Job Corps student distinguishes himself with volunteerism, push to excel

Provided photo: Javen Feliciano, a student in Iroquois Job Corps’ carpentry program, shows his joy at volunteering to help build a roof over the dog run at PAWS in Albion.

MEDINA – Iroquois Job Corps staff are paying tribute to one of their students, who they claim is “a wonderful young man.”

Javen Feliciano learned at a very young age the benefits of volunteering.

Now 25, Feliciano is a student at Iroquois Job Corps, where he volunteered with other students in the carpentry class to build a roof over the dog run at PAWS animal shelter in Albion.

But that isn’t his first experience volunteering.

Feliciano’s story was shared in the Massachusetts publication, Wicked Local.

Feliciano was 12 years old and growing up in Fall River, Mass. when he crossed the street one day and saw two young ladies working in a planter along the sidewalk. He spontaneously asked if they would like some help.

One of the ladies, Sara Riley, called Feliciano’s mother and asked her permission. The young man stayed and helped them for four hours in the hot sun, pulling weeds, shoveling dirt and debris and sweeping the medians.

“And all the while, he had the most brilliant smile,” Riley said. “He simply enjoyed helping us and we simply enjoyed the fact there are people in the world who genuinely want to make a difference.”

A passing motorist was so touched by Feliciano’s work, she thrust a $10 out her window and asked the ladies to buy ice cream for the boy.

A week later, when Feliciano turned 13, the two ladies arranged a police escort to city hall, where he sat at a roundtable meeting with community leaders, and the mayor of the city extended his personal gratitude and presented a citation for Feliciano’s service.

Feliciano enrolled at Iroquois Job Corps this past January, at the age of 24, where he is in the carpentry program. In that short time he has been named Student of the Month and dorm wing leader. He became OSHA certified, trained in scaffolding and greenhouses, is power tool certified and participates in Job Corps’ Leadership Program.

Feliciano says his motto is, “We rise by lifting others.” He came to Jo Corps because he was seeking a better opportunity and wanted more for his life.

“While doing research I found that Iroquois Job Corps offers many resources and skills to be successful, such as medical trades and hard trades,” Feliciano said. “My goal here is to leave as a better man with a valuable skill set.”