LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A group of Estacado High School students will earn a paycheck and school credit this fall as the first participants in a new workforce program with Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas.
The “Pathways to Success” program hosted a kickoff event Friday, recognizing the students who will participate.
How the program works
Students in the program will spend part of their school day at Goodwill’s new Career Resource Center on North Martin Luther King Boulevard, across the street from Estacado High School.
There, they will learn leadership, career and networking skills before applying those skills by working at the new Goodwill East Lubbock Retail Center just next door.
“First of its kind program right here in North and East Lubbock, where we’re excited that Goodwill Industries is offering this opportunity to high school students to come in and earn $13 an hour starting out,” Goodwill board Vice President Bill Stubblefield said.
What students will gain
Career Resource Manager Shannon Spencer said the program is designed to prepare students for the workforce beyond just finding a job.
“Not just are in crisis and want to work, but they’re equipped, they have the skills, they have the knowledge, they have what it takes for an employer to say, yes, come on board, you’re what we need,” Spencer said.
Stubblefield said the experience will give students an advantage as they move on to college and careers.
“When they go to college and they start pursuing their career, they can also reach back on this experience to help them get a jump start and ahead of their contemporaries,” Stubblefield said.
Investment in East Lubbock
Goodwill CEO Robin Raney said the new retail store is projected to pour $4.5 million in wages into the East Lubbock community over the next five years.
“And we built a $4.2 million building to house not only this program, but all of our career resources that are available to the community, the computer classes, the interview preparation, the resume writing, the emotional intelligence training. And there’s a 10,000 square foot store,” Raney said.
How to apply
Goodwill is still looking for two additional students to join the program. Current Estacado High School upperclassmen who are interested should contact their school counselor.
Goodwill said it hopes to replicate the program at another Lubbock facility and one in Amarillo.
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