Fifty-five seniors will be leaving Bainbridge High School with more than a diploma, they have also earned their Georgia Work Ready Certicate. They received their certificates and recognition for their hard work at a breakfast on campus Wednesday morning.

The local Work Ready Program is a cooperative venture involving the Chamber of Commerce, local government and Bainbridge College. The Georgia Work Ready Program is an initiative of Governor Sonny Purdue and is being implemented by the Commission for a New Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult Education.

Dr. Gail Lovering initiated the Bainbridge High School program and with the help of Dr. Christine Pugh, the FAST CATS program at the school assisted with providing additional gap studying for the assessment tests. The certificates and levels of achievement are based on three areas; reading information, reasoning and math. Each person’s scores determine the certification level - platinum, gold, silver or bronze. Gold certification is equivalent to being college ready with no remediation necessary.

These 7 students received the Gold certificate: Patrick Minarovich, Corey Philmore, Jamie Haire, Michael Powell, J.W. Putnal, Ryan Gainous and Elizabeth Richardson.

23 students received Silver certificates: Britini Bailey, Tina Bouie, Hay Bowersox, Shieonna Breedlove, Alex Casteel, Amanda Gray, Rachel Irwin, Atravia Kirkland, Ryan Marshall, Dominque McKelvey, Brittany Medina, Temaya Mims, Carlita Moore, Aubrey Powell, Kim rambo, Chad Rathel, Chantal Thomas, Elizabeth Trower, Shawn Williams, Adrian Williamson, Rebecka Hou, Hannah Weaver and Justin Johnson.

25 students received Bronze certificates: Anthony Bogan, Lenora Cambell, Britteny Dennis, Kendra Denton, Anastasia Footman, Ronnie Glass, Ashley Gray, Joseph Harrell, Teandria Hodge, Aaron Howard, Ebony Lewis, Adrianna Martin, Ashley Miller, Kelley Robson, Robert Sheffield, Jessie Smith, Dominique Washington, Will Wimberely, Teneshia Walker, Michael Turner, Richard Hawkins, Kwame Dawson, Dolisha Cooper, Shatavia Campbell and Camari Belin.

Bainbridge College key players in helping bring the Georgia Work Ready Program to the high school; Ms Grace Nix, Gean Hendrix and Greg McDonald.

Dr. Lovering stated that this would not of been possible to offer the students without the support of Bainbridge College. She stated the Ms. Grace Nix, Program Coordinator, was always available when needed. Dr. Lovering also recognized Mr. Gean Hendrix, Director of Business and Industry Services at the college and Greg McDonald Director of Continuing Education.

The Georgia Work Ready program is available at no charge. Companies increasingly use such assessments and certifications when hiring, evaluating incumbent workers, and promoting.  Gean Hendrix described more of the program in this video.

The Georgia Work Ready certificate gives them an advantage when applying for a job. For these high school students some will be going into the workforce full-time while those that are continuing their education will use the Work Ready certificates to help them obtain part-time employment.