The entire student body, staff and invitees from the Minot community took part in the celebration, according to John Gruenberg, a member of the Job Corps staff.

Just before the ribbon was cut, Stephanie Evans, the Minot Job Corps director, took the floor to thank guests and mark the occasion with some words about the successes of the center.

“To 30 more,” the group said as the ribbon fell, cut by Jayden Damin, president of the student body. Everyone cheered, officially marking 30 years of Minot’s youth career center.

It’s really surprising me being here. I didn’t expect to be this involved when I came here. I didn’t expect anything special about this place. It’s an awesome place,” Damon said.

Ben Pifher/MDN Quentin N. Burdick Job Corps Center celebrated the center’s 30th anniversary on Thursday.

Damin has been at Job Corps for one year and plans to join a carpenter’s apprenticeship when he graduates. “This place is like a second chance for me. I really enjoy it,” he said, excited to represent the student body at the event.

Tom Ross, Minot mayor and Workforce Development specialist at Job Corps, explained Job Corps strives to develop an effective workforce that can be an immediate asset to employers. Ross said he works with employers to tell the story of Job Corps and show them what happens at Job Corps. He also tells the students’ stories to get them hired and get them into the workforce to be successful adults.

Ross also told some of Job Corps’ history. He said when the Quentin N. Burdick Job Corps Center was being built, they decided not to put up fences around the facility like other places have. “This was to be good neighbors,” he said.

Through his outreach, Ross said he has found business owners who pay their employees well to speak with the students at Job Corps. “That’s the ultimate goal, getting this information to the students, who then finish their education and sign up for these positions,” he said.

One of the students, Evans, the Job Corps director, said this is her first time ever being a part of a ribbon cutting and it was exciting to celebrate the 30th year of the facility. “The Job Corps is an awesome program for young adults – to give them the opportunity at a second chance, …the Job Corps is a successful program and it can be successful for any young adult,” Evans said.

Students in the culinary program prepared an assortment of tailgating-style food for the attendees at the event.

Following the event, Catherine McDonough said she came to Job Corps because “I needed my future fixed. My dream is to go to France and build a restaurant. I came to the Job Corps to fulfill my dreams.” McDonough is in an office computer skill class. “It is awesome,” she added.