Area High School Students Shine at JAG State Career Development Conference

The competition took place on March 17.

Left to right: Madison Cavins (Milan), Angel Tunney (South Ripley), Isaiah Lee (Franklin County), Madison Merritt (Franklin County), Piper Twiggs (Franklin County), and Haley McKeown (Milan). Photos by Jobs for America’s Graduates. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Six local high school students showed off their talent at the annual State Career Development Conference.

Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development hosted the conference on March 17. The event is 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 project.

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.

Students competed in 14 categories including the top Outstanding Senior award.

Local students placing at the event were:

• Madison Cavins, Milan High School, 1st Place in Public Speaking
• Madison Merritt, Franklin County High School, 1st Place in Project-Based Learning
• Haley McKeown, Milan High School, 2nd Place in Cover Design, Outstanding Senior Honorable Mention
• Angel Tunney, South Ripley High School, 2nd Place in Writing Skills
• Piper Twiggs, Franklin County High School, 3rd Place in Career Presentation
• Isaiah Lee, Franklin County High School, 2nd Place in Creative Solutions. 

“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.”  

"I’ve already learned so much from my [JAG] Specialist,” said South Ripley sophomore Angel Tunney. “She is always ready to help and support everyone. She has helped me build my self confidence and social skills. She has created such a comfortable environment for all her students. She has also helped me realize that I have so much more potential than I thought."

JAG is a state-based, national non-profit organization that assists students with barriers to success by helping them overcome academic challenges and achieve graduation. Students learn up to 88 competencies such as critical thinking, team leadership and effective communications skills to increase employability.

Learn more at https://www.in.gov/dwd/jag/cdc/.