Phoenix Project, a program of the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) in partnership with Merced County Probation, honored the accomplishments of 22 graduates Wednesday night at an exclusive ceremony held at the MCOE Downtown Center.
Graduates are Phoenix Project participants who successfully completed a Career Technical Education (CTE) training and obtained an industry-recognized certificate.
CTE courses are rigorous and vary in length from two to six months. Participants attend full-time and learn industry skills required for success in the workplace such as attendance, teamwork and commitment.
“The Phoenix Project is a program that provides opportunities and hope,” said Phoenix Project Career Educator Toula Eccles. “Hope is the driving force behind the success of the program.”
The program serves adults referred by Merced County Probation and helps lead them to successful employment through education and training.
Many of the night’s graduates completed CTE courses in a variety of industries which include automotive technology, construction, transportation, medical and more.
The ceremony included guest speakers and representatives from MCOE, Merced County Probation and Merced County Board of Supervisors as well as two graduate speakers.
A large percentage of Phoenix Project graduates obtain full-time employment after graduation. Research has shown that employment is the best predictor of post-release success.