Each week, staff at Wind River Job Corps nominates a student who has shown excellent behavior towards their academics and peers. To view all nominated students, click here.
Local WRJC Student to Follow in his Grandfather’s Footsteps
Role models are powerful influencers for young people. For Keilyn Bell, values and inspiration were drawn from his grandfather.
Keilyn graduated from Ft. Washakie High School and then chose to continue his education at Wind River Job Corps this past March, seeking a career as a Class A commercial truck driver.
Keilyn says, “I chose this career pathway for many reasons.” His research showed there are truck driving jobs in almost every state and that offers both opportunity and flexibility. He also liked that there is ample potential for growth and gaining new experiences in this field. And, he said, “The third and most important reason is because my grandfather is a truck driver.”
Keilyn’s ultimate goal is to become a Dry Van Hauler. A dry van hauler pulls a trailer that is completely enclosed to protect cargo from the elements. Shippers prefer these trailers for transporting non-perishable products such as household goods, electronics, machinery, automotive parts, and food and beverages. The most common dry van trailer is 53 feet long and can carry up to 45,000 pounds of cargo.
Keilyn is known to staff and students as a great communicator. “This student is an old soul. Quiet and soft spoken, he has a humbleness when he speaks. I always enjoy getting a moment to sit down and talk with him. He is liked by many and I know why: He works hard in his trade and really wants to succeed. We are super proud of this young man,” says center director Dr. Kristen Benson.
Congratulations Keilyn Bell you are Wind River Job Corps. student of the week.
WIND RIVER JOB CORPS serves up to 300 campus-based and non-residential students generally originating from the Rocky Mountain states. The center provides over 16 career tracks offered through eight vocational programs, including pre-apprenticeship opportunities. These programs have been determined and developed based on the current high-performing job market trends in the region. Included in vocational training are employability skills and community engagement. Wind River Job Corps is the newest of the 124 Job Corps centers located throughout the United States, opening in 2015. It is operated by the Alternate Perspectives, Inc. for the Department of Labor and is located at 4200 Airport Rd in Riverton, Wyoming.
JOB CORPS is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor. The program helps income-eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment. Job Corps has trained and educated over two million individuals since 1964. It is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country and has been operating for more than 50 years.
At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in specific training areas for up to three years. In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Job Corps graduates either enter the workforce or an apprenticeship, go on to higher education, or join the military.
API Alternate Perspectives Incorporated (API) is a certified small, woman-owned company with corporate headquarters just outside our nation’s capital. API’s mission is to help individuals and organizations achieve their goals and realize their dreams by providing them with new ways of thinking to create new ways of doing. API staff have extensive Job Corps experience in almost every aspect of the Job Corps program. The API Operating model begins with building a “positive normative culture” at each center defined by four norms: respect self, respect others, respect community, and strive for excellence. Students and staff at the Wind River Job Corps Center are expected to adopt and embrace these norms to learn, grown, and strive for continuous improvement. In addition to Wind River Job Corps, API operates the Westover Job Corps Center, and Shriver Job Corps Center, both in Massachusetts.