Students Recognized At JAG State Finals

Last updated on Friday, March 20, 2015

(INDIANAPOLIS) - More than 300 high school students and staff gathered at Ivy Tech’s Corporate College in downtown Indianapolis to take part in Indiana’s annual Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference, which was held on Friday, March 13.

The conference was part of a state competition that challenges participants to demonstrate employability skills, and concluded with congratulations delivered by Governor Mike Pence.

JAG is a state-based national non-profit dedicated to reconnecting at risk students academically by helping them overcome barriers to graduation. Since 2006, Indiana's JAG program has helped more than 9,000 Hoosier students stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality jobs leading to career advancement.

Currently, more than 5,500 students participate in JAG through 106 High School programs located in over 90 schools throughout Indiana, making Indiana's JAG program the largest in the nation. Students are taught competencies, such as critical thinking, team leadership and effective communication skills that will increase their marketability.

Over the past few months, students from around the state took part in regional competitions, which focused on eight employment disciplines: Career Presentation, Employability Skills, Creative Solutions, Writing Skills, Critical Thinking, Financial Literacy, Public Speaking, and Cover Design. The top students in each category from the regional competition advanced to compete in Indianapolis for a chance to earn monetary awards.

"I am so very proud of Elijah White, our Outstanding Senior, and all our JAG Career Development Conference participants for their hard work this year," said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. "They are a wonderful testament to the success of Indiana's JAG program and are a direct reflection of all the time and effort spent by Indiana's JAG Coordinators, Specialists and Staff who make such a great impact on the lives of all Hoosier JAG students."

South Central Indiana winners include:

Andrea Davis, Owen Valley High School, 1st, Career Presentation.
Rebecca Cooper, Owen Valley High School, 3rd, Cover Design.
Hannah Cornwell, Owen Valley High School, 3rd, Writing Skills.

JAG students receive adult mentoring while in school and one year of follow-up counseling after graduation. Indiana's program graduates more than 90 percent of participants and many students choose to continue their education after high school. The JAG program is supported through a combination of funds from the State of Indiana and federal grants provided by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. If you would like to learn more about the Indiana JAG program visit http://www.in.gov/dwd/JAG.htm

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