In late 2019, SCPA Works requested that all vendors submit an individual nomination for the 2020 Governor’s Achievement Award. The Lebanon Youth Program nominated Linsey Bogantes for this award, and we would like to share her nomination story!

Linsey Bogantes is twenty-three years old, the mother of two children (ages 4 and 5), and a wife. She was born in New Jersey, but moved to Costa Rica with her mother as a small child and lived there for twelve years. She moved back to New Jersey at the age of fifteen to live with her father and was an English Language Learner student while in public school.  She experienced many hardships during her teen years.

She started living on her own when she was seventeen years old and dropped out of school to support herself.  It was at this time that she became pregnant with her first son, had him at the age of eighteen, and also married his father. She then had her second son at the age of nineteen. When Linsey was twenty, she moved to Lebanon, Pennsylvania with her husband and children. In order to be a good role model for her boys, Linsey decided to finish her high school education and started attending High School Equivalency classes at the Lancaster Lebanon IU13.

While there, she was referred to the WIOA program and became a WIOA-OSY participant on July 2, 2019.  Linsey completed the IU13 IET Certified Nurse Aide Training Program at HACC on August 20, 2019. Following the completion of the CNA class, Linsey took and passed her PA State CNA License exam on October 18, 2019.  During the time she was enrolled in CNA classes, Linsey did not attend her HSE classes. However, upon completion of the CNA class, she continued attending the HSE classes for a short time more, then enrolled in the Literacy Council to receive additional support and tutoring for conversational English and math.

Since then, Linsey has taken and passed three of her HiSET subtests (Social Studies on October 4, Language Arts-Reading on November 8, and Language Arts-Writing on December 13).  During this time, Linsey also applied to become and was approved to be a foster parent.  On December 16 she received her first child placement in her home. Currently, Linsey continues to study and prepare for her remaining HiSET tests. She checks in regularly with the WIOA staff to keep them updated on her progress.  She is a devoted mother, wife, and student. She loves learning and has persisted throughout life’s challenges. Attending the High School Equivalency classes and being referred to the WIOA program was the entryway to Linsey being a life-long learner. With each step she takes and each gain she makes, she always wants to go further and better herself more. Once Linsey receives her HSE diploma, she plans to work as a para-educator at the IU13, continuing to make a difference in the lives of children.