Excelsior Springs, MO – On November 8, 2024, the Excelsior Springs Job Corps held an Open House event, marking the program’s 60th anniversary. Drawing more than 400 visitors, the campus opened its doors to community members, prospective students, city officials, educational partners, and representatives from local unions and nonprofits. Attendees were treated to a full tour of the center, complete with trade demonstrations, academic classrooms, dormitories, and the cafeteria.
“This is the year that we wanted to open the Center up to the community,” said Lori Sams, the Center Director. “The security team was busy for two hours checking people in, and we had an overwhelming response.” The Open House offered school districts, employers, and parents a firsthand look at the campus and the hands-on training programs that prepare students for real-world careers. “It was a big thing for employers to come in and see the students’ training,” Sams explained. “It gives instructors the opportunity to build employer pipelines and allows parents to see what industry-level work their young person is actually doing.”
Among the highlights of the event was a visit from alumna Myrrie Hayes, who traveled from Arizona to express her gratitude to the program that she credits with shaping her path to success. Reflecting on her time at the Job Corps, Hayes shared her emotional journey, acknowledging that, as a teenager, she hadn’t always made the best decisions and even left the program early. But as she progressed in her career, she realized that the support she received at Excelsior Springs Job Corps was instrumental in her growth. Today, Hayes co-owns a multimillion-dollar business focused on group homes, and she continues to consult for others entering the field. Hayes’s daughter, “Sauce,” who recently completed her barber certification and works in Lee’s Summit, also attended the event.
Throughout the campus tour, guests explored the center’s various facilities. The Job Corps program offers diverse trade training in Culinary Arts, Clinical Medical Assisting, Certified Nursing Assisting, Building Construction Technology, Carpentry, Cement Masonry, Medical Administrative Assisting, Painting, Security and Protective Services, Welding, and Advanced Transportation Service Work. For prospective students interested in these programs, details are available on the Job Corps website at http://excelsiorsprings.jobcorps.gov.
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