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Education is option for jobless

By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal

Published December 21, 2009

For Trikena Mendez, of Rainsville, things weren’t going right just a few years ago.

The 26-year-old wife and mother of one found herself unemployed in late 2005 after being laid off from Valley Mills in Valley Head.

Instead of looking for another job, she quickly enrolled at Northeast Alabama Community College in the licensed practitioner nurse’s program. Two and a half years later, Mendez found herself working at Crowne Health Care in Fort Payne.

“I was interested in health care and helping people. I was scared to death at first, but I stuck with it,” Mendez said. I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

But Mendez didn’t stop there.

“Eventually I want to work in oncology and work with cancer patients,” Mendez said. “Initially I will probably work at one of the hospitals in the area.”

So in June, Mendez turned to Northeast again to further her education and is on track to graduate in May 2010.

“I think it’s a great school, and they have a lot to offer,” Mendez said. “They have a lot of programs to choose from. It’s local and close to home and it’s affordable. The staff is wonderful.”

And she did it in spite of having her second child in July and continuing to raise her 12-year-old girl.

“She enjoys it,” Mendez said of her daughter. “She thinks it’s cool that her mom is going back to school. She has handled it well.”

For Mike Kennamer, director of workforce development at Northeast since 1993, Mendez’ story is nothing new.

“Northeast has always been about providing educational and training opportunities to meet the needs of the community we serve,” Kennamer said. “Recently, more emphasis has been placed, both nationally and statewide, on the role of community colleges in providing retraining opportunities for those who have lost their jobs. This recognition brings community colleges like Northeast to the attention of more people, whether they are looking for skills that will land them a new job or if they are looking for a quality, affordable access to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.”

Kennamer said making the decision to go back to school should be one any unemployed person should consider.

“As the community’s college, Northeast has an opportunity to help prepare displaced workers for their next job,” Kennamer said. “Part of my job is to put in the programs that will lead to jobs and to make sure our programs remain relevant to industry needs. While in today’s economy no one will promise a job upon completion of any training program, I assure you that those who have a degree in their field will have a better chance of getting a job than those who do not.”

And to help meet the needs of the community, Kennamer said Northeast is continually adding programs and services.

“Northeast offers a number of opportunities for those who have lost their jobs due to layoffs or plant closings,” he said. “In January, NACC will open its new Industrial Systems Technology Building, which will expand access and capacity for welding, machining, and industrial maintenance programs.

“The college recently received a grant to fund programs to train plumbers and home health/hospice aides. For those who qualify, training is offered at no cost to the student. The college also provides adult basic education and English as a second language courses at no cost.”

Northeast currently provides career and technical programs in business management, child development, computer information systems, cosmetology, criminal justice, drafting and design technology, emergency medical services, industrial electronics technology, machine tool technology, medical assisting, office administration, paralegal, practical nursing, registered nursing and welding technology. Certificate programs are also offered in diversified health occupations, home health and hospice aide, nursing assistant, patient care technician, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician and plumber’s apprentice.

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