Press Release:
The City of Valdosta recognized six Valdosta High School students who graduated from the Great Promise Partnership (GPP) program, at a ceremony on June 19, held in the Valdosta City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room. The students received a GPP stole, a graduate certificate from the GPP program, and a gift from the city.
The city congratulates the following students:
- Andre Rainey – Public Works
- Jylon Bennett – Customer Service
- Shacunna Harris and Antonio Haynes, Jr. – Meter Reading
- Ieshiah Cooper – Utilities
- Amhya Gibson – Community Protection
“I learned a lot, I learned time management and networking skills. I had to communicate a lot and I had to put my leadership skills to the test,” said Andre Rainey.
The City of Valdosta employs the participating GPP students in the Valdosta-Lowndes County area and was the first municipality in Georgia to participate in the statewide initiative. Through the program, which is gaining momentum across the city and state, students gain real-world experience and job training while also earning a paycheck. The internships, funded through the City of Valdosta’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, have positively impacted the city’s mission without negatively impacting the city’s budget.
In Valdosta, the GPP’s partnering school is Valdosta High School. During the school year, the GPP students work part-time in various departments of the city while also balancing their academic and extra-curricular schedules. The students who are not graduating this year will remain in the program for the next school year. For more information about the GPP program, visit http://gppartnership.org.