Bethany Smith

Bethany

Michelle Sanchez reports on her customer. “Bethany came to Man-Tra-Con seeking assistance in July 2017. She was determined eligible as a dislocated worker unlikely to return and had recently been discharged from her position in Jefferson County. Although she had held previous jobs in retail and customer service, Bethany realized that she did not have the work history or education to earn 100% of her dislocation wage,” Michelle explains.

“Bethany enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing program at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, and was eligible to receive WIOA assistance to help cover costs for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and mileage reimbursement. Bethany encountered a few struggles during her training—considering transferring to another school, becoming pregnant during her program and not sure if she would make it through. However, she eventually found the resources and tools she needed to successfully complete the program within two years. In May 2019, Bethany graduated with her ADN degree, passing her board exams a few weeks later in June,” Michelle adds.

“In June 2019, Bethany found employment at Franklin Hospital in Benton, Illinois, and began working as a Registered Nurse earning $20.00 per hour — more than double than what she had earned in her previous job,” Michelle exclaimed!