PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIEF LESCHI

RICHARD VANDEL WITH HIS 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER JESYCA AND 7-YEAR-OLD SON R. J.

F.A.C.E. student to soar in the clouds

By Tribal News

The F.A.C.E. program at Chief Leschi is proud to announce that one of its students has reached his long-term goal and will soon be attending college to become an airline pilot. We will really miss Rich Vandel, his positive attitude and helpful nature. But we look forward to hearing about his experiences in college.

Rich Vandel leaves us with this testimonial of the F.A.C.E. program at Chief Leschi.

My name is Richard Vandel, Jr., and I have two children. R.J. is 7, and Jesyca is 3. I enrolled in the F.A.C.E. program November 2007. My son brought a F.A.C.E. letter home from school one day, and I read it and was really interested in the program.

I have been working in dead-end jobs for many years and was not getting anywhere in the industry. I wanted to provide a better life for me and my children. I am a single full-time dad, so I didn’t think going back to school would be possible. I wanted to gain some parenting skills and also wanted to learn about better nutrition for me and my children. So I decided to enroll in F.A.C.E. and give it a try.

I was very impressed how everyone in the program was there to help with any resources that I needed. In the mornings during my academic times, I decided to investigate my dream to become a commercial airline pilot. I contacted many flight schools and went to speak with many instructors. I found out that I could do this, so I took the steps I needed to get enrolled. Clover Park Technical College was the best program for me. I had to jump through many hoops, have a medical exam and find a loan program to help me with funding. (Learning to be a pilot is very costly).

My children and I have blossomed in many ways through the F.A.C.E. program. I have found better ways of disciplining, thanks to Misty and Diana. I have learned other tools to help me with parenting. I also have better nutrition at my house and we eat healthier meals. I am enrolled and will start the flight school program mid-March. I have my tuition paid. After I get my A.A. in aeronautical science, I am transferring to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to achieve my B.A. in aeronautical science. While at Embry-Riddle, I will be working as a flight instructor to gain more experience as a pilot and log flight hours.

I have the F.A.C.E. program, Carolyn and my peers to thank for this and for helping me to build the ambition to succeed. I feel so great about myself and my children, and I have a great future to look forward to. I will use the tools I have learned at Chief Leschi’s F.A.C.E. program every day of my life. Thank you to all at Chief Leschi and the great staff there at the school.

If you are interested in sharpening skills for employment or college, getting a GED, gaining parenting skills, computer skills, cooking, sewing, drum making, etc. (the list is endless) as you associate with other goal-oriented adults, we may have the program for you! You must have a child between the ages of 3 and 8 who is eligible to attend Chief Leschi.

Contact Carolyn Nielsen at (253) 445-6000, ext. 3069 or Misty Gaspaire, ext. 3059 for more information.

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