“See it before you see it, or you’ll never see it.” Words of wisdom from the graduation speaker for the Kinexus Bridge Academy last night in a night of celebration for 32 Kinexus graduates. Alonzo Kelly is President & CEO of Kelly Leadership Group and he delivered a lesson in vision to the grads, detailing his own upbringing in ceremonies at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores.
In addition to Bridge Academy grads, there were also celebrants from Adult Education, Heartland Alliance and the Michigan State University High School Equivalency Program or HEP. Joining with the various graduates were more than 150 family members, friends, Kinexus board members and community partners.
In addition to the Bridge Academy, Kinexus works in partnership with Heartland Alliance and Michigan State University to help participants complete a variety of offerings including both academic and vocational certificates to help them get prepared and ready for the world of work.
Kelly closed out his remarks on the night by applauding the graduates, adding, “You have finished and I’m proud of you for it. You gave yourself permission to trust a process that you could not see.”
Kinexus also honored an Employer Champion, who partners with Kinexus to give job experience, shadowing and placement to youth who are enrolled within the Bridge Academy. This year, Kinexus honored Lashunn Harper, owner of Dialo’s Café.
Todd Gustafson, CEO at Kinexus says, “Although this event was to honor the academic accomplishments of our graduates, we are also excited about the relationships that have been created between our students and local employers. This connection is crucial in the development of a systemic and sustainable talent pipeline for our region.”
Other special recognition at the event included:
- Alumni Award: Brianna Gorske
- Karrington Penny Memorial Academic Achievement Award: Dasha Mathis
The Kinexus Bridge Academy also provides job training and employment services to youth, ages 16-24, in high demand career areas within the healthcare, manufacturing, skilled trades, hospitality and retail industries. Enrollment opportunities begin on July 5, 2017. Those interested in participating can contact Allie Knapp, Continuing Education and Career Services Manager at 260-927-1064, x1412 or knappa@kinexus.org for additional information.
Kinexus is an organization that invests its time and resources into creating integrated solutions for business, workforce, and community challenges to promote economic vitality in the Southwest Michigan region. For more information, visit www.Kinexus.org, follow along on Twitter @KinexusGroup or “like” them on Facebook @KinexusGroup. For more information about the Bridge Academy, “like” them on Facebook @KinexusBridgeAcademy.
