PRESS RELEASE
November 6, 2009                                                       Contact:  Dawn Alford, 542-5524

November 9, 2009, 4PM
CBC Board Room

A middle and high school dropout and a former non-English speaking immigrant will be honored during the Columbia Basin College Board of Trustees meeting at 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 9, in the Board Room.

Angel Venegas, Phonesavanh Syanouthai, and Rebecca Guizar, now CBC alumni, are being recognized for their diligence and successes stemming from their return to school. 

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 42 percent of adults (ages 25-64) in the U.S. have no more than a high school education.  Yet, here in Benton-Franklin counties, almost three in four Hispanic adults have less than a ninth grade education; one in four for non-Hispanics.  Unfortunately, however, most new jobs and the vast majority of jobs that pay a family wage require at least some education beyond high school. 

Lack of basic skills, including English and math, translate into low wage job opportunities for adults and a weakened employment pool for employers.  With better skills come better jobs, and ultimately a better Columbia Basin.

“Going back to school was the best thing for me.  It opened a lot of doors,” said Angel.

Last year, the CBC Basic Skills Division served more than 2,600 adult literacy learners at more than 15 sites in Benton-Franklin counties.  They are committed to providing more adults with the literacy and job-training skills they need to be successful in the workplace and in life.  Countless success stories have come out of the Basic Skills Division.  Angel, Phonesavanh, and Rebecca are just three examples.

Angel dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to help support his family.  Three years later he returned to CBC to obtain his General Education Development (GED) certificate.  He went on to earn his Commercial Drivers License and an A.A. Transfer degree in psychology.  Angel is now able to support himself and his family--on a livable wage.

Phonesavanh, an immigrant from Laos, came to the U.S. not knowing any English.  While at CBC she took English as a Second Language classes (ESL), ESL/Adult Basic Education transition classes, then went on to earn her GED, and both her Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy certificate through Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training.  She is currently employed as a phlebotomist at Tri-Cities Laboratory.

Rebecca dropped out of the seventh grade when she became pregnant with her son Francisco.  In the following years, she and her husband ran a family business while raising their five children.  Desiring to do something different, Rebecca knew she must return to school.  Despite the challenges of raising five young children, she came to CBC and earned her GED.  Rebecca is now the WSU GearUp Site Director and an excellent role model to her children and siblings.  Francisco is currently a CBC Running Start student—and a testimony to Rebecca’s influence to pursue a higher education.

Michelle Mann, executive director for the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council and CBC Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Jim Watts will also attend the Board Meeting to discuss the importance of basic education to the workforce and economy.