Mock graduation helps prepare students
BUTLER TWP — Thirty-five eighth and ninth graders graduated from high school Friday morning in an effort to learn more about adult life.
The group really didn't graduate, but participated in a mock graduation held by the United Way of Butler County's Women United leadership group.
Amanda Feltenberger, with the Butler County Human Services department, and Sharon Standish with Bayer/Medrad, organized the event as part of the group's Future What?! education program.
Feltenberger said the program began last year, targeting students who may not be headed to a four-year college, but will remain in the community and will look for jobs that may require a certificate program or no additional training.
“There are a lot of goodpaying jobs here that don't need additional training or a college education, and we want to make sure students know all of their options, whether that means they sign up for Butler County Vo-Tech or plan to go to technical school after graduation,” she said.
On Friday, gathered in Butler County Community College's Founders Hall, students heard from keynote speaker Butler County Judge Marilyn Horan, who charged them to work now to make they're lives good later on.
They then received “diplomas” that gave them an occupation — registered nurse, bank teller, restaurant manager, machinist, police officer, teacher and welder — and a monthly salary after taxes.
Students then broke into teams with one of the 10 or so Women United volunteers, who guided them through a budgeting process based on their salaries and whether their occupation had required a student loan, the job application process and information on banking and other life skills.Mentors also discussed donations that the students may want to make as adults, such as those to United Way.“In the end, if the students choose to make a donation to United Way, then Women United are going to actually make those donations in the students' names,” Feltenberger said. “They don't know. It's a surprise.”After spending their morning at BC3, the students then went to Baglier Mazda on Route 68 to learn about car loans and the car buying process.Women United mentors will continue to meet with the students throughout the school year.
