INDIANA – Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) held the 2023 State Career Development Conference Friday, March 17.
An annual event for Hoosier high school students enrolled in Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) to participate in competitive events that highlight the employability skills they have learned through the program.
As the gateway between industry and talent, DWD’s JAG program builds a talent pipeline to Indiana employers by helping high school students achieve success through high school graduation.
“JAG is helping young Hoosiers define who they want to be and equipping them with the necessary skills to be successful after graduation,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Through JAG, more Indiana students are earning their high school diploma, entering the workforce, enrolling in postsecondary education, and enlisting in the military.”
JAG Indiana’s 15th annual Career Development Conference was the culmination of regional competitions, which focused on disciplines critical to employment. More than 140 students from 57 Indiana high schools advanced to the state conference for an opportunity to earn monetary awards by showcasing skills learned through the program, such as finance, entrepreneurship, and project management.
Placing locally were:
In Outstanding Senior 2nd place was awarded to Emily Miller, of Mitchell High School.
In Financial Literacy 3rd Place was awarded to Chris Oberman, of Edgewood High School.
In Critical Thinking, 2nd Place was awarded to Savannah Bowers, of West Washington High School.
In Public Speaking 2nd Place was awarded to Kristina Owens, of Scottsburg High School.
In Writing Skills, 1st Place was awarded to Navaeh Gordon, Sullivan High School.
Receiving an Honorable Mention, was Natalie Spradlin, of Austin High School.
“JAG is all about building tomorrow’s workforce, today,” said DWD Commissioner David J. Adams. “By connecting talent – especially at an early age – with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to access the market, and fill roles employers need immediately, we are moving Indiana forward together. Employers engaged with JAG students get the opportunity to see their future workforce and select their next employees, and students get introduced to real-world employers, jobs, and careers.”
Students competed in 14 categories, including the top Outstanding Senior award.
A full list of first, second, and third-place finishers, along with photos of these students, can be found here.
“I found in JAG that there are so many different career pathways out there after high school, and while getting a college degree isn’t necessary for me to get a job, there is a broader scale of opportunities out there for me if I have a college education,” said Navaeh Gordon, a junior at Sullivan High School. For others entering the workforce after high school is right for them and through JAG we learn how to be prepared for the workforce with a stellar resume, cover letter, interviewing skills, and an excellent work ethic.”
“It changes how you look at things and how you view things,” said Genesis Pena, a junior at Jasper High School. “It’s one of the best classes you can take in high school. It helps you prepare once you go to college and once you’re out of college.”
JAG is a state-based, national non-profit organization that assists students with barriers to success by helping them overcome academic challenges and achieve graduation. Students learn up to 88 competencies such as critical thinking, team leadership, and effective communications skills to increase employability.
This year’s conference took place at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center in Indianapolis.
