The following chronicle and list reads long......but the accomplishments of WOO students are many. We wanted to share some of their progress with you.
On July 9th, more than 140 people squeezed into the WOO Auditorium in downtown Gate City to celebrate the progress of WOO students in many areas of study including adult basic education, literacy, GED preparation and graduation, computer operations, certified nurse aide health care, AutoCAD, community service, parenting, and more. Most importantly, we celebrated our village spirit of all for one and one for all. Tears of joy were shed by students, staff, parents, guardians, grandparents. Against all odds, WOO students have persevered to continue their education for more than 5 years.
Our guest speaker was Annette Foxworth, Chief of Staff for the Office of County Commissioner Shelia Smoot, District 2.
The following 22 students were inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society:
Veronica G. Albarran, GED, 2004
Catherine Andreeen, GED
Jamaal Bryant, GED
Ashley Bullock, GED
Meracella Byers, GED, 2004
Sierra Clayton, GED, 2004
Emanuel Cobbs, Creative Writing
Paris Davidson, GED
Bonita Davis, GED, 2004
Brandon Edwards, GED
Candace Ferguson, GED
D'Angelo Gardner, GED
Asian Gore, GED
Shameka Haynes, GED
Toya Henderson, Adult Basic Edu
JoAnne Louis, AutoCAD
Demetrius Prewitt, GED
LaDerek Riley, GED
Cornelia Roscoe, CNA Health Care
Michael Smoot, Computers
Teressa Tyus, GED
Emanuel Watkins, GED
Certificates of completion or participation are earned as follows:
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE)
Markus Alford,, ABE 1, 2, 3, & 4
Derrick Anderson, ABE 1 & 2
Shaunta Barker, ABE, 1, 2, & 3
Carole Anne Holbrook, ABE 1, 2, & 3
Mariah Atkins, ABE and creative writing
Christopher Brown, ABE 1 &2
Afiya Burwell, ABE 1 & 2, creative writing
Shavaris Calloway, ABE 4
Autumn Campbell, ABE
Rosalind Caples, ABE, math
Sandra Carrington, creative writing
Armina Chatman, ABE
Shelia Coleman, ABE 4
DeMarkus Collins, ABE
Connie Cook, ABE
Mary Croom, ABE
Tawanna Davis, ABE, creative writing
Catlin Deuser, ABE 1, 2, 3, & 4
Vincent Dixie, ABE
Warren Goodgain, ABE 1-4, creative writ.
Antonio Graham, ABE 1, 2, 3, & 4
Martha Green, ABE, creative writing
Joshua Griffin, ABE
Sheryar Hafeez, ABE, 1, 2, 3, & 4
Christopher Harris, ABE
Jamica Harris, ABE, creative writing
Justin Hatcher, ABE
Quontarius Hayes, ABE 1-4, creative writ.
Maurice Herrod, ABE 1, 2, & 3
Re'Shaun Hill, ABE
Angelica Isom, ABE
Demeca Jones, ABE
Johnnie King, ABE
Anthony Jones, ABE & creative writing
Eric M. Jones, ABE
Cassie Levins, ABE
Ladarious Maddox, ABE1-3, creative writ.
Marcus Martin, ABE
Kelvin McCloud, ABE
Jerell McNeal, ABE 1, 2, & 3
Ashley McNeal, ABE, & poetry
Jermaine Mitchell, ABE
Jimmie Moore, ABE
Michael Mordi, ABE & creative art
Sha'quetta Moultrie, ABE, creative writ.
Bryant Myers, ABE
Jermaine Parker, ABE 1, 2, 3, & 4
Dena Pass, creative writing
LaTanya Pitts, ABE 1, 2, & 3
TeDarius Powell, ABE
Anastasia Ransom, ABE
Diamond Robinson, ABE
Donna Rogers, ABE, math
Ronseisha Seals, ABE & creative writing
Antonio Simon, ABE
Angelithia Simpson, ABE
Tommy Sims, ABE
Jamal Smith, ABE
Sallie Stitt, ABE 1 - 4, & creative writing
Denise Thigpen, ABE
Quinton Wade, ABE
Christopher West, ABE & creative art
Albert Whatley, ABE
Ashley Whiten, ABE
Unique Wiley, ABE & creative writing
Patricia Williams, ABE & creative writing
Stacey Williams, ABE
Elizabeth Williams, ABE 1-4, creative writ.
