News Release: JAG-K Students Gather in Wichita for Career Development Conference

About 275 students and staff from Jobs for America’s Graduates–Kansas (JAG-K) gathered at the Wichita State University Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex on March 12 for the organization’s annual State Career Development Conference (CDC).

JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills.

The CDC was sponsored by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.

At the event, students elected officers for next year and competed in areas of job preparedness.

“The State CDC is one of the most anticipated and exciting events of the year for JAG-K students,” said JAG-K President and CEO Chuck Knapp. “Representing your school at state is a rare opportunity, and all these students should be proud of the work and preparation it took to get there.”

JAG-K participants across Kansas voted for statewide officers for the next year. Elected to serve as state officers were President Jaden Exantus, Junction City; Vice President Analicia Aquino, Shawnee Mission North: Secretary Acacia Weeks, Winfield; Parliamentarian Macy Patterson, Russell.

Students competed in events that showcase competencies attained in the JAG-K program.

High school students who placed in competition were: 

• Prepared Speaking: 1^st Haley Hughes, Manhattan; 2^nd Sauni Kishpaugh, Kiowa County; 3^rd Analicia Aquino, Shawnee Mission North

• Creative Decision Making Team Competition: 1^st Jaden Exantus, Trent Herrington, Lyric Pope, Junction City; 2^nd Hannah Greenleaf, Silas Hawkins, Aly Taylor, Kiowa County

• Business Plan Team: 1^st Audra Burke & Zulma Duran, Newton; 2^nd Kaylyn Snodgrass & Brennon Stahlecker, Larned

• Career Preparation: 1^st Addysyn Rockwell, Marysville; 2^nd Charly Nicolas Estrada, Schlagle; 3^rd Myra Kurth, Kiowa County

• Project Based Learning Team Competition: 1^st Ashlynn Bradley, Shalynn Sizemore, Riley Miller, Holcomb; 2^nd Jaylah Buffington, Morgan Barrett, Shantee Down, Junction City-Karns
• Financial Literacy: 1^st Kenton Grauerholz, Great Bend; 2^nd Ivan Cuveas, Shawnee Mission West; 3^rd Chris Tomlinson, Shawnee Mission North

• Employability Skills: 1^st Gracie Hicks, Beloit; 2^nd Shalom Wactcha, Shawnee Mission West; 3^rd Brynlee Friess, Kingman

The top three finishers of the four different individual areas of competition and the top two finishers in the three team competitions earned the opportunity to compete at the National Career Development Conference in Indianapolis in April.

High school teams were also awarded recognition based on their collective performance. The top three high school teams were Kiowa County High School (1^st place), Shawnee Mission West High School (2^nd place) and Augusta High School (3^rd place).  

Schools were also recognized for development of digital notebooks featuring their programs. The top programs were: 1^st Augusta High School; 2^nd Junction City-Karns High School; 3^rd Kiowa County High School; 4^th Russell High School; 5^th Minneapolis High School, ; 6^th (tie) Wichita Southeast High School and KC Harmon High School.

Kansas’ 114 JAG-K programs serve approximately 6,000 students in 48 school districts across the state. JAG-K Career Specialists help students graduate and learn career, leadership, and life skills by executing a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model. Participants must meet criteria to be selected for the program and have potential to overcome various barriers to post-secondary success.

The 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 36 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include ADM, AT&T, Barton Community College, EagleU, Goldstein Charitable Trust, Independence Community College, the JB and Anne Hodgdon Foundation, Honeywell, John Deere, Johnson County Community College, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Gas Service, the Kansas Insurance Department, Magellan Financial, Mark One Electric, the Office of the Kansas State Bank Commissioner, United Way of Kaw Valley, United Way of the Plains, U.S. Bank, Walmart and Washburn Tech.

To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, or ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.