An Investment in a Youth's Future - A Win with WIA
In the fall of 2013, Avery Perez moved to Michigan to live with his aunt and uncle in Alcona County. He had been out of school in Florida for some time and was lacking several credits to make his spring 2015 graduation. For assistance entering secondary education and access to credit recovery resources, Avery enrolled into the WIA program. Through the WIA Grant, Avery began classes at Alcona High School, as well as online credit recovery classes.
Avery worked hard in his classes at Alcona High School and earned good grades. If he only enrolled in his normal high school schedule, he would be short the credits necessary to graduate on time, so he enrolled in 3 additional E2020 classes during his involvement with the WIA program. In addition, a dual enrollment class offered through Alpena Community College was added to his course-load. Through WIA support services, Avery was loaned a laptop computer and given internet access, which enabled him to work at home and complete the additional credit recovery necessary to graduate in the traditional 4 year timeframe.
With the assistance of WIA support services, Avery was also able to take the driver’s training course, which was invaluable, since he lives quite a distance from the school. The ability to drive has allowed Avery to participate in sports, tutoring and community service after school.
Avery is very interested in physical activity, so it seemed a perfect fit for him to engage in community service at a local fitness center. This helped him gain experience in dealing with the public, as well as earn stipends for his assistance at the center.
Determined he would attend college, Avery talked with his WIA Case Manager, Barb Retherford, about doing a college visit to Northwest Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City. Barb informed him about the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, offered in partnership with NMC, as well. Avery was very interested in the program, so a visitation was arranged in mid-April. Convinced that the Maritime Engineering Officer Program was the career path of his future, Avery was quite disappointed when he was told that the program was already full for the next year. Not wanting to discourage Avery from following his dreams, Barb called and talked at length with the Admissions Specialist at the Academy to discuss Avery’s unique situation. Barb’s tenacity paid off! Later that same day, the Admission Specialist contacted Avery to inform him that there was actually one spot open in the engineering program, but he may need some additional prerequisites to be accepted. Avery is working diligently throughout the summer months to meet those additional requirements in hopes of realizing his goal of fall enrollment at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
Avery has been fortunate, in that his aunt, uncle and WIA Case Manager have consistently believed in him, encouraging and advocating for him throughout this journey. Avery himself has worked hard to make it thus far as well. With the help of the WIA program, he has graduated on time and he is now taking the steps necessary to lead him to a rewarding, challenging and exciting career!