Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) was represented by 16 students at the JAG National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) in Washington, D.C., including Great Bend High School student Austin Moore. The students competed in skills competitions, attended leadership workshops and had the opportunity to tour familiar monuments and museums in the nation’s capital.
The students who attended NSLA earned the all-expense paid trip by placing first, second or third in one of four skills competitions at the JAG-K Career Development Conference in April 2019. The competitions included Employability Skills, Math Skills, Public Speaking and Project Based Learning. Three statewide JAG-K Career Association Officers, elected at the Leadership Development Conference in October, also earned positions on the national team.
“This was a fabulous group of young people, who were participating in the largest event in JAG history,” said Chuck Knapp, JAG-K President and CEO. “Many of our students had never traveled before, and this was certainly a life-changing experience. I wish to thank the AT&T Foundation for helping sponsor this outstanding opportunity.” JAG-K is a multi-year program for students in grades 7-12 in 79 schools in 41 districts across the state, serving over 3900 students in both the classroom setting and in follow-up after graduation. The nationally accredited, evidence-based model provides tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. JAG-K students had a 98 percent graduation rate.
The 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization is one of 39 state affiliate organizations of Jobs for America’s Graduates and is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by DCF. In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include AT&T, John Deere, and Taco Bell.
Learn more about JAG-K at www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates- Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.
