2023 State JAG Career Development Conference

Gov. Holcomb, DWD host 2023 JAG Indiana
Career Development Conference

JAG Indiana builds talent pipeline for high school students

INDIANAPOLIS (March 21, 2023) - 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.

"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 filling 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.

“JAG has been truly beneficial to me,” said Milan High School senior Madison Cavins. “It has helped me grow into this person that I am now, today. JAG has taught me professional interview skills, financial literacy, public speaking skills, and it has also taught me where to go in life.”

The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program is a state-based, national non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students of promise who have experienced challenging or traumatic life experiences achieve success through graduation.

This year's conference took place at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center in Indianapolis.

https://www.in.gov/dwd/jag/cdc/?fbclid=IwAR2HKBoQcQNmeSV06lJBxp-OjsLz9s76rYdClHXiHm4sCBRNKWExMc6L7cc#press

For our Region, the following students placed:

Cloverdale - 1st Place - Social Media

Cloverdale - 1st Place - Carson Hall - Financial Literacy

Cloverdale - 3rd Place - Keelie Pierce, Kaydence Sharp, Kiersten Wade - Project Based Learning

Sullivan - 1st Place - Nevaeh Gordon - Writing Skills

Northview - Honorable Mention - Nathaniel Reedy Outstanding Senior

Gordon

Reedy

Sullivan JAG Career Fair

On March 15th, the Sullivan High School JAG Students hosted a Career Fair for their fellow students.

The JAG students organized the event and invited local employers, representatives of the Armed Forces as well as local Colleges to participate.

50 presenters attended the event and were able to speak with students about their future.

The JAG students helped with set up, checked employers in and escorted them to their tables. 

 

Congratulations to the Sullivan JAG Students for hosting a successful event!

2023 JAG Career Development Conference

On Friday January 20th, Region 7 held its annual JAG Career Development Conference.  Approximately 200 students from the nine JAG programs in our region came to the Ivy Tech Terre Haute campus to compete against their fellow JAG students.  

The students competed in competitions that utilize the skills and lessons that they have been learning throughout the year.  In addition to competing, the students were able to meet their fellow students, network with the judges and hear information about Ivy Tech Community College.

Once again local employers and community leaders served as judges for the events.  The first place winners will move on to represent our region at the state contest in March.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and good luck to those students moving on to the state competition.

Photo Gallery

2023 JAG Career Development Conference winners

Chapter Marketing Brochure

1st - North Putnam High School

2nd - Sullivan High School

3rd - Terre Haute North High School

Chapter Social Media Campaign

1st - Cloverdale High School

2nd - Sullivan High School

3rd - Terre Haute North High School

Chapter Marketing Commercial

1st - Cloverdale High School

2nd - Terre Haute North High School

Project Based Learning

1st Place - Keelie Pierce, Kaydence Sharp, Kiersten Wade - Cloverdale

Entrepreneurship Plan

1st Place - Matthew Brooks, Eli Pine, Kaleb Westerkamm - Terre Haute North

2nd Place - McGuire Lee, Andrea Nees - Cloverdale

3rd Place - Jaycee Farris, Bryce Johnson - North Putnam

Digital Invitation/Save the Date

1st Place - Kaylee Tingley - Terre Haute North

2nd Place - Gavin Williams - Sullivan

3rd Place - Haley Hired - Terre Haute North

Career Presentation

1st - Aeris Rogers - Northview

2nd - Rilya Archer - Northview

3rd - Brooklyn Deck - Terre Haute North

Creative Solutions

1st - Lee May - Sullivan

2nd - Abagayle Welton - Cloverdale

3rd - Dakota Rilenge - Northview

Critical Thinking

1st - Dakota Parks - North Putnam

2nd - Aubrey Klutey - North Putnam

3rd - Dylan Frey - Terre Haute South

Employability Skills

1st - Lane Gilbert - Sullivan

2nd - Alyssa Franklin - Terre Haute South

3rd - Carson Shober - Terre Haute South

Financial Literacy

1st - Carson Hall - Cloverdale

2nd - Hayden Tipton - Terre Haute North

3rd - Drew Nesbitt - North Putnam

Public Speaking

1st - Jaydah Holmes - West Vigo

2nd - Jaxon Carie - Sullivan

3rd - Sam Lynch - Northview

Writing Skills

1st - Nevaeh Gordon - Sullivan

2nd - Mackinley Lawson - North Putnam

3rd - Camaren Nees - Northview

Outstanding Senior

1st - Nathaniel Reedy - Northview

2nd - Candace Poff- Pittman - Terre Haute South

3rd - Wen Monce - Terre Haute North

2022 JAG Awards

On June 29th, JAG specialists and Managers from programs from around the state gathered in Indianapolis for a day of learning and celebration.   The specialists were able to participate in several valuable training sessions as well as networking and sharing best practices with their fellow JAG Specialists.

