Chanese Bradley, a 2011 graduate of the academy, has joined the environmental team at Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital, after working in different hospitality positions. She said those jobs taught her self-control and anger management skills, but it was time for steady work with a future. Orlando Health offers tuition reimbursement. Bradley plans to return to school to become a nursing assistant and work her way up the career ladder

Senior Alexa Fothergill earned high marks for her work at Home Goods in Orlando. The manager of the retail store praised her ability to handle challenges. Fothergill explains that includes reorganizing the story and color-coordinating items such as towels and other linens. But her favorite part of the job is working with store guests.

“The customers are great; I’ve never had a bad experience,” said Fothergill, who plans to study health science and radiology at Valencia College after graduation.

2013 graduate Douglas Sinclair has graduated from the Lake Tech Fire Academy and EMT school. He completed a project for Amazon in Reno, Nev., prior to returning to central Florida to pursue a firefighting career.

WAA graduate Jasmin Trubinski, class of 2013, continues on her path toward a successful life. Trubinski attends Valencia College, is on track to graduate in the spring and move on to the University of Central Florida’s College of Hospitality. Universal Orlando has promoted her to a supervisor of park services.

“I’m doing well, living on my own now,” Trubinski said. “Life is good.”

Evan Antoine, a 2006 graduate of Workforce Academy, graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., in 2011, with a social sciences degree. Antoine said everything he learned at Cornell  helped him grow both intellectually and professionally. Antoine called the support he received from leaders at his high school integral to his collegiate success.