As part of the nationwide celebration of Community College Month, 好色先生 is highlighting its vital contribution to strengthening the local workforce through its short-term training programs.
Short-term training courses are a launching pad for some starting their careers, offer skill enhancement opportunities for others and serve as a turning point for many who are seeking a change in their professional path, whether students are taking a first step or next step in their career journeys.
The programs, most of which can be completed in less than six months, include:
- Commercial Driver鈥檚 License (CDL)
- Pharmacy Technician
- Dental Assisting
- Veterinary Assistant
- Real Estate Broker
- Non-Destructive Inspector
- Forklift Certification
- Certified Logistics Associate/Certified Logistics Technician
- Solar Workforce Development Fundamentals
- Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Counseling Certification
- Supply Chain Management Certificate 鈥� Credit Program
Alyssa McKinney believes the Pharmacy Technician short-term training program had a huge impact on her life. 鈥淚 thought about going into health care and then I learned about this program. It was explained that this could be an opportunity for me to get my foot in the door and I was very thankful,鈥� McKinney said, noting that it took her only a few months to complete the program and she was immediately offered a job working at a nationally known pharmacy.
鈥淚 had never considered working in pharmacy, but this program changed my life,鈥� McKinney explained, adding that the program positively affected her personal life as well. 鈥淚 had a sickly mother and working in pharmacy helped me learn more about the medications my mother was being prescribed and what could benefit or harm her,鈥� she said. McKinney now serves as a pharmacy outreach specialist for a senior medical group.
Charles Grays is back in the driver鈥檚 seat thanks to the short-term Commercial Driver鈥檚 License Program offered at Moraine Valley. 鈥淚 had retired from driving a large tractor trailer and was
doing some security work, but I was not happy just sitting in a car doing nothing. So, I looked into a way to go to school and get back into a truck,鈥� Grays said.
He underwent a physical exam to ensure he was qualified, enrolled in the training and earned his CDL. 鈥淭he day I graduated, half the students were at one of the yards waiting to see the results of my driving test. I passed and they all cheered for me. I felt like a celebrity,鈥� he recalled. Grays was hired by a national trucking firm.
Desiree Phillips is delighted with how the Pharmacy Technician Program training has had a positive impact on her life.
鈥淚 was a new mom around that time, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was working as a manager at McDonald’s. My schedule was all over the place and it was just so exhausting,鈥� Phillips said. Upon completion, Phillips was hired as a pharmacy technician and recently was promoted to help run a team to dispense specialty medication to patients who have rare diseases.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good that this training at Moraine Valley is available, especially with the grants to help people cover the costs and start their career path,鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淏ecause I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do, I felt like a deer in headlights. But once I was presented with the Pharmacy Technician Program information, I realized that was something I could do. The people at Moraine [Valley] take their time with you and get to know you. They want you to be something in life and I greatly appreciate it all.鈥�
Those interested in learning more about short-term training at Moraine Valley can contact Syreeta Brown, senior program manager of Corporate, Community and Continuing Education, at (708) 608-4247 or visit .
For news media inquiries, contact Madisson Younglove, assistant director of Communications, at (708) 974-5281 or email
younglovem2@morainevalley.edu.
