When Rashun entered the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in the summer of 2022, he was looking for a paycheck and real‑world experience. Four years later he remains employed at the same local business and is preparing to study graphic design at Carthage College.
From Summer Placement to Full‑Time Role
Rashun was placed at Crown Trophy, a Kenosha company that creates custom awards and engraving. Though the placement was intended to last only the summer, his strong work ethic convinced the employer to keep him on. He has stayed with Crown Trophy ever since, planning to continue working while attending college.
Program Partnerships and Funding
The SYEP is run by the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha in partnership with Kenosha County, the Kenosha Unified School District and Community Impact Programs. Funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the program serves youth ages 14‑21, pairing paid work at local businesses with employability training.
Impact on Local Youth
In 2026 the program placed about 115 young people at more than 20 Kenosha‑area worksites. Participants gain exposure to various career fields, build relationships with employers and develop habits that last beyond the placement.
“Rashun was always a good kid. Quiet, but he let his work speak for him,” said Jason Markiewicz, Director of Youth Employment at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. “He turned a summer placement into a real, lasting job, and that is the goal every single time.”
Rashun adds, “The Boys & Girls Club helped me gain work experience and taught me how to be more responsible and productive. They helped me get my driver’s license and took me to Washington, D.C., giving me experiences I will never forget.”
Beyond the Job
Outside of work, Rashun is an accomplished cellist, a professional‑wrestling fan and an aspiring comic‑book creator. His plans to study graphic design align with his four years of hands‑on experience in custom design at Crown Trophy.
Tara Panasewicz, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, noted, “Watching a young person grow from a summer placement into a valued, long‑term employee is the heart of what we do.”
Community Benefits
For Crown Trophy, retaining a dependable employee familiar with their processes is a clear advantage. For Rashun, the continuity provides confidence and a clear direction as he heads into college.
The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha continues to connect youth with career preparation, academic enrichment, leadership development and healthy living opportunities. The SYEP remains one of its most tangible pathways, turning short‑term placements into lasting community ties.
For more information about the Summer Youth Employment Program, visit bgckenosha.org.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
