Riverview IU6 Celebrates Students, Business Partners

John Gerow

John Gerow

Published May 10, 2017 4:21 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Families of Riverview IU6 students and representatives of local businesses gathered on Tuesday morning, May 9, at the Unit in Clarion to celebrate the businesses and students involved in the Intermediate Unit’s Community/Vocational Program.

[Brian Caldwell and Bea Fulton (far right) from Representative Donna Oberlander’s Clarion office pose with graduating seniors.]

A practical, “hands on,” real-world work experience, the Community/Vocational Program gives the special needs IU students an opportunity to learn work and social skills that help them to be more employable and more productive members of the community. Partnering businesses provide entry-level work experience for the IU students in the business within the community.

Riverview students opened Tuesday morning’s program with a welcome and a clever tribute to the partnering businesses. Entitled, “A Tribute to Businesses,” students from Ms. Pam Weaver’s class read a phrase that began with each letter of “A Tribute to Business.” Following the presentation, representatives of many of the businesses that provide the work experiences for the students, gave a brief presentation of their experiences with the Riverview students through the Community/Vocational Program.

One or more of the students who work at each business introduced the business and its speaker.

Sixteen area businesses and organization provided work learning experiences for the Riverview students this academic year. Included in the program was a listing of more than 170 businesses in Clarion, Venango, and Jefferson counties that partner with Riverview IU6.

Twenty-five of the IU6 students were presented with Service Learning Awards at Tuesday’s event. These students have successfully completed one or more of the Community/Vocational learning programs. Nine graduating seniors were also acknowledged and awarded certificates of completion for their academic program at the Intermediate Unit. At the end of the program, Riverview IU6 presented plaques to business and organizations that have become partners with the IU this year or have continued to be partners.

 

Service Learning Award Students.

Service Learning Award Students.

This was a celebration of students and their accomplishments and also a celebration of the area businesses that provide these unique learning experiences for these students. It was, in fact, a celebration of community in the finest sense of the word.

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