INDIANA – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) held the 2024 State Career Development Conference on Friday, March 15. The conference is the annual event for Hoosier students enrolled in Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) to participate in competitions highlighting the employability skills they have learned through the program.
Mitchell High School Senior Andrea Williams placed second as an Outstanding Senior.
As a significant gateway between job seekers and industry, DWD’s JAG program builds a talent pipeline to Indiana employers by helping high school students succeed through and after high school graduation.
“Our state conference showcases skills vital to a student’s future success in employment, postsecondary enrollment, and/or military enlistment,” said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. “To build on the proven efficacy of JAG, DWD, under the leadership of Governor Holcomb, is in the process of expanding from 125 to 250 programs. Once the expansion is complete, JAG programming will reach an estimated 10,000 students annually, driving an outsized impact on their communities and the state of Indiana.”
JAG Indiana’s 16th annual State Career Development Conference was the culmination of regional competitions focused on disciplines critical to employment. More than 145 students from over 50 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.
“By staying in JAG the first year, I was able to achieve so much than I never thought I was able to,” said Greenfield-Central High School Senior, JC Matlock, who was named the 2024 JAG Indiana Outstanding Senior. “I have made myself known to my community, other JAG students, and advisors in Indiana.”
Students competed in 14 categories, including the Outstanding Senior Award:
Career Presentation
- 1st Place – Brailen Morries, Owen Valley High School
- 2nd Place – Samantha Slavin, DeKalb High School
- 3rd Place – Lila Kirkman, Decatur Central High School
Chapter Brochure
- 1st Place – Purdue Polytechnic High School
- 2nd Place – Oakland Academy
- 3rd Place – Franklin Central High School
Chapter Commercial
- 1st Place – Hammond Central High School, to see the commercial, click here
- 2nd Place – Jasper High School, to see the commercial, click here
- 3rd Place – Manchester Jr./Sr. High School, to see the commercial, click here
Chapter Social Media Campaign
- 1st Place – George Washington High School
- 2nd Place – Hammond Central High School
- 3rd Place – Avon High School
College Success Program
- 1st Place – Trinity Akins, Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne
- 2nd Place – Israel Gutierrez, Vincennes University
- 3rd Place – Stephanie Diaz, Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne
Cover Design
- 1st Place – Marqus Sanders, George Washington High School
- 2nd Place – Koltyn Ladd, Oakland Academy
- 3rd Place – Cherish Marion, West Washington High School
Creative Solutions
- 1st Place – Aliyah Nichols, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 2nd Place – Tomas Gilmore, Pike Central High School
- 3rd Place – Antonio Lemus, Hammond Central High School
Critical Thinking
- 1st Place – Braylon Judy, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 2nd Place – Hailey Swope, Tippecanoe Valley High School
- 3rd Place – Jahzara Wright, Decatur Central High School
Employability Skills
- 1st Place – Olivia Davis, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 2nd Place – Isabella Marrow, Mitchell High School
- 3rd Place – Gavin Williams, Sullivan High School
Entrepreneurship Plan
- 1st Place – Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 2nd Place – Scottsburg High School
- 3rd Place – Franklin County High School
Financial Literacy
- 1st Place – Bryce Miller, Madison Consolidated High School
- 2nd Place – Carolyn Hoffemeyer, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 3rd Place – Josh Roberts, Edgewood High School
Project-Based Learning
- 1st Place – Eastern Greene High School
- 2nd Place – Scottsburg High School
- 3rd Place – DeKalb High School
Public Speaking
- 1st Place – Shelby Williams, Milan High School
- 2nd Place – Payton Hamby, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
- 3rd Place – Gunnar Crispen, Tippecanoe Valley High School
Writing Skills
- 1st Place – Angel Tunny, South Ripley High School
- 2nd Place – Emily Rumley, Owen Valley High School
- 3rd Place – Jenna Shaw, Greenfield-Central High School
Outstanding Senior
- 1st Place – JC Matlock, Greenfield-Central High School
- 2nd Place – Andrea Williams, Mitchell High School
- 3rd Place – Diana Cortez-Sanchez, Jasper High School
- Honorable Mention – Makenzie Rojas, Michigan City High School
- Honorable Mention – Chaya Lynch, Goshen High School
- Honorable Mention – Jordan Johnson, Kokomo High School
- Honorable Mention – Jacob Shopher, Muncie Central High School
- Honorable Mention – Callee Riggle, North Putnam High School
- Honorable Mention – Kelsey Halpain, Lawrenceburg High School
- Honorable Mention – Kayleigh Wells, Austin High School
- Honorable Mention – Mariska Ogutu, Ben Davis High School
- Honorable Mention – Carleigh Blevins, Manchester Jr./Sr. High School
“JAG is something that helps our community and benefits so many people,” said Michigan City High School Senior, Makenzie Rojas. “Without JAG, I would not have begun planning my career path as in-depth as I have, nor would I have been able to help my peers with their applications as much as I have. JAG has been full of great opportunities and I am glad that I stuck with it.”
JAG 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 academic success through graduation. To increase employability, students learn up to 88 competencies, such as critical thinking, team leadership, and practical communication skills.
To learn more about JAG, including Indiana’s program expansion, click here.
This year’s conference occurred at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center in Indianapolis.
