"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - TLJC Announces Winter Graduates

Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps students listen to speeches and await their turn to cross the stage to receive their diplomas. TLJC recently graduated more than 130 students from area communities and several states.

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - More than 130 students at the Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps (TLJC) in Tahlequah crossed the stage and received their diplomas Friday, as family, friends and faculty applauded their accomplishments.

Cherokee Nation citizen Jay Hannah, Executive Vice President of Financial Services for BancFirst in Oklahoma City gave the keynote address to the graduates, many of whom also achieved their graduate equivalency diploma (GED) while attending classes at the center. TLJC students received diplomas in several vocational areas and two students received special awards as outstanding graduates. The Outstanding Female Graduate was awarded to Danayla Scott of Neosho, Mo., and the Outstanding Male Graduate was awarded to Faron Bickel of Pinehill, N.M.

Students who received diplomas for Business Office Technology included Todd Ben, Laura Jones, Chad Mitchell, Misty Noe and Jessica Soap, all of Tahlequah; Lacey Biesiot and Cassie Wilson, Park Hill; Caria Pitts and Rachel Williams, Sallisaw; Cordero Santacruz, Muldrow; Marissa Reagh, Stilwell; Vue Chang, Talala; Dimentia Acosta, Jermaine Boyland, Brittany Dean and Hope King, Jaimie Skeeter, Tulsa; Devon Beachem III, Tabitha Burgess, Kara Smallwood, Kaylia Todd, Joshua Webster, Melissa White and Andrea Wolfe, Oklahoma City; Sallie Bointy, Anadarko; Ryan Johnson, Broken Arrow; Maylene Bell, Choctaw; Kenneth King, Drumright; Joshua Harley, Glenpool; Tommy Walton, Holdenville; Dustin O’Dell, Konawa; Jennifer Jimenez, McLoud; Heidi Underwood, Midwest City; Christafer Clyburn, Mustang; Jerrod Coon, Norman; Candace Deere, Okemah; Shane Stanton, Pawhuska; Travis Ellis, Shawnee; Mario Jackson, Spencer; Dustin Hernandez, Wagoner; Eustace Thunderbull, Yukon; Casey Springer, Lake City, Ark.; Jacob Allen, Springdale, Ark; Danayla Scott, Neosho, Mo.; Nina Blackmountain, Phoenix, Ariz.; Patrick Hewlin and Clinton Wesley, Philadelphia, Miss.; Angela Delgarito and Lydia Sandoval, Counselor, N.M.; Byron Dechilly, WaterFlow, N.M.; Delvin Johnson, Rebecca Nakai and Joelene Yazzie, Tohatchi, N.M.

Students graduating in Culinary Arts were Ashley Blevins, Michael Geer, Ashlee London and Sheena Platero, Tahlequah; Marissa Frazier and Michael McCully, Hulbert; Matthew Davis, Park Hill; William Childers, Stilwell; Caylob Bean and Troy McIlvane, Bartlesville; Samantha Garris, Canadian; Justin Stretch, Checotah; Barry Troutt, Claremore; Katy Stewart, Coweta; Steven Gamble, Madill; Ryan Reeves, Pawhuska; Lavon King and William Rowley, Oklahoma City; Terri Harp, Tulsa; Krystal Thompson, Wagoner; Beulah Brown, Cuba, N.M.; Rachael Etcitty, Farmington, N.M.; Eric Martinez and Jerald Tennison, Gallup, N.M.; Vynette Woody, Ramah, N.M.; and Raymond Martin, Tohatchi, N.M.

Electrical Wiring graduates included Stephan Hanna, Tahlequah; Daniel Meek, Fairland; Johnny Berbee, Owasso; Alexander Harjo, Seminole; Casey Williams, Skiatook; Jeffery Jones, Stilwell; Daniel Copeland, Tulsa; Dustin Wyche, Westville; Faron Bickel, Pinehill, N.M.; Jay Joe, Rio Rancho, N.M.; and Carlton Morgan, Shiprock, N.M.

Students in the Facilities Maintenance field who graduated were Laura Mims, Tahlequah; Stephen Shaw, Kellyville; David Walker, Macomb; Patrick Fritchie, Tulsa; Carl Moore, Shawnee; and Allen Bryant, Sheepsprings, N.M.

Students graduating in Health Occupations included Jessica Preble, Tahlequah; Whitney Sellers, Welling; Eyvine Hearn III, Sharina Hearn, Calvert Kaamasse and Alisha McCollough, Muskogee; Jessica Fain, Proctor; Lolita Nez, Stilwell; Heather Tyson and Mike Tyson, Watts; Herbie Smith, Gore; Tosha Lule, Afton; Ashton Mattingly, Antlers; Brittany Murphy, Bethany; Michael Kawaykla, Carnegie; Blake Posch, Edmond; Sara Stroble, Eufaula; Latoya James, Kirtland; Erica Hornbeck, Oklahoma City; Caroline Clubb, Pawhuska; Clinton Harjo, Salina; Ronnie Checotah, Shawnee; Shaleigh McLain, Stillwater; Whitney Anderson, Tulsa; April Henrickson, Rogers, Ark.; Shandii Nez, Ft. Definace, Ariz.; Brandon Lewis, Church Rock, N.M.; Eileen Scott, Sanostee, N.M.; Sharon Bryant and LeAndrea Denetdale, Sheepsprings, N.M.; and Sheena Martin, Tohatchi, N.M.

Materials Handling graduates included Michael Curtis, Stilwell; Preston Harris and Tabitha Mizell, Sallisaw; Jordan Herndon, Ft. Gibson; Kellie Price, Porum; Joshua Josey, Oologah; Nathan Jones, Pawhuska; LaFiammia Camp, Harrah; Jessica Vanhook, Howe; Devin Moore, Pawnee; and Taylor LeClair and Joseph TwoHatchet, Oklahoma City.

Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corps is an Indian preference vocational training facility for Native American youth and others from all parts of the United States. The Tahlequah-based facility is part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s national Job Corps program and one of only four Job Corps facilities located in Oklahoma. In operation through the Cherokee Nation since 1978, the Talking Leaves facility serves approximately 400 students each year. Cherokee Nation TLJC offers students the opportunity to earn a certificate in one of the following fields: Business Office Technology, Health Occupations, Electrical Wiring, Culinary Arts, Facilities Maintenance, and Materials Handling. Students may also earn their GED while enrolled if they enter the program without a high school diploma. The national Job Corps program has been training young adults for meaningful careers since 1964.

For more information about the TLJC program in Tahlequah call: 918-456-9959.