and training that enabled him to start his own business .
In 2022 , he launched Clean NRG Solar Recovery , a solar design and installation company in the Mid-Ohio Valley . Braswell uses the training he received as a Jobs & Hope WV participant and his experience as an electrician and contractor to offer clean , sustainable and affordable energy solutions and electrical work to his community .
As a member of the recovery community , Braswell has first-hand experience of the importance of a meaningful career . This influences him and his company to offer prevailing wages and flexible work hours . Braswell hired two other Jobs & Hope WV participants , Randy Peffer and Jacob Mason , to his company and allowed them to have a rewarding career and contribute to their community too . Braswell ’ s story shows how Jobs & Hope WV can create a cycle of opportunity and recovery for West Virginians .
As an employer , Braswell has access to multiple incentives Jobs & Hope WV offers , including the Jobs & Hope WV WorkForce Employment Program . This collaboration between Jobs & Hope WV , WorkForce West Virginia and the West Virginia Military Authority offers subsidized job placement for West Virginia employers who hire Jobs & Hope WV participants . Benefits of the program include salary reimbursement for wages up to 1,040 hours up to $ 25,000 per employee , free drug screening and additional support services through a Jobs & Hope WV transition agent .
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars
By Katie Jarrell West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Communications Coordinator
Teachers are more than educators . They are beacons of inspiration and trusted mentors for their students .
“ As someone who was born and raised in West Virginia , I have seen firsthand the way our amazing teachers can impact the lives of students ,” says Meredith Litton , an aspiring educator from Nicholas County High School with plans to study elementary education at West Virginia University ( WVU ). “ That ’ s exactly why I want to be a great West Virginia teacher .”
Litton is a 2023 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholar . The Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars program is designed to help West Virginia address ongoing teacher shortages in the fields of math , science , special education and elementary education . Recipients commit to teaching in one of these high-demand fields in West Virginia for at least five years after graduation . To give students the greatest chance at success , each is paired with a practicing classroom teacher mentor , who provides guidance throughout their college careers .
Meredith Litton .
“ West Virginians are dedicated , proud and selfless , and our teachers exhibit all of these characteristics . West Virginia teachers are passionate , and my passion for teaching began at a young age and sprouted into a dream to be the best teacher I can be ,” Litton says . “ I plan to carry this dream with me throughout my time at WVU and beyond . I want students to be excited to come to class and interact with me and their classmates . I want students to know their voices matter inside and outside the classroom .”
Project SEARCH
By Omar Ibraheem WVU Purpose2Action Student
At PACE Enterprises , the mission is to help people with disabilities find meaningful employment . Under PACE , there are many programs dedicated to achieving this goal . Project SEARCH is a nationwide program focused on providing education and training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities . The program employs a creative approach to workforce and career development , benefiting the participants , their workplaces and the overall community . The main objective of Project SEARCH is to prepare participants with the skills needed to secure competitive employment after completing a year-long training program . Originating from a single program at Cincinnati Children ’ s Hospital , Project SEARCH has expanded to encompass more than 200 programs across 43 states and four countries .
In West Virginia , Project SEARCH works in conjunction with WVU Medicine and the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services to provide PACE interns with professional experience . Each participant completes up to three diverse rotations in the hospital to explore their interests and strengths . Project SEARCH in West Virginia caters to high school graduates in Monongalia , Marion , Preston and Taylor counties . The program recruits interns from local high schools in each county .
Ethan Copenhaver .
Ethan Copenhaver , a Project SEARCH graduate , is a prime example of the program ’ s success . Initially , Copenhaver was quiet and introverted and didn ’ t feel comfortable with anyone . Coming into the program , he was already enrolled in a trade school for learning coding apps and game design .
During his first rotation , Copenhaver worked in central transportation . There , he transported patients wherever they needed to go around the hospital . During this rotation his mentors saw significant improvements in his communication skills and time management . In his second rotation , Copenhaver worked in
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