Veteran Customer Utilizes NCWorks Career Center-Rowan and WIOA Services to Achieve Academic Success

Navy veteran Mitchell Darnell walked into the NCWorks Career Center in Rowan County in April 2019 seeking assistance in obtaining sustainable employment. Because of his service, Mitchell received a priority level of service for all the services offered at the NCWorks career center locations.

After meeting Mitchell and learning his journey, Charleena Zepeda,  Lead Talent Development Consultant, realized that he was a person who has experienced many adversities throughout his life.

Mitchell shared with Charleena that he was a justice involved individual and revealed his past struggles of accepting sustainable employment due to his background.

Unemployed and relying on forms of public assistance such as SNAP food benefits, Mitchell knew that he wanted more for himself. He knew that despite his past, and the things that he had experienced in life, he envisioned a bright future to come.

“I recall telling Mitchell, ‘We all go through things…good and bad. Those bad things don’t define us, they are just lessons in preparation for our future’,” said Charleena.

Mitchell knew that he had the ability to change the direction of his future. He knew that if he worked hard towards accomplishing his goals, nothing could stand in his way. It was that determination and willed spirit that motivated Mitchell to enroll in WIOA services.

Through WIOA services, he was able to pursue his educational goal of obtaining his Associate Degree in Applied Science for Information Technology. He began attending classes at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in May 2019.

Adjusting to his new schooling environment, while maintaining full-time work. Mitchell stated that although it was an adjustment, he was settling into his new lifestyle and finding balance between his schooling and his work.

After his first semester of classes, Mitchell submitted to me, a review of his grades and Charleena was delighted to see that Mitchell’s report reflected a 4.0 term GPA. He had not been in a classroom setting since high school.

Fast forward one year, Mitchell is an exceptional student. He has maintained full-time work and a 4.0 GPA since he has enrolled in the Associate Degree program at Rowan Cabarrus Community College for Information Technology. He was recently honored as a 2019-2020 Student Excellence Award Finalist.

Mitchell shared his accomplishment with Charleena, as he knows how much it means to her to follow alongside his journey. She is thrilled for Mitchell to be honored for his hard work and academic success. Although Mitchell has always had bright dreams for his future—his dreams are now becoming his reality. He is expected to graduate May 2021.

To find out more about our NCWorks Career Centers in the Centralina WDB region, visit www.centralinaworkforce.com and follow us on social media.

Tags: Career Seekers Success Stories Career Colleges & Universities Education Educational Services Employment Under-Employed Unemployed