For Immediate Release – March 7, 2023
Hagåtña, Guam – A student from Guam is off to Hawaii to follow his dreams in the hospitality industry
while studying in the Job Corps Program.
David Santos left today to the Hawaii Job Corps, Maui Campus and will be studying culinary and
hospitality. A 2019 graduate of Southern High School, Santos waited two years to enroll in Job Corps but
was unsuccessful because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had learned about Job Corps through a friend
who also enrolled in the program. Once another opportunity became available, Santos immediately
contacted the American Job Center to apply for the Job Corps Program.
“The pandemic forced the program to shift for the safety and health of the students but since classes have
opened back up, we’ve seen enrollment numbers climb. I’m really glad that David was patient and did not
give up on the program. He is now taking the first step to a successful future,” said Guam Department of
Labor (GDOL) Director David Dell’Isola. “I highly encourage students and young people to take
advantage of this opportunity to learn skills in a structured environment that will guarantee them a
successful career.”
Job Corps
Job Corps is a tuition-free career training program that prepares eligible young people ages 18 through 24
for meaningful careers in various industries while attending classes off island with all expenses covered.
Room and board, basic medical care, transportation, meals, and stipends are all provided at no cost to the
student. The program also helps students complete their high school education and provides transitional
support services. Students are sent home during winter break for two weeks to be with their families with
airfare covered.
The Hawaii Job Corps centers also recently launched the Pharmacy Technician Registered Apprenticeship
Program in partnership with CVS Health and is actively recruiting for this program. Selected participants
undergo four weeks of classroom instruction for phase 1 and then move on to phase 2, during which time
they are paid a full-time salary while training and earning certifications for 8 to 12 months to become a
pharmacy technician. Tuition, training, room and board, meals, transportation, and basic health care are
covered.
Recruitment is also ongoing for participants in the Tongue Point Job Corps in Astoria, Oregon for the
Seamanship Training Program. The duration of the program varies from 18 to 24 months, depending on
the applicant’s progress and choice of certifications. Upon completion at the Oregon campus, cadets will
be qualified to work in the maritime industry in positions that have high rates of pay in flexible work
locations. Salaries in these positions can range from $40,000 to $100,000 annually.
For more information about the Job Corps Programs, or how to enroll, visit the American Job Center on
the 3rd floor of GCIC Building, 414 W Soledad Ave in Hagåtña, call 671-475-7000/1, send an email
to ajc.training@nulldol.guam.gov, or visit https://dol.guam.gov/employment-and-training/job-corps/.
David Santos Job Corps: From left to right: GDOL Deputy Director Jerry Toves, Employment Development Worker Linda Salas, newly enrolled Hawaii Job Corps student David Santos, Employment Program Administrator Theresa Camacho.
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