– On Saturday, April 12; students of the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center in Prestonsburg, KY joined an estimated 2 million young people in participating in Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) activities nationwide. By assisting the KY Special Olympics, a 5K Run/Walk to raise money and child abuse awareness for Judi’s place, and Healthy Kids Day held at the YMCA.

Carl D Perkins students demonstrated their commitment to addressing the needs of their community and its citizens. Center Director, Mr. Thomas Rainey stated, “Global Youth Service Day provides a unique opportunity for Job Corps students to work with these great organizations, while giving back to their community and helping others”. Each year, Job Corps provides training and support to more than 60,000 young people. Job Corps also teaches social skills and encourages leadership development, and Global Youth Service Day is a great way for our students to build their leadership skills through community service.

Carl D. Perkins students and staff assisted with the KY Special Olympics in their Spring Track & Field games at the Johnson Central High School in Johnson County. Students kept score, helped Olympiads with the softball throw, and cheered them on to victory! While other staff and students were in Pike County, KY participating in a 5K Run/Walk to raise money and awareness for Judi’s Place for Kids. Judi’s Place for Kids serves child victims of abuse in Pike, Floyd, Martin, Magoffin, and Johnson Counties in Eastern Kentucky. Staff also attended the Healthy Kids Day held at the YMCA in Pike County, which resulted in a new Partnership with the YMCA for Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities for the Perkins students.