Friday, August 26, 2005
Frankie Lee new Workforce Investment Act Coordinator

     HATTIESBURG ­ Pearl River Community College selected Frankie Lee of
Hattiesburg as the new Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Coordinator of the
PRCC six-county district.
     Previously, Lee worked in mortgage banking and then at Jones County
Junior College as an instructor in the Adult Basic Education Department.
Lee has a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration
from Lincoln University in Missouri and a master's degree in Education
Administration from William Carey College.
     WIA provides new job skills or improves on existing skills through
approved training programs at the college. WIA helps to pay for the
tuition and books that students will need to complete a one or two-year
program, such as Surgical Technology, Dental Hygiene, Practical Nursing,
Welding, Heating and Air Conditioning, Barbering, Computer Networking,
Drafting, Respiratory Care Technology, and Electrical Technology.
     Lee began at PRCC this June and is excited about working here. “I
really like it here. This job has a lot of variety, and I think my
background in teaching and business are a perfect combination for this job.
I was thrilled to see forty-six students who received assistance from
the WIA office graduate this summer.”
     According to Miriam Manaway, a widow with four grown children and
five grandchildren, WIA enabled her to begin a new career.
     “I completed the Licensed Practical Nurse program at the Pearl
River Community College Hattiesburg and graduated this summer,” said
Manaway. I had worked at the public schools as an assistant and then as
a secretary for 10 years, but that wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted
to work where I could really help people.
     I had to quit my job to go back to school, and I knew juggling
home and school would be a financial burden, so WIA was a tremendous help.
     “People who are interested in returning to school can contact me,”
said Lee. “I’ll tell them what they need to do to get the process started.
     To participate in WIA, participants must be accepted into the
school before their application will be considered. Participants must
also report their progress to the PRCC WIA coordinator.
For more information, contact Lee at 601-554-5531.