KENTUCKY — Donavon Sarginson is a Forest Service Job Corps student in the office administration trade from Great Onyx Civilian Conservation Center attending a work-based learning internship on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. 

Sarginson is one of many Job Corps students currently filling critical entry-level positions within the Forest Service. On the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Sarginson continues to evolve the skills he’s learned from Job Corps through a unique collaboration between Forest Service Job Corps CCCs and national forests. Work-based learning provides students enhanced vocational and technical training in a real office or trade setting.

Sarginson, who is from Ava, Mo., heard about Job Corps from a close friend that convinced him to research and join. This eventually brought him to Great Onyx Job Corps CCC, located in Mammoth Cave, Ky. 

While Forest Service Job Corps centers typically focus on providing career technical training in conservation fields, they also offer training in occupational areas such as business, information technology and office administration. 

Nature helps connect people of all ages about their interdependence between the land, resources and each other. While attending his internship on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Sarginson was able to feel that sense of place.

Sarginson said that overall, he’s learned better time management, planning and how proper communication with coworkers are pillars to getting the job done. 

Andrew Baggiano, administrative support assistant for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, worked closely with Sarginson and feels that a cohesive workplace is key to completing the mission. 

Students that attend WBL apprenticeships gain direct and valuable experience working alongside Forest Service employees and can enhance their overall perspective about what it’s like working on a national forest or other workplace setting. 

“I would say Donavon has learned how we coordinate with employees, how to prioritize work and how to figure out how to find information when the answer is not always known,” said Baggiano.

Students like Sarginson see the larger picture of where they may want to take their future career endeavors.

“I think students gain a lot of experience through work-based learning like this because they get to see the everyday life of employees,” said Baggiano. “It’s not always the fun things that they get to see, but the not so fun work has to be done.” 

As for what lies ahead for Sarginson, he feels that the overall experience has made him more resilient when faced with challenges. 

“No matter the challenge ahead, there are people who want you to succeed in your goals and are willing to help you achieve those goals,” said Sarginson.