The day was capped off with an awards ceremony honoring the achievements of our JAG Specialists.

Our specialists and programs received several awards.

Most Scholarship Dollars

First Place - Diana Lighthizer, Sullivan High School - $1.84 million

Third Place - Karl Turk, Cloverdale High School - $931,400

Longevity Awards 

Kim Snodgrass of Riverton Parke / Parke Heritage and Karl Turk of Cloverdale were honored for Five Years of service to their JAG programs.

5 of 5 Awards

The 5 of 5 Award honors programs who met or exceeded the standard in 5 key metrics - Graduation Rate, Job Placement/MIlitary Service, Total Positive Outcomes, Full Time Placement (Work, Military, Full Time School), Total Full Time Jobs.  

The JAG Programs in our region who acheived this designation were: Cloverdale, North Putnam, Riverton Parke/Parke Heritage, Sullivan.

Region Award - Thanks to the efforts of all of ourJAG programs, Region 7 received the Regional 5 of 5 Award for meeting or exceeding these measures as well.

Congratulations to all of the award winners and thank you to all of the JAG Specialists in our Region who continue to make difference in our students lives.

 

JAG serviceaward   JAG scholarshipaward  5of5Award

For more information about our JAG Programs, please contact Greg Lee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 

2022 Northview JAG Veteran's Picnic

On May 14th, our Northview JAG Students hosted their annual Veteran’s Picnic for Clay County Veterans for the first time in 2 years.  The students raised money prior to purchase supplies for the event.  And they also created special gifts for the Veterans who attended.

They invited Clay County Veterans and their families to attend.  So overall, they served meals to approximately 40 people.

This is the 7th year that they have hosted this event.  

It was a great event.  In addition to serving lunch, the students spent time speaking with the Veterans and they also collected their contact information so they can send cards on Veteran's Day.

      

2022 JAG State Finals

On Friday, March 18th, the First Place finishers from our January Regional Career Development Conference went to the Indianapolis Ivy Tech campus to compete in the State Competition.  They competed against the winners from the other 11 regions in the State.

When the awards were handed out at the end of the conference, two of our students took home some hardware.

Elijah Strahley of Sullivan High School finished 2nd in the Cover Design and Veronica Carter from Cloverdale took home 2nd place in the Financial Literacy contest.

Congratulations to Elijah and Veronica as well as all of the competitors from Region 7!

  

 

 

 

2022 JAG Career Development Conference

On January 21, JAG students from the nine programs in our area held their annual Career Development Conference.

After hosting the event virtually in 2021, this year the event returned to in person competitions.  The students were able to attend the event at the Ivy Tech Campus in Terre Haute.  Local employers and business leaders once again volunteered their time to serve as judges for the event.

The students competed in numerous events that utilizes the skills that they have building on throughout the school year. In addition to the competitions, the students were able to take a tour of the Ivy Tech campus and learn more about the school.

The first place finishers in each competition will move on to the State competition later in the spring.

Click here to view Photo Gallery 

Entrepreneurship Plan

1st - Kyla Willis & Camryn Wolf - North Putnam

2nd - Annabelle Gross & Ashley Weir - North Putnam

3rd - Kyle Thomas, Isiah Ramsey, & Xavier Evans - Cloverdale

Cover Design

1st - Elijah Strahley - Sullivan

2nd - Jesse Clark - Sullivan

3rd - Cody Blythe - Sullivan

Career Presentation 

1st - Nathaniel Reedy - Northview

2nd - Emily Scott - Sullivan

3rd - Ethan Storms - Sullivan

Creative Solutions 

1st - Joseph McGowan - Sullivan

2nd - Hannah Walton - North Putnam

3rd - Issac Nees - Cloverdale

Critical Thinking

1st - Bailey Duke - Riverton Parke

2nd - Haven Kersey - Northview

3rd - Lilly Skaggs - North Putnam

Employability Skills 

1st - Keyairah Gadd - Terre Haute North

2nd - Emma Lighthizer - Sullivan

3rd - Harley Dowell - Terre Haute North

Financial Literacy 

1st - Veronica Carter - Cloverdale

2nd - Hayden Tipton - Terre Haute North

3rd - Brayden Polley - North Putnam

Public Speaking

1st - Jayda Holmes - West Vigo

2nd - Lorenzo Montgomery - Terre Haute South

3rd - Jake Moncur - North Putnam

Writing Skills 

1st - Kendra Wineinger - Sullivan

2nd - Haley Dickson - North Putnam

3rd - Shawn Feece - Terre Haute North

Outstanding Senior 

1st - Chloe Pugh - Terre Haute North

2nd - Sydney Myers - Parke Heritage

3rd - Lilly Hagy - Sullivan

Thank you to all of our Judges:

