Kelsi Cannon, South Georgia Technical College’s Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for 2019, was invited to speak at the WIOA regular board meeting recently which was held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the South Georgia Technical College Americus campus.
Cannon, a practical nursing student from Ellaville is scheduled to graduate with her licensed practical nursing diploma this summer. She has been enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) program while she has been enrolled in the licensed practical nursing program at South Georgia Technical College.
“I would like to thank each of you and the WIOA program for helping me financially while I was attending South Georgia Technical College,” said Cannon. “I have always known the value of a dollar and even with your help, I currently work two part-time jobs in addition to attending college full-time.”
Cannon’s story began at nine years old when her parents divorced. Because of that and the events that followed, she said she had to grow up a lot faster than most people her age.
In their home, finances were often strained and space was a hot commodity. With eight mouths to feed in a three-bedroom house, Kelsi began to work as a babysitter so she could pull her weight at just 13 years old. With her money, she was able to help buy her own school supplies, clothes and help pay for her cheerleading expenses.
At age 16, Kelsi took a leap that she knew would help herself and her family – she moved out of her family home and moved in with her older sister and brother-in-law. In doing so, Kelsi would be closer to her school, Schley County High School, and could take advantage of multiple opportunities like the South Georgia Technical College Dual Enrollment program, which allowed her to complete her core classes while she was still in high school. In addition to being a hardworking student, Kelsi was also a cheerleader and was voted as Schley County’s 2017 Homecoming Queen.
Kelsi says she knew early on that she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps by attending SGTC to become a licensed practical nurse so she can help others. And that is what the WIOA assistance is helping her to achieve.
“Sandhya Muljibhai and Minnie Williamson, who work in the WIOA office at South Georgia Technical College have helped me so much and the WIOA assistance has allowed me to concentrate on my education more than I would have been able to without it,” explained Cannon. “This is a very important program and it lifts some of the financial burdens for students while they are in college. I just want to thank all of you for this support.” Sandhya Muljibhai, WIOA Coordinator at South Georgia Technical College, shared that the WIOA program had been able to provide assistance for tution, uniforms, ATI testing fees, transportation costs and other miscellaneous items to Cannon during her time in the practical nursing program at South Georgia Technical College.
The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act was established in 2014 and is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals and income-eligible adults who are in need of job skills training to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Funding for WIOA training through the River Valley Regional Commission and the WIOA Board is provided for residents who live in Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster counties. The WIOA office can also make referrals for customers outside this service area to the appropriate county or area workforce participants.