Jun-21-11 Commissioner Wirths Honored with College Spirit Award
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 -News Release- |
“Since its inauguration in 1993, the Community College Spirit Award has been an honor bestowed to those who embody the community college spirit – perseverance, dedication and excellence,” said NJCCC Chairman Ronald Winthers.
Commissioner Wirths was presented with the honor during the NJCCC’s Annual Trustee Conference at the Trenton Marriott on Monday night, June 20. The Commissioner was recognized for his leadership in working with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) and the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to provide workforce training grants to companies throughout the state through the NJBIA Basic Skills Workforce Training Program.
“I’m very honored and humbled to receive this treasured award. I’m a strong believer in the importance of community colleges, and I was a strong supporter well before I came to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development,” said Commissioner Wirths. “During my nearly 10 years as a Sussex County Freeholder, I supported our own Sussex County Community College, including the construction of two major additions. I was proud afterwards to watch the enrollment grow.”
In its fourth year of existence, the NJBIA Workforce Training Program has conducted 921 classes and provided training to 10,174 employees at 577 New Jersey businesses.
The Workforce Consortium, established in 2004, is a central one-stop contact that develops and delivers education and training programs to New Jersey businesses, agencies and organizations.
“The Workforce Consortium is one of our greatest successes,” Winthers said. “It is because of Commissioner Wirths’ support that our Consortium has trained nearly 50,000 employees at over 2,100 New Jersey businesses since its inception.”
Commissioner Wirths also said he looks forward to continuing the administration of Governor Chris Christie’s “great partnership” with the NJBIA, the Workforce Consortium and others to provide workforce training to businesses throughout the state.
On Monday, June 20, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges presented its 2011 Community College Spirit Award to NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Hal Wirths for his outstanding support of the state’s 19 community colleges. Pictured, from left: Workforce Consortium Executive Director Dr. Robert Bowman, Commissioner Wirths, Middlesex County College President Dr. Joann La Perla-Morales, Mercer County Community College President Dr. Patricia Donohue, and NJCCC Chairman Ronald Winthers.
