Mayor proclaims an Alaska Job Corps anniversary day

PALMER -- The first-ever Alaska Job Corps Anniversary Day kicked off with a mayoral proclamation, balloons, a giant commemorative cake, kids' games and plenty of fanfare.

Thanks to a signed proclamation by Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper, June 25, 2004, is officially known as Alaska Job Corps Anniversary Day.

"Since 1994, the Palmer Alaska Job Corps Center has been an integral part of the community," Cooper wrote. "Through the years, Job Corps has demonstrated in many ways its dedication to our youth and our community by training over 4,000 young adults in various trades and disciplines."

Job Corps is a training facility for youth between the ages of 16 and 24. The Palmer center has a capacity for 250 students at any given time. Typically, students must be out of high school with no serious behavioral issues. They must also demonstrate a need for vocational training.

Once admitted, students choose a vocation from 11 different options, including: Child development, culinary arts, water and waste water treatment, electrical, carpentry, facilities maintenance, business technology, computer repair, heavy equipment and health occupation.

The festivities on Friday included a keynote speech by former state senator Curtis Menard. Menard thanked Job Corps for the work it does in educating young people for the work force.

"Without an education the ability to move forward in our society is very difficult," Menard said. Menard also spoke of his support for Job Corps when he was a state senator. He said he worked with former state senator Jay Kerttula, who sat in the audience Friday, to help make the Alaska Job Corps Center a reality.

When Job Corps Center director Ken Northamer took to the podium, he noted the 390 trees planted around the highly landscaped lawns of Job Corps.

"They have grown and matured just like our students have grown," Northamer said.

Following the speeches, everyone on hand was invited to a piece of commemorative cake, while music from the local jazz band, Jazzology, played in the background.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.