OFS crew celebrates the completion of the Bernice Owen (in front, in blue) Condominiums located on Crescent Rd. in Allied Neighborhood.
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The meaning of success:
Operation Fresh Start's goal for each of its participants is that they attain success through connection to work and education. 80% of those who enroll complete the program, enrolling in post-secondary education or entering unsubsidized employment. Follow-up studies show that 82% of OFS graduates are currently in post-secondary education or jobs averaging $11.85/hour. Eighty-four percent have remained free of criminal offense. In its 38 years of service, OFS has enrolled over 6,000 young people, and its construction training crews have built or re-built 185 homes sold to first-time, low-income buyers or leased to very low-income households.
Dan is a recent OFS graduate who has taken courageous steps toward starting a career as a construction site manager with Miron Construction. Watch the video of Dan's Story
Sixty-two participants were honored at OFS' annual graduation ceremony, held August 14 at MATC's Norman Mitby Theater.
DaneCounty Executive Kathleen Falk
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Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the keynote speaker, praised OFS
for opening doors and emphasized that the young people who come through our doors are full of potential. She said that with work, study, support, and a dream, there is nothing that should stand in their way.
Graduate speakers Dan Alexander and Nicholas Hartelt gave the audience a sketch of what it has meant to reach a point where the future is promising, not bleak, thanks to OFS staff member guidance and support. The honored graduates were: Dan Alexander; Essence Alexander; Adam Althaus; Brandon Ballweg; Gregory Baumann; Harley Bethel; Curtis Bodie; Alisia Borman; Carrie Breunig; James Campbell; Cedric Clacks; Bridgette Coster; Casey Dickinson; Quinten Esser; Renzo Garcia; Herman Gomez; Joseph Gyuricsek; Shannon Haff; Kenneth Hahn; Beijing Hale; Nicholas Hartelt; Paul Harvey; Frank Hernandez; Anthony Hoffman; Octavius Hooker; Derek Huber; Courtney Ivy; Dillon Jeglum; Tavi Jones; Troy Kazmierczak; Kimberly Kluever; Nicole Kubly; Phyroum Lay; Rufus Lively, Jr.; John Mack; Andrew Martin; Fernale McAtee; Glenn McDaniel; Randy McCraw; Kimberly Michaelis; Jenna Milich; Ashley Montoya; Kelsey Nelson; Emily Payne; Erica Pickett; Leon Pledger; Catherine Roach; Musa Rogers; Troy Rowe; Jakim Show; Toby Siripalaka; Ryan Smith; Amanda Stephenson; Michael Syvrud; Santiago Teniente; Pa Lia Thao; William Tremain; Travis Weisensel; Jacob Wesson; Spencer Williams; Jacob Witte; and, Coua Xiong
