National Job Corps Youth Ambassador chosen

    Robert Sheldon, 25, of Rumford, and a student at the Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone, majoring in CISCO Technical Career has been selected to be a National Job Corps Youth Ambassador for 2009 representing the Boston Region.     The Boston Region Job Corps has 20 centers located throughout the New England states, New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. Sheldon was one of two students selected to represent the Boston Region. Each of the five regions were able to have two students selected as ambassadors for a total of 10 Youth Ambassadors. Sheldon will participate with the other ambassadors in a special training in Washington, D.C., Nov. 18 – 2.
    The selection process was very competitive and each applicant was required to have a focus on Advanced Career Training and with higher education goals seeking careers in high-growth career areas. Additionally, each applicant had to meet a strictly defined criteria that included an ability to maintain a professional attitude and appearance, be skilled in both academics and career technical training; have a change-of -life story that they were eager and willing to share; possess an ability and willingness to travel, a full-year to commit to the ambassadorship and a strong commitment for personal and professional   growth.
    The 25-year-old Sheldon expressed that it was a surprise and a great honor to be selected as one of 10 National Job Corps Youth Ambassadors for 2009. However it was no surprise to the Loring Job Corps staff as he demonstrated that he merits the recognition because he has continually led as a peer mediator, as a member of the Student Government Association, a wing leader, and a senator in his dorm.
    According to Loring Job Corps staff Sheldon is willing to do everything he can within his abilities to assist as a student leader to the betterment of his fellow students and to the overall well being of the center. In 2008 he was selected to be a representative for the Loring Center at a national leadership conference in May where he did an outstanding job.
    Sheldon’s immediate plans are to enroll as a student at the Northern Maine Community College for the spring semester as part of Loring’s Advance Career Training Program. Following the completion of an associates degree in business, he plans to transfer to the University of Maine at Farmington to earn his bachelors degree. His long-term professional career goal is to own a computer business.     
    Sheldon thanks the Job Corps program and Loring’s staff for changing him from a person with few goals and little direction to a person with specific goals, a new direction and a plan on how to achieve them.
    As a 2009 Youth Ambassador, he will share his personal experience with prospective students and employers explaining what the Job Corps Program has done for him and what the program will do for others. This will be his message as he travels around the nation as a Student Ambassador.