Christopher Johnson of Morristown was recognized as the 2012 WIA Youth Participant of the year at the quarterly meeting of the Smoky Mountains Area Workforce Investment Board meeting Aug. 1.

Johnson is a 2012 graduate of Morristown-Hamblen High School East. He will be a theatre design major at Walters State Community College this fall. He plans on participating in the Disney College Program and would like to eventually work for Disney.  He was a member of the choir in high school and has already been accepted as a member of the Walters State choir.  He is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and was chosen as one of only 12 O’Charley’s 2012 Outstanding Grads nationally.

“Christopher has been an excellent participant. We are very proud of him and wish him continued success,” said B.J. Lowe, assistant director for WIA youth services and retention at Walters State Community College. 

WIA Youth Services helps teens and young adults, ages 14-21, make the transition from high school to college or the workforce. Students can receive many supportive services, work experience, job training skills, leadership development opportunities, mentoring and comprehensive counseling. 

WIA Youth Services is administered by Walters State Community College and funded by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development through the Workforce Investment Act. In Hamblen County, services are provided to in-school youth by Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority and out-of-school youth by Walters State Community College through the Tennessee Career Center in Talbott. 

For more information, call Kelly Reed at (423) 318-6933. 

In the photo: Christopher Johnson was named WIA Youth Services Participant of the Year at the August meeting of the Smoky Mountains Area Workforce Development Board. From left are B.J. Lowe, assistant director for WIA Youth Services and Retention at Walters State Community College; David Popiel, chairman of the Smoky Mountain Area Workforce Development Board; Johnson; Dr. Nancy Brown, dean of workforce development at Walters State; and Kelly Reed, WIA Youth Services case manager for Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.