Foothills RHS - Walton

Voices of Foothills: Destiny Evans
Barrow site & WeldReady graduate

The Foothills Education Charter High School website features The Voices of Foothills, which highlights students speaking on their journey at Foothills. One of the students featured is Destiny Evans, a Barrow site and WeldReady graduate. Read her story below and check out our website or youtube to hear her speak.

Destiny Evans leveraged the WeldReady program to complete her high school education, gain an array of professional credentials, and get a high-paying job with Caterpillar. Check out Destiny’s full story at at https://youtu.be/sU-srn7awqU

Destiny Evans is one of Foothills’ great success stories. Speaking in her engaging and confident manner, she describes how, despite never having previously considered a career in welding, it intrigued her when she heard about the WeldReady program and she decided to check it out— “Huh, that sounds interesting! I’ll give this a shot. I like doing things I’m good at.”

Her experience at Foothills was a revelation for her. She says, “What I would like to tell other students about Foothills, if you think school isn’t for you, don’t give up... Your teachers will work with you... and you can go and focus in a quiet environment.. and if you need the help there are tutors to help you... really is the change some people need to graduate.”

As Destiny describes in her video message, through the WeldReady program she earned at least fourteen industry-recognized credentials, including Power Actuated Tools, Lasers, and OSHA-10. With these skills and credentials in hand, and with the “soft skills” she was able to develop—job interviewing, handshakes, eye contact—she graduated with more than seven job offers from several great, established companies, including Caterpillar where she ultimately settled.

Destiny expresses great pride in succeeding in a field typically dominated by men, and in being able to provide for herself so well, even without a college degree because, as she states, “standard schooling is not for me.” Should she change her mind in the future, she is aware that Caterpillar provides college course reimbursement, in addition to many great benefits: a salary of $18.55/hour; dental, health, and vision coverage, and a 401K match.

So proud of Francisca and all of our hard working graduates!!

Student Spotlight
Francisca Gamino, Walton Foothills, submitted by Barbie Kulp

"Walton Foothills 2021 graduate, Francisca Gamino Castro, is an inspiration to the entire faculty and staff at Walton Foothills," Barbie Kulp states. "We are so proud of this 35-year old mother of five children, wife and amazing lady."

Francisca came to the United States when she was 13 years old. She finished high school in Texas in 2012, but could not pass the graduation exam to earn her diploma. After moving to Georgia with her husband, Francisca always planned to study and return to Texas to take the graduation exam, but life as a mother of 5 took all of her time and energy.

She never lost the desire and dream to get her high school diploma. In fact, it was Francisca’s resolution and goal every year to go back to school. She attempted many times to find high school programs in Georgia, but none of them were close in proximity, nor did fit her busy schedule.

Francisca’s father lived in Mexico and always stressed to her the importance of finishing school. Francisca’s father died in 2020 and afterwards, she felt that this was the right time to finally get her diploma.

Nancy Sykes, a mentor at Walton Foothills, attends church with Francisca. Nancy told her about Foothills. Francisca started Walton Foothills on April 12, 2021, with great support from her husband and children. Her husband and children working hard at home allowed Francisca the time and energy to come to school every night.

She was extremely nervous on April 12th, as she had not been in school for approximately 17 years. Francisca says that within a few days, “Mrs. Glass helped me feel comfortable and I knew that I would have someone with me every step of the way.”

When asked “What have you learned from coming back to school and earning your diploma?” Francisca says, “I learned so much from the teachers at Foothills as I watched them work with other students and experienced their care as they helped me. I watched Mr. Dave Gascho help another student finish the last class before their graduation. I saw how much he cared and how important it was to him that the student finish and have a better future by earning a diploma. He was so passionate. All the teachers were so kind and passionate about helping the students meet their goals. They were an example to me. I also feel like God’s timing was perfect and Foothills was the perfect place for me to earn my diploma.”

Francisca graduated on October 28, 2021, and will walk in the Winter Regional Graduation in December.