, Equilla Bumphus Steffan Clemmerson, Jonathan Corona, Kallye Dawley, Ciara Ellis, Bethany Gaines Alissa Spinks, Earlene Herrera, Brittany Hess, Clarissa Hughes, Robert Kitchens, Teah Kofa, Jesse Kugler, Sheldon Largo, Brittany Ree, Cheeila Vandever, and Veronica Wilson.

Materials Handling graduates included Herman Belone, Shawn Francis, Christopher Harper, Mason Moran, Nathan Pitts, Christopher Tregoning, Kyle Van Dyke, Tiffany Willis, and Heath Wilson.

Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps is an Indian preference vocational training facility for Native American youth and others from all parts of the United States. The Tahlequah-based facility is part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s national Job Corps program and one of only four Job Corps facilities located in Oklahoma. In operation through the Cherokee Nation since 1978, the Talking Leaves facility serves approximately 400 students each year. Cherokee Nation TLJC offers students the opportunity to earn a certificate in one of the following fields: Business Office Technology, Health Occupations, Electrical Wiring, Culinary Arts, Facilities Maintenance, and Materials Handling. Students may also earn their GED while enrolled if they enter the program without a high school diploma. The national Job Corps program has been training young adults for meaningful careers since 1964.

For more information about the TLJC program in Tahlequah, call 918-456-9959.