“One big advantage of participating in this Academy pathway is that I will graduate with OSHA certification and CPR certification. My post-secondary plan is attending Belmont University.”
PENCIL’s Board of Directors welcomed four Student Ambassadors from Glencliff High School into the quarterly meeting on February 23. Accompanied by Academy Coach, Thommye Kelley, the students shared their perspectives on the impact of PENCIL Partners in their lives; and how their educational experience has shifted during the pandemic. Following their presentations and breakout sessions, GHS seniors Ana and Mercy elaborated further on their Academy experiences and plans beyond high school.
Ana Guzman is enrolled in the Academy of Health & Hospitality and follows the Therapeutic Services pathway. This is her third year as a Student Ambassador. She commented, “One big advantage of participating in this Academy pathway is that I will graduate with OSHA certification and CPR certification. My post-secondary plan is attending Belmont University.” Ana then shared that the Student Ambassador program is helping her to come out of her shell, as well as improve her public speaking skills. She also mentioned giving PENCIL’s VP of Partnerships & Programs (Bob Kucher) and new COO (Dr. Robert Wallace) a tour of Glencliff High School. Her advice to incoming freshmen is “to pick the pathway you can really enjoy.”
Also a senior at Glencliff, Mercy Bustamante is serving her first year as a Student Ambassador. She is in the Academy of Agriculture, Automotive & Technology and follows the Environmental Biotechnology pathway. The PENCIL Family Resource Center (FRC) at Glencliff was Mercy’s first introduction to PENCIL Partnership. She recalls positive interactions with FRC Coordinator, Maggie Kissinger, saying “Miss Kissinger is very nice to us. She says, ‘if you ever need anything, you’re always welcome here.’“ Mercy continued, sharing that she has “attended some career and industry related field trips; learned more about PENCIL this year as a student Academy Ambassador; and got the background knowledge that [PENCIL] is a nonprofit organization that helps us.”
Speaking of field trips, it is always powerful to have Student Voice actively engaged with PENCIL’s Board of Directors. We thank the Glencliff High School team for visiting PENCIL and sharing their experiences.
“I wish for PENCIL to keep growing as an organization. Being here today did give me that extra knowledge that you guys are not only like working partners, but you guys are like a small family. I saw that you were working in groups together and put each other's ideas into consideration and I think that's great for the future for [PENCIL].”