  • Daryl Andrews – Glaxo Smith Klein
  • Gerald Beuvelet – GE Aviation
  • Shaun Brames – Vincennes University
  • Taree Cavaso – Great Dane
  • Yi Chew – Union Hospital
  • Bob Grewe – Vermillion Rise
  • Faith Haley – Indiana State University
  • Ryan Hughes – Terre Haute Electrical JATC
  • Nancy Inman – WorkOne Western Indiana
  • Jennifer Isbell-Scott – Vectren
  • Jackie McDonald - JOINK
  • Karen Nelson Heavin- Heavin College & Career Readiness
  • Mary Caye Pfister – Pfister and Company
  • Mike Smith – WorkOne Western Indiana
  • Greg Stewart –GE Aviation
  • Claudia Tanoos - Terre Haute EDC
  • Cyndi Todd – Parke County EDC
  • Dave Tucker – Vincennes University
  • Susan Turner – Terre Haute Children’s Museum
  • Chris Williams – Ivy Tech Community College
  • Charlene Wright – Ivy Tech Community College
  • Gail Wright – Parke County Extension
  • WorkOne and Vincennes University Staff

 

2021 State JAG Competition

Once again the winners from our local JAG Career Development Conference took part in the State Competion facing off with winners from the other 12 Regions in our state.

As with last year's event, this competition was held virtually and the winners were announced on May 7th.

Region 7 was well represented during the competition and took home the following awards:

Chloe Smith Cloverdale High School - 3rd Place Career Presentation

Kiara Boyd Cloverdale High School - 3rd Place Employability Skills

Darcie Cox North Putnam High School - Honorable Mention Outstanding Senior

Congratulations to all of the outstanding students from our Region who competed in this year's State Competition.

 

2021 JAG Career Development Conference

Once again, the JAG (Jobs for America's Graduates) programs in Region 7 hosted their annual Career Development Conference.  The Conference is the opportunity for the students to demonstrate the skills they have been learning throughout the school year.

As with many events this year, the Conference was held virtually.  The students have continued to adapt and stepped up to meet the challenges with some outstanding performances.

The winners in each contest will move on to the State Competition later this spring.  Congratulations to everyone who participated and good luck to the competitors who will be representing Region 7 at the State!

2021 Region 7 Virtual Career Development Conference Winners

Career Presentation
1 Chloe Smith - Cloverdale
2 Rebecca O'Leary - Northview
3 Lauren Frye - Northview

Creative Solutions
1 - Lane Pinkston - Sullivan
2 - Charles Andritsch - Sullivan
3 - Nathan Knowles - Sullivan

Critical Thinking
1 - Logan Carie - Sullivan
2 - Haley Dickson - North Putnam
3 - Hailee Johnson - North Putnam

Employability Skills
1 - Kiara Boyd - Cloverdale
2 - Jalin Patton - Terre Haute North
3 - Alexa Wynia - Cloverdale

Financial Literacy
1 - William Newby - Sullivan
2 - Isabella Branneman - Cloverdale
3 - Amanda Callahan - Northview

Public Speaking
1 - Lela Porter - Terre Haute North
2 - Olivia Branam - Parke Heritage
3 - Ian Tellechea - Northview

Writing Skills
1 - Chandler Scott - Sullivan
2 - Ana Shepler - Sullivan
3 - Mataya Welch - Sullivan

Entrepreneurship Plan
1 - Drew Steffy, Ruthie Mann - Cloverdale
2 - Nolan Kelley, Kyle Thomas, Brayden Blevins - Cloverdale
3 - Josie Gettinger, Lily Hagy, Emma Lighthizer - Sullivan

Digital Invitation
1 - Kaylee Jones - Sullivan
2 - Nathan Knowles - Sullivan
3 - Tansy Norris - Sullivan

Chapter Event
1 - Cloverdale
2 - North Putnam
3 - Sullivan

Outstanding Senior
1 - Darcie Cox - North Putnam
2 - Amara Duncan - Terre Haute North
3 - Kylie Jesus - Northview

Local JAG Students Succeed at State Competition

In past years, the winners of the Regional Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) career development conferences would gather in Indianapolis for a state wide competition.

As with a lot of things this year, because of COVID-19, this year’s event was a little different.  In a short amount of time, our State JAG staff was able to convert the event from an in-person event to a virtual competition.

The virtual State Career Development competition was held on May 8th.  Region 7 was well represented and earned two First Place Awards, a Third Place Award and an Honorable Mention.

Region 7 State Career Development Conference Award Winners:

Shadiamond Johnson - Terre Haute North High School – First Place Employability Skills

Kaylee Jones – Sullivan High School – First Place Financial Literacy

Amara Duncan – Terre Haute North High School – Third Place Public Speaking

Olivia Daugherty – West Vigo High School – Honorable Mention Outstanding Senior

Congratulations to our winners and to all of our JAG Students who participated in this event!