Master of Rehab Counseling Student Honored by Texas Workforce Commission
Kelechi Madubuko, a second year student in the MRC program, was recently honored by El Paso's TWC Workforce Solutions unit. Madubuko is the first student intern to receive their Employee of the Month award.
Currently, Madubuko is assigned to work with one of TWS' blind specialty counselors. According to Connie Benford, TWS Vocational Rehabilitation Services Supervisor, working with this population can b e daunting due to the specialized rehabilitation services required. Madubuko met the challenges head-on, participating in the local TWS-VR Annual Blind Mini-Training with the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, which serves adults who are legally blind. At the mini-training, Madubuko helped them learn alternative techniques to prepare for, find or retain employment and to live independently in the community. In addition to his work serving the legally blind, Madubuko also received training through TWS to serve transitioning high school students and other customers with a spectrum of disabilities.
According to Benford, it was his thoughtful and willing disposition, and commitment to quality during his interactions with clients that drove their decision to announce the award. "Kelechi is fully engaged in learning and implementing the vocational rehabilitation process relevant to our agency's mission and customers' needs," she said. "He also has a well thought-out and clear vision of his goals in the field of rehabilitation, which is one of the cornerstones of success," she added. Madubuko was not expecting the announcement. "They pulled me into the conference room unexpectedly to tell me, and I was quite surprised," he said.
The recently retired Army veteran, who spent part of his 25 years of service as his battalion's Sexual Assault Advocate, is now looking forward to graduation next month. He hopes to find a position with the Veterans Administration to assist soldiers transitioning out of service.
For more information about the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/mrc/
Go Miners!