Grayson County College's "It's MY Life!" project won top honors for Employer Partnership from the National Association for Tech Prep Leadership (NATPL) recently. Cindy Powell, executive director of Texoma Tech Prep at the college, accepted the award during the organization's conference in Atlanta. The project also was cited in NATPL's 2009 Best Practices book.

It's MY Life! is a business-to-education project designed to help develop a skilled workforce in the Texoma region. Its objective is to communicate to high school students the meaning and importance of work-life skills and the value of education after high school.

"The project has received enthusiastic support from schools and employers alike," said Dr. Patricia Pool, executive director of GCC's Center for Workplace Learning. "National recognition is icing on the cake."

The program launched last May when the project's 20-minute video was shown to 4,000 high school students in the 22 school districts representing GCC's service area. Each school received DVD's along with CD's containing teacher support materials. Ongoing in its scope, It's MY Life! will expand to reach thousands more this year as students in 8 th through 12th grades see the video. The entertaining video features brief interviews with young professionals in a variety of careers illustrates that individuals have a choice to pursue whatever career goals one wants.

Upon teacher request, business and industry leaders are on hand to support the video presentation and answer students' questions. These employer partners deliver two important messages to the students. First, work-life skills do matter on the job such as getting to work on time, taking responsibility for one's choices and getting along with others. Second, students learn that it is their choice to continue their education and that doing so earns them marketable skills for better jobs and a better lifestyle.

Initiated by GCC's Center for Workplace Learning Advisory Board, the project's major supporters include the Bonham Chamber of Commerce, Denison Development Alliance, GCC, GCC Tech Prep, Sherman Economic Development Corp., Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texoma Human Resource Management Association, Tyson Foods and Workforce Solutions Texoma.

To view the It's MY Life! video, visit www.grayson.edu. For more information about the project, contact itsmylifeproject@grayson.edu.