The first session of Berkshire Community College's (BCC) Green Business Careers Certificate Program concluded June 19 with a celebration for students and their families at BCC's Intermodal Education Center.
The program, funded by a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center - Pathways Out of Poverty grant, is designed to connect low income, disconnected youth and dislocated, unemployed and underemployed individuals with employment opportunities in the burgeoning clean energy sector.
A focus of the program is to prepare participants to be college and work ready by providing them with instruction in life skills, communication, computer literacy and applied mathematics. The program culminated with a credit bearing Introduction to Renewable Energy course.
Vice President of Community Education and Workforce Development William Mulholland addressed the class and noted the accomplishment of each student and commended them for their perseverance in the program.
The Green Business Careers Certificate participants include: Chris Beaulieu, Paul Bouchard, Gregory Hanson, Justin Persing, Paul Shartrand and Sandy Wheeler.
Upon completion, participants receive academic advising, career coaching and job placement assistance at the College.
Berkshire Community College is preparing to run a second session of the Green Business Careers Program in late summer.