At St. Nicks Hall in Minersville, the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council (NEPA MAEC) hosted the annual YES Recognition Breakfast on May 9th, celebrating a successful year of the Your Employability Skills (YES) Program. The event highlighted the achievements of regional students who have spent the year honing crucial workplace skills—from effective communication to time management—preparing them to enter various industries with confidence.
YES is a 120-hour elective course designed for high school juniors and seniors. It equips students with essential skills that employers in various industries value highly, such as effective communication, time management, and interview techniques. The program is suited for all students, regardless of their future career paths, and serves as a bridge connecting them with the business community, enhancing their understanding of professional environments and expectations.
This year, the program maintained strong enrollment with 965 students enrolled and 182 graduates earning their YES Certificates. Since its launch, the program has seen 12,512 students participate, with 3,693 successfully earning certification. The program’s ongoing collaborations with higher education institutions have significantly benefited students. For instance, Penn State University has awarded 235 scholarships totaling $235,000 to YES graduates at its Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses since 2011. Additionally, Johnson College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology have also partnered with the program, offering scholarships and other educational opportunities that further support YES graduates as they transition to higher education.
The breakfast event celebrated these milestones and featured testimonials from students who benefited from the program. Jocelyn Whitecavage of Blue Mountain High School shared her perspective: “Earning the YES Certificate will set us apart in a competitive job market and some of us will even earn scholarships because of it. I’m grateful for the academic experience I’m having at Blue Mountain High School, but the YES program has truly equipped me with the skills I need for success in college and the workplace.”
Students who earn the YES Certificate meet rigorous criteria including achieving a high school diploma, scoring at least grade level 9.0 in reading and math on the Test of Adult Basic Education, scoring 21 or better on the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test, passing a 6-panel drug screening, and demonstrating attendance of 95% or better while completing 120 hours of coursework. This year’s program also included engaging classroom speakers, tailored mock interviews, and industry tours that provided practical insights into various careers, with over 60 professionals from the business community participating in these events.
Darlene J. Robbins, President of NEPA MAEC, emphasized the program’s impact. “Congratulations to all of our YES graduates for your impressive achievements. Your dedication is a testament to the strength of this program and its importance to our community’s future,” Robbins said. “A big thank you as well to our business partners for their unwavering support and commitment, which are instrumental in preparing these young adults for successful careers.”
The YES Recognition Breakfast not only highlighted the accomplishments of its students but also underscored the continued success of the program in building a skilled and prepared workforce through collaborative efforts between education, business, government, and the community. As the YES Program looks to the future, it remains a cornerstone for fostering employability and enhancing the economic landscape of Northeast Pennsylvania.
Congratulations to all our graduates!
Blue Mountain
Abby McGlinchey
Alexia Hixon
Austin Koch
Austyn Fields
Bella Weiss
Brigid Joyce
Brooke Donati
Charlie Patterson
Chase Millikin
Dylan Minnich
Gavin Moyer
Hannah Miller
Hunter Blankenhorn
Jocelyn Whitecavage
Katelyn Harrison
Kole Laughlin
Michael Frey
Noah Moyer
Owen Tomeo
Riley Wade
Ryon Crouse
Samantha Scheitrum
Skyler Leymeister
Stone Lesher
Wyatt Taylor
Zachary Kunkelman
Zack Shatrowskas
Gillingham Charter School
Athena Gerlek
Braylee Carden
Christopher Hill
Connor T. Czarick
Elijah Fry
Gabriel Herring
Kairi M. Bickford
Karina L. Gerlek
Kira S. Nagle
Logan E. Sabol
Lydia Ulrich
Scarlet Corcoran
Hazleton Area Career Center
Christian Hart
Jaylamaris Saldana
Maralin Merenda
Minersville Area
Abigail Stine
Angel Isaac Hernandez
Blake Wesler
Cade Schultz
Carson Boyle
Courtney Lynn Seiders
Emiliano Antonio Conklin
Gavin Slish
Gehrig Louis Milbrandt
Isis Rodriguez
Jack Maley
Kiera A Kurchock
Luke Stevenosky
Macie Carl
Marques Gregory Barnhart-Reeves
Mercedes Moore
Michael Steele
Rebecka Donnelly
Rex Bondura
North Schuylkill
Alexander Medina
Alyssa Schock
David Smith
Emanuele Vazquez
Emma Yeager
Haley Frantz
Isaac Dillard
Jack Hayes
Joshua Van Norman
Julissa Quintanilla
Kaitlynn Seeraj
Keith Whiteside
Kyle McCormick
Mackenzi McCabe
Marcus Heiser
Maryanne Snyder
Maxwell Suaréz Mercedes
Nicole Philemond
Taylor Shadle
Tremaine Hendricks
Zachary Van Norman
Pine Grove Area
Brennden Etzweiler
Emma Crawford
Felicia Blain
Gracianne Schneck
Heaven Dissinger
Hunter McConnell
Jayden McNulty
Jevin Carl
Jocelyn Hikes
Kaitlyn Kauffman
Kallie Kreider
Karlie Wolfe
Katie Kemmerling
Kenley Stine
Kierah Harwi
Kolby Minnich
Mackenzie Nagle
McKenna Valentine
Miranda Freeman
Rayna Zimmerman
Samantha Scheibley
Skyler Shanahan
Taylor Wright
Tyler Sleva
Zachary Pominville
Pittston Area
Abigail Armitage
Ethan Ungureit
Heather Ungureit
Ian Shearer
Kylie Doran-Nalewajko
Logan Walizer
Marilyn Lesh
Pottsville Area
Alaina Bauers
Alaina Sninski
Amelia Deibert
Ava Bowers
Brenna McGowan
Bria Krasnitsky
Ethan George
Hayle Weiss
Henry Mohl
Janiya Arroyo
Kali Hinkle
Katelyn Moran
Kelly Goodman
Kylie Morris
Logan Searfoss
Luke Gustus
Madison Carl
Malena Hollywood
Parrish McFarland
Sophia Lehane
Thomas Markus
Willow Skoraszewski
Shenandoah Valley
Angelique Zamudio Carmen
Brayden Maksimik
Brianna Gulden
Christian Batista-Perez
Christopher Davalos
Dustin Gallo
Elvis Lara Arevalo
Hayden Gervalis
Jeremy Thomas
Joan Menjivar-Sevilla
Katrina McNulty
Kaye Sheehan
Matthew Matakonis
Morgan Labosky
Oliver Flores Zamudio
Sitlali Medina-Chagolla
Tanner Golba
Tristian Karosas
Tamaqua Area
Abigal Alcantara
Aidan Stellfox
Calvin D. Breiner III
Dyamond A. Rodriguez
Espen Ansbach
Isai E. Vasquez
Jahsir O. Martinez
Jonathan H. Heffner
Matthew R. Welsh
Michael S. Rascavage
Nicholas Barron
Williams Valley
Alexa S. Deiter
Ally G. Underkoffler
Delaney Grace Talmadge
Emily R. Yeagley
Jayden C. Silks
Jeffry K. Rautzahn
Mallory D. Miller
Parker B. Lords
Tattiana L. Swartzlander