2021 JAG Career Development Conference celebrates high school student’s career readiness

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – March 17, 2021 – Today the Indianapolis Jobs for America’s Graduates Career Development Conference took place virtually, for the very first time. Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a program for high school juniors and seniors that helps arm them with the workforce development skills to be successful after high school – whether they choose to persist onto postsecondary or pursue a career. This annual conference provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their career readiness skills that they learn throughout the school year.

“During the 2020-2021 school year, the JAG Indy programs continued to excel in delivering successes for participants even in the midst of the pandemic, serving 827 students in fifteen Indianapolis schools,” said Erika Cheney, VP of K-12 at EmployIndy. “Like all other programs, we have needed to adapt our local model to support students virtually.”

With hundreds of students participating, the JAG Career Development Conference would traditionally be a full-day in-person event with high school students demonstrating career readiness skills in front of volunteer judges. Some of the competitions include critical thinking, financial literacy, employability skills, entrepreneurship, public speaking, outstanding seniors, and more.

“It is exciting to witness the drive and passion that so many of these students demonstrate during the competition,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, president & CEO of EmployIndy who spoke at this morning’s event. “These young people are learning employability skills that will last them far beyond high school and prepare them for future employment.”

Many organizations partner with JAG throughout the school year, hosting events and presenting in classrooms. This year the 2021 JAG Career Development Conference is offering a new award to the community partner who made a difference for students and impact in the community. This year the award is given to Beatrice Beverly with Stop the Violence Indianapolis.

Thank you to our 2021 sponsors who made this event possible and congratulations to all the participants for a successful virtual event and to the winners who stood out above their peers in demonstrating employability skills and career readiness success.

Sponsors
Gold Sponsors: Saint Joseph’s College of Marian University; B&W Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Drains

Bronze Sponsor: Securitas Security Systems

Award Recipients

Chapter Marketing Campaign:

1. George Washington High School
2. McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology
3. Decatur Central High School

Entrepreneurship Plan:

1. Arsenal Technical High School

Career Presentation:

1. Faith Akinwande – Decatur Central High School
2. Andrea Romero – Shortridge High School
3. Samantha Rudge – Beech Grove High School

Creative Solutions:

1. John Diaz – Warren Central High School
2. Jared Wolfe – Indiana School for the Deaf
3. Saul Torres – Decatur Central High School

Critical Thinking:

1. Lia Burton – Decatur Central High School
2. Aireyona Mitchell – Shortridge High School
3. Prince Ndahiriwe – Decatur Central High School

Employability Skills:

1. Gabriela Perez – Shortridge High School
2. Anita Martin – Arsenal Technical High School
3. Grace Gill – Decatur Central High School

Digital Invitation:

1. Jahaira Santos-Trujillo – McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology
2. Karen Bautista Tellez – McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology
3. Paola Avila Hernandez – McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology

Financial Literacy:

1. Gunnar Wiser – Decatur Central High School
2. Jade Tien – Warren Central High School
3. Felicity Walters – Decatur Central High School

Public Speaking:

1. Joanna Nunez-Mancilla – George Washington High School
2. Janice Rivera – Decatur Central High School
3. Emma Teachman – Beech Grove High School

Writing Skills:

1. Kayden Kimbrough – Beech Grove High School
2. Anab Jamal – Decatur Central High School
3. Sharon Oyatayo – Decatur Central High School

Outstanding Senior:

1. Anita Martin – Arsenal Technical High School
2. Shelby Gosser – Decatur Central High School
3. Dieu Merci Mfaume – George Washington High School

You can learn more about the Jobs for America's Graduates program here.