By ERIC SEIVERLING
Monessen’s Douglas Education Center recently provided a scholarship for a Monessen resident to take classes to earn his driver’s license, allowing him to continue on with his college education and look for employment.
Recent Pittsburgh Technical College graduate Julian Naphier, 22, was a participant in Private Industry Council’s Experience Works! Program. Without a driver’s license, he was having a hard time securing a new job.
Luckily for Naphier, Education and Technology Institute — a division of PIC — started a driving school to help remove this barrier for many clients whom PIC is able to help through various programming.
Upon hearing Naphier’s story, the team at Douglas Education Center, led by CEO and President Jeffrey Imbrescia, immediately responded to a scholarship request and furnished a $300 check to cover the cost of enrollment into driving school. It wasn’t long before Naphier was behind the wheel with ETI instructor Andy Dorsey taking his first lesson.
Naphier earned his driver’s license last Friday.
“It was a financial thing and I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to drive,” Naphier said. “I was taking the bus and walking. Since I didn’t have a job, I did lots and lots of volunteering with different organizations in Monessen. One of the goals I had was to get my driver’s license.”
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