Crystal Heath Exudes Class in Accepting Classroom to Career Award
During its Annual Meeting on September 26 at The Saratoga Hilton, NYSID presented its first-ever Classroom to Career Award to Crystal Heath of The Arc of Ulster-Greene/Pilot Industries.
Crystal personifies the successful collaboration between an educational system and a NYSID member agency leading to employment and independence.
A 2014 graduate of The Arc of Ulster-Greene's School-to-Work program, Crystal eagerly applied for an office aide position at the agency. At first, she was very timid and unsure of herself. Now, a few years later, she has developed into a confident young woman and a vital part of the Ellenville Center team.
"When I first walked in , it wasn't new. It felt like that I was in the right place to work," she said.
Crystal excels at being an office aide and the Ellenville Center has come to depend on her. She often covers for the office manager and is called upon by the regional director for her skills.
"I feel strong and a lot happier now," she said. "I like my job because I can move out and pay rent. Moving out of my parents' house at first I was nervous for leaving my parents. But now thinking about it, it's a lot better on me."
This year, Crystal expanded her responsibilities at the Ellenville Center by working on the NYSID Preferred Source contract for drug test kits. She also represented The Arc of Ulster-Greene at the Preferred Source Expo at New York GovBuy in May.
Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting, as we encouraged legislators to "MAKE THE CHANGE" and reaffirmed our core purpose of "Purchasing That Powers Employment." Special thanks to John Craig from WNYT NewsChannel 13 for emceeing our signature event.