From Learner to Earner: Lou Mak

Tom Jung/Daily JournalLou Mak is greeted by well-wishers
at the San Mateo Adult School
during a celebration to honor his volunteerism
 and pending move for an employment opportunity.

As San Mateo Adult School Students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence, they join the work force, advance in their jobs, and engage in volunteer work.  The Learner to Earner page is about their success. Each week or so, another success story is feature.  Here's the third story in the series.

Former San Mateo Adult School student,

Lou Mak, transforms from Learner to Earner

Lou Mak, who is shown receiving an engraved plaque at the San Mateo Adult School International Day celebration, is moving on.  Students and staff gathered together to recognize Lou for the volunteer services he provided to less tech-savvy students at the Poplar Avenue site. 


In the school's Job Search class, Passport to Employment, which is funded by a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Lou's computer skills, patience and can-do attitude helped a multitude of students become more successful.  Mak, not one to be derailed by being an English as a Second Language student himself, went from attending San Mateo Adult School to attending computer-assisted design classes at Consumnes River College in the Central Valley. 

Lou in the van outfitted
to accommodate his wheelchair.

Now he is relocating to Montana where he is starting a job in the architectural field.  Two-and-a-half years ago, San Mateo Adult School staff and several community businesses contributed significantly to Lou's mobility when they acquired a van and outfitted it to accommodate Lou's heavy electric wheelchair. 

San Mateo Adult School Director, Larry Teshara - "Mr. T", is quoted as saying, "Lou has been an inspiration to us all."

Read the San Mateo Daily Journal article about Lou here.