Student Spotlight: Jenna Barry

Jenna Barry
Accounting Clerk and
Computer Information Processor

When Jenna graduated from high school in 2015, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.  There were just too many choices out there, too many possibilities.  She spent the next two years working part time at a local construction business, helping with office work and bookkeeping.  She supplemented her income by babysitting, housesitting, and petsitting for friends and acquaintances.  After getting some real-world experience under her belt, Jenna decided to make some decisions about her future. 

A recipient of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, Jenna had various options at her fingertips.  However, the prospect of becoming tens of thousands of dollars in debt to pay for a college education just didn’t seem like a sound decision to her.  Jenna had done her research and knew that many graduates of vocational education are compensated well, and they enter the workforce with less debt and in a shorter amount of time than college students.

Jenna heard about AEC from a friend, and after contacting staff at AEC she said that the quality of communication and investment she received from us was the deciding factor in her choosing to attend AEC.  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect- our Office Occupations programs had just been deemed eligible for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.  Jenna’s scholarship award combined with this year’s Matching Funds Program sponsored by AEC paid for all of her training.

Jenna has excelled at AEC and will receive a diploma in Accounting Clerk and Computer Information Processor at our graduation in May.  She is also scheduled to take the Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate Exam in Microsoft Excel.  Her instructors refer to her as a bright student who brings insight and interest to class discussions.
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Even though graduation is a month away, Jenna has already found full-time employment at Dimond M Ranch Resort in Kenai, AK.  She has been hired as an Office Assistant and will be tasked with a variety of duties daily.  It is the goal of owner/operator Ronna Martin for Jenna to eventually take over all of the daily office activities and become the Office Manager.
 

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