DECATUR - Shelina Mallory has watched Nakia Thomas grow up in Church of the Living God CWFF.

But she never felt more proud of her than she did Friday, when Thomas walked across a stage at Richland Community College to receive a certificate for graduating from the city's first Workforce Readiness Training.

Thomas was among 20 women enrolled in the innovative training, designed to create viable candidates for clerical positions with Archer Daniels Midland Co., all of whom successfully completed it.

Mallory, a senior commercial compliance specialist in ADM's Office of Compliance and Ethics, served as her mentor throughout the 11-week program.

"She has grown by leaps and bounds," Mallory said after Friday's ceremony. "One of the goals we worked on was public speaking, and I was proud of how she was able to get up in front of her class. She even became a mentor to some of her classmates."

Two of those classmates also were among those who spoke Friday to an audience of 150 people in Richland's Shilling Salons.

"I found myself wondering what would I do, now that my children are grown and don't need me as much at home," said Lori Napier of Warrensburg. "This program answered that question. We've worked hard, both individually and together; we've laughed, and we've cried."

Maia McKnight of Decatur struggled with tears as she talked about how far they've come.

"Finally, we are fully grown tulips, ready to show the world around us everything we have learned," McKnight said. "As we take the next step in our lives, let us not forget that we were once that tulip bulb needing water."

Representatives of the partners behind the training - Workforce Investment Solutions, Richland Community College and ADM - proclaimed it a success but said they wanted to study the outcome of job interviews each graduate will have next week with ADM before deciding what to do next.

Kathie Whitley, ADM vice president of employee and labor relations, said future Workforce Readiness Training for ADM may deal with different skill sets. "Our needs change from day to day," she said.

Terry Robinson, dean of continuing and professional education at Richland, reiterated his hope that the model for the training will be adapted to other employers and job needs.

The class met four hours a day, Monday through Friday, at Richland's Hope Academy Center, receiving instruction in English, math and good work habits from Richland instructors, with additional guidance from ADM employees serving as speakers and individual mentors.

Kathy Arnold, intern program manager for ADM, mentored Jennifer Coventry of Decatur and said she was glad to help someone who came from a nontraditional learning background as she did.

"We had a wonderful partnership," Arnold said. "We e-mailed almost daily and worked as a team."

Students, including Nancy Ferguson of Lovington and Thomas and Casey Palmer, both of Decatur, said the program had given them more confidence.

Ferguson said she appreciated the chance to brush up on her math and to re-enter the job market after working as a self-employed Web designer for the past seven years. Palmer said now that her four children are older, ranging from 4 to 14, she wants to get out of retail and take her career in a new direction.

"Anything I wasn't sure of in class, my mentor went over with me, and I also was able to job shadow with her," Palmer said.

Thomas already has started a new job as an engineering service liaison with Butler Technical Group, a contractor for Caterpillar Inc., but still is looking forward to her job interview with ADM.

She said she applied for the training to get her foot in the door and that Mallory encouraged her all the way through. "I feel like I have more options now," Thomas said.

Other graduates of the Workforce Readiness Training are Paula Abdullah, Vonkesha Brent, Beth Goin, Tiana Hall, Mamie Hayes, Regina Partee, Jodi Pierceall, Sylvia Rowe, Diana Taylor, Caressa Timmons, Tammy Wells, Hannah Williams, Kristina Wilson and Sara Wilson.

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.