STORIES

L to R: Carol Mausteller, Work Ready Coordinator; Karen Reber, Adult and Parenting Coordinator; Dale Kratzer; Haleigh Lapp, Family Coordinator “You'd be surprised at how many people told me I’m too old to get my diploma,” remarked Dale Kratzer of Port Trevorton while celebrating the good news that he passed his HiSET tests last week with CAA staff. Dale, 62 (“and a half”), checked another thing off his bucket list this winter after he passed his HiSET tests with flying colors

Monica, 23, is a vibrant, determined, and passionate mom of two little girls, Kinley, 5, and Harleigh, 2. After five years of attending CAA services off and on due to barriers like transportation and childcare, she passed her GED test and is making plans to go to nursing school. Her career choice is not one that she takes lightly; Monica’s hardships throughout her life has inspired her to pursue an occupation that will help others in ways she wishes she had growing up. Monica

Ruth Emery, 35, at her job at rabbittransit Meet Ruth, a 35-year-old single mother of three beautiful little girls. In August of 2013, Ruth started a job as a caretaker for a young man who was confined to bed. She absolutely loved her job and knew from the very beginning that she wanted to dedicate her career to helping others as a nurse. As Ruth was making plans to enroll in nursing school to earn her degree, the unexpected happened. On July 15, 2015, Ruth suffered from a s

Keysha, 23, first came to Union-Snyder CAA in March 2018 for help with obtaining her GED to pursue a career in nursing. Adopted into a Mennonite family as a baby, she was raised in a home that prioritized work and family over education; her formal education stopped at 8th grade when it was time to enter the workforce. Keysha had no plans to attend college or build a career for herself. “The only expectation for me was to settle down and begin having kids at 18 or 19 years old