The 2015 Alumni Weekend Event

Thank you to Angela Houk and Brian Canright for writing today's blog.

What an exciting weekend to have alumni from the classes of 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 on campus!  The weekend started off on Friday with an alumni welcome and weekend overview.  Students and alumni ate pizza, connected with old friends, and made new friends. 

Next, staff, alumni, and alumni parents enjoyed time to chat and laugh at Comedy Sportz.  

Saturday began with brunch prepared and served by the culinary arts students and enjoyed by alumni, students, and staff.  Several alumni parents and students participated in a time of video Q&A sharing about challenges and successes.  The afternoon was filled with games, snacks, and some R&R to watch a movie.  Dinner was enjoyed by alumni, staff, and alumni parents at Country Rose.  The staff at Country Rose did a fabulous job preparing and serving the food.  It was a great time watching the alumni and parents reconnecting, visiting, and sharing memories. 

 

Saturday evening was filled with excitement and fun as alumni parents gathered at the Racine home of Guy and Faythe Ladd, parents of Christian Ladd, a 2014 graduate.  Meanwhile the alumni played games and participated in a solving a campus mystery.  The campus nurse went missing and students traveled throughout the campus searching for clues only to find out the nurse had taken a vacation.  The evening ended with the return of the nurse to campus from her vacation – the mystery of the missing nurse was solved.  

One highlight from the alumni weekend was celebrating the accomplishments of Brett Fisher who received the distinguished alumni award.  Brett graduated in 2012 with a certificate of completion in Culinary Arts.  Brett has demonstrated the philosophy of Appropriate Independence™ as he lives independently and works in the deli at Walmart in Grand Rapids, MN.  His wages are higher than some of his peers without intellectual disabilities because he completed the culinary arts vocational training program.  Brett works around 32 hours a week and earns vacation time.  He uses public transit and has a network of family and friends to meet his transportation needs.  Brett serves his neighbors by preparing food and snacks once a week and helps his aging grandparents with chores such as shoveling snow.  He faithfully attends and volunteers in his church and financially supports missions and causes close to his heart.  We are proud of Brett and his accomplishments!  Congratulations for being the 2015 Distinguished Alumni! 

Thank you parents for entrusting your students to us and for being part of the exciting journey of Appropriate Independence™ that is unique to each student.  We are truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of each student’s journey! 


Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.

Laurel's Visual Resume

Thank you to Brian Canright, Lead Recruiter/Transition Coordinator, for writing today's blog.

As the Transition Coordinator, I am looking to provide, and continuously improve upon, the resources we provide our graduates to improve employment outcomes. One such tool I have been piloting the past few weeks is the visual (or video) resume. Research suggests that, for adults with disabilities, this practice increases the likelihood of employment. The primary reason is that a prospective employer can visualize the potential employee competently carrying out tasks which are relevant to the position they are seeking to fill. Though the paper resume and references are equally important for securing a job, the visual resume adds value to the overall portfolio. The video can be linked to the resume in the form of a QR code or as a website link. Additionally, a student can download the visual resume and burn it to a DVD to carry with them to interviews.

The following example is a 2 and a ½ minute visual resume that was shot on Wednesday, May 22^nd, over the course of two hours of Laurel Arnold’s internship at Country Rose Bakery and Café. I only used an iPad mini and the whole project was completed in less than three hours, including the editing.  

 

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.

Chocolate and a Rose

I’ve already told you that I’m not big on flowers. They’re beautiful and I love looking at all the lovely colors and varieties, but my husband knows he doesn’t need to spend money on them.

I do have a favorite Rose however – Rose Laketa from Country Rose Bakery and Café.

I’ve known and liked Rose from back in my son’s high school days. She and her sister, Rita, hired Nic to work in their restaurant, and he loved every moment he was there.  They encouraged him, complimented him and fed him – a lot. It was the perfect job for a teenage boy.

My liking for Rose has grown into love, admiration and a deep respect over the years as I’ve watched her give of her time and resources to support Shepherds College.

She and her sister have:

• Accepted and trained several Culinary Arts interns
• Hired one of our graduates
• Agreed to interviews and visits from photographers during their busy workdays
• Attended each graduation
• Opened up their café during off hours so our students could be trained in social skills

And now, for our 2013 Winter Retreat, they’ve once again opened their restaurant in the evening just for our students. 

Last night, all of our students and select staff filled Country Rose for a night of games, drinks and desserts.

They played Connect 4, Uno, Apples to Apples and other board games.

They drank coffees, sodas and hot chocolate.

They ate brownies, cinnamon rolls, pies, pastries and chocolate cake slices bigger than their heads!

They talked and laughed and built up relationships.

And they learned, by perfect example, what it means to be part of a supportive community. Thank you Rose & Rita!

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.