Seeing shadows: Students get on-the-job lessons


While some people on Groundhog Day watched to see if the famous Punxsutawney Phil could see his shadow in Pennsylvania, members of the Phoenix Job Corps Center shadowed employees Feb. 2 at ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus as part of the 10th Annual National Job Shadow Day.

The day was created to give business students of Phoenix Job Corps a glimpse into real-world jobs and to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to what they may be doing in the future.

From left, Phoenix Job Corps students Meseret G. Gemeda, Antoinette Greer, Charlie Harper, Elmina Jim, Mohamed Ndayishimiye and Jarte Saru pose for a photograph outside of the Arizona Center.

This is the second year that Pit Lucking, a volunteer services coordinator with University College, has facilitated ASU's participation in this national event.

“I chose to participate in the event because I miss the interaction with the students,” says Nellie Andrade of the Downtown Phoenix campus' student affairs office. “I also feel that a positive work experience for young people can influence lifelong skills or attitudes that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.”

Besides Andrade, students shadowed ASU staff members Cookie Ellis and Cynthia Ramirez in the provost's office; Laura Ellis, coordinator of residential community education; Christina Q. Hernandez, coordinator for new student programs and traditions; Rhoshawndra Carnes in the student affairs office; and Dora Valentine and April Johnson at Residential Commons, the residence hall serving Downtown Phoenix campus students.

“Participating in a shadowing program can give a student an up-close experience of working in the provost's office,” Ramirez says. “I believe it's also a good way to introduce the students to ASU and show them what our school has to offer.”

“Our trainees really enjoyed themselves and had nothing but positive things to say about their experience,” says Erika Thrower, career transition specialist from Phoenix Job Corps Center .

The center is a national training program whose mission is to assist young adults by improving their education and teaching them the skills needed to seek employment and be independent.