Chelsie attended a virtual group orientation through the Wichita Workforce Center in December 2021 for the One Workforce Grant, as she was unemployed and needed assistance in completing her four remaining semesters to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.  She was married and without dependents, but her spouse was the sole provider as Chelsie was a full-time student. She was unsuccessful in gaining an internship through the school but was approved for the grant in December 2021 after completing all requirements in time to enroll in the 2022 spring semester at Wichita State University.

Chelsie continued to search for internship opportunities during her time in training but was unable to find one that aligned with her school schedule. Noting financial hardships, her Case Manager offered supportive services to assist, but Chelsie and her spouse were able to overcome the issues at hand and Chelsie gained her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering on 05/11/2023.
The One Workforce Grant employer sponsoring her scholarship notified the Program Coordinator that there were no available positions, but they would be open to conducting an interview and holding her application and resume on file for future reference. Chelsie opted to apply for other available opportunities and her Case Manager provided additional job listings and opportunities.  

Chelsie’s determination and persistence resulted in a job offer from Spirit Aerosystems on 06/12/2023 as a Material & Processing Engineering & Tech 1, which provided an annual salary of $70k in addition to a full benefits package.  She was extremely grateful to her Case Manager and the One Workforce Grant for being instrumental in helping her obtain her desired career.