MCHS Seniors Honored with “MADICO MADE Workforce Ready” Certification

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce understands that a skilled workforce is the foundation for a thriving economy. Between being home to a top ranked K-12 school system and being situated in close proximity to The University of Georgia, Emmanuel College, and Athens Technical College, Madison County proudly serves as a talent pipeline for local and regional business & industry.

The Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program at Madison County High School/The Broad River College and Career Academy is the great connector between the school system and local business & industry. With a mission of “providing students with the opportunity to gain relevant job skills & valued work experience through internships while preparing for tomorrow's workforce,” the program’s role in developing a “MADICO MADE Workforce” for our economy cannot be understated.

To further elevate the workforce development efforts carried out by the school system in partnership with local business & industry, we worked together to create the MADICO MADE Workforce Ready Certification Program. The purpose of the MADICO MADE Workforce Ready Certification Program is to encourage professional development among 9th-12th grade students in the Broad River College and Career Academy and to strengthen the talent pipeline for local and regional business & industry. To receive the certification, students must meet the following requirements:

• Maintained at least a 90% Employability Skill Score average for their senior year.
• Maintained at least a 3.0 GPA
• Completed 1 CTAE Pathway
• Participated in at least one job shadowing day with the Madison County Chamber of Commerce
• Have been enrolled in the WBL Program for 1 year or can show proof of employment elsewhere for 1 year.

We are pleased to announce that nine seniors received the certification this year:

1. Kaylee Brown: Advanced Academics Pathway; Business & Technology Pathway; Entrepreneurship Pathway; Plant and Floral Design Pathway. 
2. Lilliana (Lilli) Cabaniss: Fine Arts Pathway; Metal Fabrication Pathway; Power Machinery Pathway; Electrical Controls Pathway.
3. Rylee Coile: Business & Technology Pathway; Foreign Language Pathway; Dual Enrollment Pathway.
4. Ma'Kiyah Little: Healthcare Sciences Pathway.
5. Joycelynn Turner: Culinary Pathway; Early Childhood Education Pathway.
6. Gary Oliver Pitman: Informational Technology Pathway.
7. Chloe Powers: Healthcare Pathway; Early Childhood Education Pathway.
8. Kennedy (Cheyenne) Samples: Advanced Academics Pathway; Drama Pathway; Healthcare Sciences.
9. Jake Solomon: Healthcare Sciences.

Furthermore, these students had the opportunity to apply for two, $1,500.00 scholarships graciously provided by Georgia Power as they continue their education and prepare to enter the workforce. Lilliana Cabaniss and Ryle Coile were both awarded those scholarships. You can glean from their future career plans that they are quite ambitious!  

“I have aspirations of entering the engineering field and hope to one day be an established electrical engineer and maybe even get to work with the team that audits the national electric code! (If I'm lucky!) Aside from that I just aspire to become more involved in electrical controls and learn more about the industry,” said Lilli. Lilli will enroll at Athens Technical College this fall. 

“After graduation I plan to attend Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing after that I plan to go to an anesthesia program in Georgia to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Which has been a very big dream of mine for a long time. I also plan to keep my online boutique open and be a small business owner and CRNA. Of course after school I plan to move back to Madison County, and work my dream jobs,” said Rylee.

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is excited to cheer all of these students on in their next steps, and we are immensely proud of how well they represent our “MADICO MADE Workforce”. Graduating such fine, independent and productive citizens is an accomplishment that should be celebrated by the entire community.

The focus of the Madison County Chamber centers on our role as the go-to organization to serve as the catalyst for community & economic development. We exist to connect our citizens, organizations, and businesses with the resources they need to make Madison County thrive. Want to learn more about the Madison County Chamber of Commerce or local workforce development efforts? Visit madisoncountyga.org or call 706-795-2191 Ext. 1453.