City hires over 200 youth for summer jobs
Published 10:07 pm Wednesday, May 23, 2012
More than 400 people crammed into the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center Wednesday evening for the annual lottery drawing for the Summer Youth Employment Program. Of the 400-plus people who applied for summer jobs, a total of 220 were hired; nearly double the number hired last year. -- Tim Reeves
“Come on down and congratulations,” announced Selma Fire Chief Mike Stokes as he and Mayor George Evans handed over 200 acceptance and congratulatory letters informing some lucky residents they had a summer job.
Though there were some tears from those who did not get chosen in the lottery pool for the Summer Youth Employment Program, over half of the 400 applicants seated in the convention center Wednesday did go home with smiles. That is roughly double the amount hired in previous years.
At the end of the evening 25 applicants were selected as alternates.
Evans said every year nearly all of those alternates are utilized, as some applicants do not show up for orientation. And, despite plenty of promotion ahead of time, a total of 71 applicants were labeled as “no shows,” and though their names were called, their congratulatory letter was given to someone else.
“I think it went very well. I wish we could have employed all 400 applicants but we did much better than last year,” Evans said.
Evans spoke to the applicants before the lottery began telling them that they will not get rich from their jobs this summer but hopefully they can put a few dollars in their pockets.
“My hope is the jobs create the idea of responsibility for the youth and promptness,” Evans said. “They will have a purpose in the summer to get up and go to work.”
As names were called at random from each ward, students cheered and applauded one another as the applicants walked up to the front of the room to shake the mayor’s hand and fill out information.
One student in particular felt relieved, as his name was one of the last names called.
Howard James Pritchett III said he was trying to just keep the faith as he waited for his name in the last round of the drawing.
“I was amazed,” said Pritchett, who was playing a game on his phone when he heard his name called. “This was smoother and much better than last year.”
Pritchett said that he attended the job lottery last year but did not get a job.
“I need money for school in the fall so I’m happy I got the job.”
Several applicants like Pritchett mentioned if they had not had their name drawn Wednesday they would keep looking for a job on their own, but they were thankful for this opportunity.
