Keep up with the Latest
Teen’s Creativity Pays Off in HireSmart Cares Book Design Contest
Sophia Grier earned the $500 top prize for a recent book cover design contest at Madison County High School. The sophomore created a cover for "The Hustle Handbook: Lessons They Don't Teach You IN SCHOOL, but Life Will," by Mark Lackey, Co-founder of HireSmart Cares, a local nonprofit focused on workforce development. Lackey's autobiography details…
HireSmart Supports College and Career Fair
Students from Jackson County High School and East Jackson High Schools recently connected with representatives from 38 businesses, industries, and post-secondary institutions during a college and career fair hosted at Empower College and Career Center in Jefferson, Georgia. The April 1 event exposed 9th-12th grade students to various career and college opportunities. Students had the…
HireSmart Backs Jordan’s Mission to Build Skills That Matter
Ag mechanics instructor Cody Jordan doesn’t like sitting still. He’s happiest when he’s moving and creating value for himself and others with his hands. Now, he’s helping teens at the Empower College and Career Center in Jefferson find exactly that kind of life for themselves — a “get-out-and-build-value” mindset that comes with hands-on abilities. Jordan’s…
Texas Teacher’s Vision for Drone Program Takes Flight with HireSmart Grant
Instructor Terry Andre Hayes has personally paid for drones for students to fly at his alma mater, Evan E. Worthing Early College High School in Houston. The 1979 Worthing graduate and Naval Science instructor at the school sees drones as a pathway to success for his students, but the financial burden of supplying equipment has…
HireSmart Covers Cost of Shelving for Construction Class
Danielsville Elementary School construction teacher Christy Hanson recently received a check for $700 from HireSmart Cares Co-founder Mark Lackey. The grant covered the cost of mobile shelving for the school's construction class materials. "The shelves have come in so handy for us," said Hanson, whose fourth and fifth-grade students learn the construction basics. "I can…
AI Takes on New Meaning for Young Madison Co. Farmer
When most people hear "AI," they think of artificial intelligence — chatbots, autonomous vehicles, and smart devices. But for Olivia Braswell of Madison County, Georgia, AI means something entirely different — producing quality livestock. Thanks to a $5,000 grant from HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit supporting the next generation in developing crucial skills, Olivia is…
HireSmart Cares U.S. Career Assistance — Westlynn’s Story
Westlynn Epps sees local moms wearing her earrings and their children wearing her T-shirts. "I see my earrings a lot, especially at football games," said the rising junior, who serves on the Madison County athletic training team, putting tape on ankles and wrists during games. Epps' business is called "Works By Westlynn," and the Danielsville…