LILLINGTON - Eighteen students at Central Carolina Community College were honored for adding to their “job skills toolbox” at the college’s Career Readiness Certificate awards program.

Angie Stewart, Industry Manager for the Harnett County Economic Development Commission, was guest speaker for the Aug. 13 event at the Harnett County Campus.

“I am pleased to be able to go back to employers with the information that you, our Harnett County workforce, are career ready with commonly identified, marketable skills,” she told those receiving certificates. “These skills are certainly making you better prepared for current opportunities, as well as new opportunities as they arise in the future.”

The 18 were awarded North Carolina Career Readiness Certificates certifying their skill levels in applied math, reading for information, and locating information. Employers nationwide have identified these as essential workplace skills. The skill levels are based on ACT Inc.’s WorkKeys national job skills assessment system. Those holding CRC certificates can show them to prospective or current employers to verify the skill levels they have achieved in these areas. The CRC saves employers time and cost by enabling them to hire workers who have the skill level needed.

The Harnett students received  a gold, silver or bronze-level certificate, indicating the skill levels they achieved. A gold certificate indicates that the person has the assessed skill levels required in 90 percent of jobs; silver, skills required for 65 percent; and bronze, 35 percent.

Stewart urged the students to continue to build their skills, explore their opportunities, step outside their comfort zones, and take advantage of the college and its programs to prepare for what they want to do.

 “I am so excited about receiving my silver level certificate,”  said Cheryl Kelly-Smith. “I worked all my life in manufacturing, but I started in the Career Readiness class in December 2008, after my lay-off. Since being enrolled at Central Carolina Community College, I have decided to continue my education in Bioprocess Technology.”

Those receiving certificates were: gold level: Matthew Lloyd; silver level: Wanda Beck, Clarice Christmas, Marcelina Gilliam, Cheryl Kelly-Smith, Makettia McNeill, and Tamika Williams; and bronze level: Michael Giannatti, Sheryl Gray, Sarah Harris, Willa Judd, Jawanda McKoy, Jeanette McLean, Lena Monk, Janice Newkirk, Mary Parker, and Jennifer Walker.

The North Carolina Workforce Development Commission sponsors the CRC in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System, Workforce Development Boards, JobLink Career Centers, Employment Security Commission, and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Central Carolina C.C. is  the administrative entity for local Workforce Investment Act funds for Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Sampson counties.

For more information about the Career Readiness Certificate in Lee or Harnett county, call (919) 718-7405; for information in Harnett County, call (910) 814-8852.