“I thought I wanted to be a paramedic but didn't realize that there were other choices out there for me,” said Agustin Acosta of Roseburg, who completed the Healthcare Jumpstart Academy at Umpqua Community College this past summer. “In my case, the Jumpstart program helped me decide which way to go on my future career path.”

Acosta, 37, who has since enrolled in the administrative medical assistant program at UCC, is one of the many Douglas County residents who benefited from Umpqua Training & Employment's summer sponsorship of three programs offered through UCC's Workforce and Community Education Department.

Adults needing retraining completed intensive full-time course schedules in either high-performance and sustainable manufacturing or health care through the program. Eleven adults enrolled in the health care program while another 19 took the manufacturing route. In addition, 75 teens participated in the Summer Career Camp, gaining career and college introductions as well as service project experience over a three-week period.

Both the health care and manufacturing students were taught in groups, taking all their classes together in order to enhance the development of friendships and support networks. Referring to his group learning experience, Acosta said, “I was so glad to be part of such a wonderful team.”

Fellow health care student, Toni Duggins, 49, of Roseburg, said, “We were hooked up with people who would end up being life-long friends.”

Her summer class members still meet regularly or find other ways to keep in touch. This term, Duggins is on a regular college schedule which includes attending classes with strangers. She remembers experiencing a bit of a “culture shock” once the fall term started, because during the summer she and her classmates studied together and “had genuine concern” for each other's success.

The idea behind the health care program was to give the students a solid introduction into that field while also helping them to discover if health careers were truly their interest. All of the students are still enrolled at the college, with the exception of one, who plans to return next term.

Pete Bober, director of Workforce and Community Education at UCC, said the Summer Career Camp in particular “was a great partnership that involved many UCC Departments and staff from Umpqua Training & Employment.”

The purpose of the Summer Career Camp was to give teens the opportunity to explore career and higher education opportunities while developing appropriate work behaviors and performing service projects. Students learned about careers in a variety of fields including geology. Instructor Jason Aase took the youth on a field trip to identify rocks and practice map and compass work. When asked whether he would consider assisting in such a program again, his answer was affirmative.

Team Leader Cassie Lane, said “I enjoyed getting to know the participants. This experience really interested me because I want to be a teacher.”

She continues to help UCC students in the Job Placement Office while completing her degree online with Eastern Oregon University. Jennifer O'Neill, administrative program specialist for UCC's Workforce and Community Education, praised UT&E's choice of student participants.

Susan Buell, vice president of UT&E, said the summer programs “went amazingly well.” Although high performance and sustainable manufacturing was a new endeavor and required online learning, the students were able to complete eight rigorous classes, one per week, focusing on safety, quality, delivery and cost improvement.

“There was lots of blueprint reading,” said Roseburg resident Ed Staggs, 49, who participated in the high-performance and sustainable manufacturing.

All of the students who completed the programs received Achievement of Accomplishment Awards to show they'd received instruction through the specialized programs.

Besides developing skills and friendships, several summer students also secured jobs. Most of the manufacturing students had been approaching 20 years on their previous job or had been in their field for about as long before becoming unemployed, according to instructor Jason Joy. In the manufacturing program, seven of the students secured jobs while finishing their training, which lasted through mid-September.

Joy stated, “It was really important and exciting to be a part of.”

Maria Hawke teaches adult basic skills and reading and writing courses at Wolf Creek Job Corps near Glide and taught a writing course as part of the UT&E/UCC summer partnership. She enjoys writing and wanted to show how students benefited from the summer program. She is now an instructor at UCC and can be reached at Maria.Hawke@umpqua.edu.