COMPUTER OPERATION
George Eatmon, Jr., Introduction to computers
Marilyn Hatcher, Windows, Microsoft Office Package
Juanita Holston, Windows, Microsoft Office Package
Bonita Maddox, Introduction to computers
Cynthia Pigler, Front Page, Internet Explorer
Francesca Sanders, Basic typing
Esther Sanders, Basic typing
Veronica Tabb, Basic computers
Janice Weatherly, Typing, Parts 1, 2, Intro to Computers & Microsoft Word
Angel Wright, Basic Computers
CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) HEALTH CARE
Sandra Carrington, participation in CNA
Michele Miles, participation in CNA
Tyesha Polnett, CNA Levels 1 & 2
Cornelia Roscoe, CNA Levels 1, 2, 3, & 4
Veronica Tabb, CNA Levels 1, 2, & 3
Georgia Williams, CNA Levels 1, 2, & 3
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Paris Davidson, Literacy Tutor
JOB READINESS & PREPARATION
Sandi Burwell, starting up Burwell's Eatwell catering business
Cleophus Davis, employment, Mayor's Office, Summer Executive Internship Program
Tieitka Felder, employment, Mayor's Office, Summer Executive Internship Program
Amanda Greene, employment, Mayor's Office, Summer Executive Internship Program
Whitney Jones, employment, Mayor's Office, Summer Executive Internship Program
Michael Mordi, employment, Miller Wire Works
Andrea Patterson, employment, UAB School of Education & ResCare of Alabama
LaTanya Pitts, apprenticeship, YWCA If I Had A Hammer program
Esther Sanders, employment, Workshops
Francesca Sanders, employment, Workshops
Michael Smoot, employment, Rehab & Health Care Center of Alabama
WOMEN OF STRENGTH PROGRAM
Ashley McNeal, parenting skills
WOO SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
Cortaven Daniels, basic computer skills
Devon Daniels, basic computer skills
Denaris M. Davis, basic computer skills
Jamese Hubbard, basic computer skills
JayShawn McCoy, basic computer skills
Brandy Norton, basic computer skills
Robert Norton, basic computer skills
Brittney Norton, basic computer skills
Hope Price, basic computer skills
Eddie Rogers, literacy & computer skills
Isiah Smith, basic computer skills
Darrious Watkins, basic computer skills
Brittney Watkins, basic computer skills
Justin Watkins, basic computer skills
Thank you.......
Thank you, first and foremost, to our students who persevere against all odds to continue their education and help to repair this fragile world.....
Thank you to the families and our community who encourage our students to continue their education....
Thank you to the dedicated staff of the WOO who come to the WOO as a labor of love "...teaching with and learning from the whole person..."
Thank you to all of our volunteers who devote their time, creativity, and energy to assist our students....
Thank you to all of our individual, corporate, and public sponsors.....
Thank you to Burwell's Eatwell (Sandi Burwell and her daughter, Afiya, are WOO GED students) catering who put the food on the table for this event....
Thank you to our guest speaker.... Anette Foxworth, who represented Jefferson County Commissioner, Shelia Smoot, District. Commissioner Smoot has encouraged WOO students, raising our morale as well as our material well-being, so that they can continue their education.
Following the student recognition ceremony, we held a brief WOO Coordinating Board meeting chaired by Mary Jones, WOO Board chairperson.
Sincerely,
Corey Howard, WOO Co-Director
Candace Ferguson, WOO Administrative Organizer
Warmest peacebuilding greetings,
Steve Orel, WOO Co-Director
World of Opportunity (WOO)
7429 Georgia Road
Birmingham, AL 35212-2921
Tel: 205-271-9532
Fax: 205-592-3725
http://www.worldofopportunitywoo.org
WeAreTheWOO@aol.com
The World of Opportunity (WOO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency and all donations are tax deductible.
