Resilient-Skilled-and-Ready.php

Resilient, Skilled, and Ready: WEI Celebrates Completers

• Students
• 06/05/2025

In a celebration of resilience and achievement, Rock Valley College's Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) honored its 2025 program completers with a heartfelt ceremony that reflected its students' and staff's individual and collective triumphs.

Held on campus with family, friends, faculty, and community leaders in attendance, the event featured inspiring remarks, emotional reflections, and well-earned recognition for students who completed programs in Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Mechatronics, Advanced Welding, Truck Driver Training, and Computer Numeric Control (CNC).

Bianca Davis, Director of WEI, opened the ceremony with a stirring speech built around one powerful word: PROUD.

"I'm proud of how we showed up, even when it was hard," Davis shared. "Proud of how we checked in and out emotionally but never gave up. Proud of how Erica and I learned, stumbled, and rose up to conquer completely new roles. Every success story that walks across this stage proves that we didn't just survive. We grew."

Davis described a year marked by new challenges, limited resources, and unexpected barriers. Yet, as she explained, these obstacles became opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and strengthen bonds among students and staff.

Graduate speakers shared personal stories of perseverance and transformation. CNA graduate Summer Moon reflected on the emotional journey of returning to education. "There were times I didn't think I could do it. But I kept showing up—because I wanted to prove to myself and my children that anything is possible."

Keyundrea White, a CNA graduate, added, "This program didn't just teach me skills—it reminded me of my worth."

Mechatronics graduate Liam Ouddai credited the support system of the WEI community, "It's not just about the training. It's about the people who believed in me, especially when I didn't believe in myself."

In a keynote address, 13th Ward Alderman Tamir Bell spoke about the power of equitable access to education and the critical role of workforce programs in building stronger communities. "This room is filled with difference-makers," he said. "You are the living proof that investment in people pays off."

Awards were presented to standout students and supporters.

Academic Award of Excellence (given to students with a 4.0 GPA in their program of study.

• Ameera Davis
• Junique Simmon

Super Star Awards are presented to students with the highest GPA in their program of study.

• Khaley Caruther
• Liam Ouddia
• Jesse Perez
• Alfredo Navarro

Beatriz Pinedo received a special Academic Award of Excellence for having the highest overall GPA in the WEI program.  

Rock Valley College Foundation Chief Development Officer Brittany Freiberg received the final award. The 2025 WEI Humanitarian Award is presented annually to someone who cares about or helps improve the welfare and happiness of others.

As the ceremony concluded, Davis encouraged graduates to carry their momentum forward. "From now on, rain or shine, we'll keep going. Because we are the storm chasers and the sunshine seekers."

About Workforce Empowerment Initiative

The Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) is a transformative grant program funded by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Its mission is to expand access to education and career pathways for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities, helping them transition into high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations. Visit the WEI page to learn more.