As Liberty County high school seniors get ready to don caps and gowns and get their diplomas in hand, several graduates in waiting also have jobs waiting on them.
Eight Bradwell Institute seniors and one Liberty County High School senior signed agreements with Hyundai Mobis in a ceremony at the school system central office Friday.
“It is a great step forward,” Donnell Pearis, a senior who will be working in the quality department. “It’s a great opportunity for us and for me to start my career right out of high school.”
Pearis and his fellow seniors are products of the Charge for Success workshop, which polished they students’ soft skills, said Stephanie Murphy, Hyundai Mobis learning and development specialist. Many of the students were enrolled in career, technical and adult education classes at the Liberty College and Career Academy.
“We talked with seniors about preparing themselves for the workforce,” Murphy said.
Several students already hold certifications and they will be headed to work in various departments at MOBIS, including production, logistics and quality control. They will start in June at MOBIS’ Richmond Hill location.
“They will be all over our plant producing motors that go to HMGMA (Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America),” Murphy said.
The students will be learning their new jobs and earning a paycheck $20.20 an hour, or more than $40,000 a year.
“This is not game-changing — this is life-changing,” said Valeria Richard, interim CEO of the LCCA.
School system and local officials congratulated the students — Pearis, Kellen Brown, Isaiah Cortes, Yasir Hamer, Brian Lee, Noah Rayam, Tyrone Robinson and Traveon Tucker of Bradwell and Lukas Kinzer of Liberty County High — on completing the cohort and of the opportunity ahead of each of them.
“To have the opportunity in just a few weeks to walk across the stage and get their diploma and know they have the security of a substantial job, to be able to take care of themselves and their families is a wonderful feat in itself,” said LCHS Principal Dr. Warnella Wilder. “We’re just excited about what’s ahead, and go do big things in life.”
“What an exciting day this is for these young people and our school district,” said Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry. “Part of our job as educators is to get jobs for these young people so they can make a good living and live the American dream.”
Hinesville Mayor Karl Riles pointed out that the community can be a starting point for the future and can prepare young people for what lies ahead.
“Wherever here is for you, you can get there from here,” he said. “This can’t be overstated how important this is for our community. Let people know that what we are producing in our schools is just as good if not better than what is being produced everywhere else. We want to make sure we lay a foundation for events like this to happen. This program is going transform lives.
“Everyone goes pro, in something,” the mayor added. “Today, you are going pro in life.”
This first cohort of Charged for Success also is a trail blazer for students who follow in the paths, said Sonja Duncan, Liberty County School System executive director of special programs.
“You are not only investing in their lives but the lives in our community,” she said of Mobis. “We are going to expect them to blossom and grow. We are looking forward to you setting the example for the ones who are going to come behind you. What you do is going to impact the ones coming behind you.”
Murphy said the company plans to add more partnerships like the one with Liberty County Schools. She also said that if the students eventually go to college, there are jobs such as engineering or finance that could be open for them.
“They don’t have to move away to find a job or a career,” she said. “We have opportunities for them available.”