UA Cossatot's YouthBuild Program offers teenagers and young adults the chance to enter a program where students will learn skills to prepare for skilled and technical careers. Before receiving acceptance into the program, students are required to complete two weeks of Mental Toughness Training. The first round of students who completed their Mental Toughness Training on August 31, 2020, include Timothy Stubbs, Jonathon Harrington, Raymond Perez, Coby Butler, and Jayden Pope.

Hattie Vance, Timothy Stubbs, Jonathon Harrington, Raymond Perez, Coby Butler, and Sherriff Robert Gentry

Jayden Pope 

Mental Toughness Training is designed to prepare students for the YouthBuild program. The training explains YouthBuild's intent and its benefits to its students who enroll in the program. While learning about their personality and interests during the training, the Mental Toughness Training also introduces the students to career opportunities and shop activities. In the two weeks of training, the students even receive an Osha 10 certification and CPR training to help them achieve more resume skills. 

An award ceremony took place on UA Cossatot's De Queen Campus on Monday, August 31, 2020, where these five students each received a certificate of completion.

Sevier County Sherriff, Robert Gentry, and Hattie Vance also spoke at the ceremony to congratulate the YouthBuild students on their accomplishments.  With it being National Overdose Awareness Day, both speakers gave a presentation about overdosing, substance abuse, legal issues, and recovery.  Sheriff Robert Gentry also talked about the RSAT Program and the hope of recovery in our community and "Second Chances".

These YouthBuild students started their YouthBuild training on September 1, 2020, and the college's YouthBuild staff are continuing to enroll more students in the program. Students can register in the YouthBuild program for this fall semester throughout September.

For more information about UA Cossatot’s YouthBuild program, please contact Leslie Daniels at 870-584-1153 or 870-584-9798.  She can also be reached at ldaniels@cccua.edu.