By Jenna Oden
Times-News

Two recent Troup High School graduates took a break from working Tuesday morning to be recognized for committing to work for Sejong Manufacturing after graduation.

As part of the School to Work program, developed to help graduating students find jobs in local industries, MaKyle Felix and Nathanyel Martin found their next opportunity after graduating at Sejong.

“These two mean a lot to me,” said Coordinator of Secondary Education at Troup County School System Nichelle Wimbush. “To see them grow and have an opportunity like this is incredible. This opportunity for our community is huge. It changes the life, the trajectory of their future and the future for their families.”

Scott Malone, LaGrange Economic Development Office president, said that the workforce is everything and the environment around it requires a high influx of workers.

“There were lots of obstacles we learned as we went through this and what we have to do as a community to overcome the obstacles to help our workforce to be successful,” Malone said. “It is critically important to the future of our community.”

With multiple students entering this program and finding work after graduation, Malone said these students serve as a model for students in the future.

“You have an opportunity to reach back and say, ‘hey this is a great career, people are going to take care of you,’” Malone said. “We hope to change to trajectory of their (students’) future and job futures.

Family, Sejong employers, TCSS members and past teachers and principals were in attendance to celebrate Felix and Martin.

“I think it is invaluable, this experience, and we are so appreciative to Mr. Malone and Sejong for the effort they have put in,” said TCHS principal Nikki Watts. “We have a saying at TCHS, ‘we just keep getting better.’ Opportunities like this are not only a way for these guys to have a viable income, but it gives them a continuous, everyday opportunity to grow and improve as workers, as young men, as citizens.”