Local students perform well at Career Development Conference

ByLocal Sources Reading Time: 2 minutes
A group of women posing for a photo Description automatically generated
Left to right: Executive Director Sara Worstell, Outstanding Senior Diana Cortez-Sanchez, and Board Chair, Makenzie Coulter. Photo provided by Southwest Indiana Workforce Board

Nine high schools participated in the Southwest Indiana Workforce Board’s Region 11 Career Development Conference on Friday, February 2, 2024.

All the students involved are part of the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program and competed in 13 different categories, either as a class or individually. The contests were evaluated by local business representatives and community leaders, with winners from the local contests moving on to the State competition.

The JAG program provides young adults with the services needed to secure a high school diploma or equivalent, a quality entry-level job, or post-secondary education that leads to career advancement. It is a state-based, national non-profit organization within the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). In DWD’s Region 11, the program is administered within the WorkOne system and directed by the region’s Workforce Development Board, Southwest Indiana Workforce Board.

Initially launched at Lincoln High School in Region 11 during the 2007-2008 academic year, the JAG program has since expanded to eight additional high schools. These schools include Evansville Bosse, Gibson Southern, Jasper, Mount Vernon, Pike Central, Princeton Community, Southridge, and Tell City.

At each location, a JAG specialist plays a crucial role in guiding and inspiring students to participate in a variety of classroom activities and events throughout the year. These specialists not only offer mentorship to students but also provide support and understanding to help them reach their goals.

The following winners will be advancing to the State competition on March 15, 2024, at the Ivy Tech Campus in Indianapolis, Indiana:

  • Chapter Brochure: Jasper High School
  • Chapter Commercial: Jasper High School
  • Entrepreneurship Plan: Lincoln High School
  • Project-Based Learning: Southridge High School
  • Cover Design: Isabella Taylor, Southridge High School
  • Career Presentation: Isabella Taylor, Southridge High School
  • Creative Solutions: Tomas Gilmore, Pike Central High School
  • Critical Thinking: Hanna Fort, Pike Central High School
  • Employability Skills: Justin Leeds, Pike Central High School
  • Financial Literacy: Skydancer Crazymule, Tell City High School
  • Public Speaking: Savanna Vanderveer, Pike Central High School
  • Writing Skills: Kelsey Barekman, Lincoln High School
  • Outstanding Senior: Diana Cortez-Sanchez, Jasper High School
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