Photo provided A photo of some of the 22 students who earned work ethic certificates in 6th, 8th and 12th grade.
High school seniors who have consistently demonstrated that they are set up for workforce success were recognized during the BCSC school board meeting on Monday night.
Four percent of students who first signed up for a work ethic certificate (WEC) program when they were in sixth grade were able to show their employable skills two more times over in eighth grade and as seniors.
The Governor’s Work Ethic certificate program, overseen by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), started at BCSC as a pilot seven years ago with a goal of ensuring that the incoming workforce have skills and traits employers are seeking.
Seniors commit at the beginning of the school year to meeting five competencies and certain academic requirements that make successful employees. Those that satisfy the qualifications receive a certificate signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Director of C4 Dr. Gene Hack told the school board that community partners believed that senior year was too late to recognize and encourage work ethic in students, so with the help of community partners they developed WECs for sixth and eighth grade as well that align with standards for the 12th grade WEC.
To earn each of the three certificates, students must first make the commitment to the program at the beginning of the school year and then show that they can persevere through challenges and problem-solve; are accepting and demonstrate service to others, possess a positive attitude and community clearly; are a self-starter and critical thinker; are reliable and demonstrate responsibility, in addition to being organized, punctual and can show self-management.
In addition, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and be on track to graduate. They also need to have an attendance rate of 98% or higher, one or fewer discipline referrals for the year, and complete at least six hours of community service.
The mayor’s office took responsibility for recognizing the sixth grade and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce the eighth grade— each distribute what are known as the mayor’s and the chamber’s work ethic certificates.
There were 534 students who signed for the mayor’s WEC when the current senior group was in sixth grade and 199 of those earned that certificate at the end of the year, Hack said.
“Six years later, 22 have earned all three— sixth, eighth and 12th,” Hack said. “Each of the students, their parents and all the schools should be proud. You’re one of the 4 percent that made it.”
Those students are:
- Molly Bray, Columbus East
- Greta Brown, Columbus North
- Austin Clark, Columbus North
- Victoria Cuhadar, Columbus East
- Zulmi Ferrer, Columbus North
- Carter Gant, Columbus East
- Hannah Gladden, Columbus East
- Valeria Gomez-Pedral, Columbus North
- Greta Hemmerlein, Columbus East
- Antoinette Hughes, Columbus East
- Jerry Hughes, Columbus East
- Alivia Jordan, Columbus East
- Elaina Major, Columbus East
- Brilynn Martin, Columbus North
- Frankie Polyak, Columbus North
- Riley Posey, Columbus East
- Caylyn Pruitt, Columbus North
- Jacob Stansbury, CSA New Tech
- Adyson States, Columbus East
- Grace Wheatley, Columbus North
- Delaney Williams, Columbus North
- Jasmine Yang, Columbus North
To learn more about the program visit bcgweclearn.com.
