Success Story
Student Success Story: Zamir
“It was probably the best decision I’ve made in school so far,” recalls Zamir Loyo Reynaga, a former Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas (JAG-K) Student out of Westridge Middle School in Overland Park. “Just because of the friends I’ve made and also the things they’ve taught me in JAG-K.” Zamir’s JAG-K story is a…
Read MoreEmporia High School Senior Awarded JAG-K Scholarship
Every year, one outstanding Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas (JAG-K) senior is awarded a $500 dollar scholarship for being an exemplary student in the program. This scholarship is awarded during the annual State Career Development Conference, which was held on March 10, 2026. This year, Angel Bahena from Emporia High School was selected to receive this scholarship. “Angel…
Read MoreAlumni Spotlight – Remy Stull
“Sometimes I think that, especially in the generation now, we get so caught up with the extracurricular activities in our life, whether that’s a bad home environment, whether that’s the homework that we didn’t finish, or whether that’s just conversations with our friends,” ponders Remy Stull, a 2023 graduate of Hays High School JAG-K who…
Read MoreAlumni Spotlight – Chrishayla Adams
“I think JAG-K helped me become myself outside of the noise,” says Chrishayla Adams, a 2021 graduate of Topeka High School JAG-K. “There’s a lot of things I don’t think would have been possible without me going through JAG-K.” Adams joined the Jobs for America’s Graduates Kansas program during her sophomore year after her step coach (who was coincidentally…
Read MoreAlumni Spotlight: Hannah Gideon
When you join Jobs for America’s Graduates Kansas (JAG-K), you might not know just how many opportunities will come to you. Hannah Gideon, a graduate from the JAG-K program at Russell High School, understands this deeply. “The specialist suggested the class would be an outstanding opportunity to gain skills and real-life experience that I…
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Alumni Return to JAG-K as Employees
As the summer comes to an end, JAG-K students and specialists alike are returning to the classroom with anticipation for what this year will hold. For many, this isn’t the first time they’ve set foot into one of our classrooms. However, for Hannah Atchison, the career specialist at Wyandotte High School, the JAG-K classroom is…
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Students at Correctional Facility Find Inspiration, Graduate High School
Six students enrolled in the JAG-K program at KJCC received high school diplomas at a ceremony in December. JAG-K President and CEO Chuck Knapp addressed the gathering.
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Helped Concordia Grad Overcome Hardships, Achieve Success as Husband, Father, Soldier
In 2014, Concordia High School senior Zach Roberts said, “JAG-K saved my life.”
Read MoreNews Release: Former Garden City JAG-K Student Makes His Mark in Movie and TV Industry
With a mother employed by JAG-K, Issac Silva’s connection to the organization began in his home. He’s gone a long way since then, applying lessons he learned in JAG-K on the big and small screen.
Read MoreNews Release: Concordia HS JAG-K Student Hopes to Turn Rodeo Interest into Career
A junior at Concordia High School has found that the training provided by his school’s JAG-K program can be applied anywhere. Even on the back of a bucking bull.
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Alum Shares Her International Adventures with Programs Across Kansas
Mego Londeen was a shy, small town girl who wasn’t sure where she fit. That is, until a JAG-K Career Specialist helped her study some unique careers that matched her interests.
Read MoreNews Release: Recent Russell High School Graduate Voted “JAG-K Student of the Year”
Hannah Gideon, a 2024 graduate of Russell High School, was recently announced JAG-K “Student of the Year.”
Read MoreNews Release: Former JAG-K Student Now a Certified Agricultural Education Teacher
Luke Alpers, a 2017 graduate of the JAG-K program at Stafford High School, is now doing his part to prepare students for success in agriculture related careers. He is completing his first year teaching Animal Science, Welding, Ag Leadership and Eighth Grade Agriculture at Kiowa County Public Schools in Greensburg.
Read MoreNews Release: Graduate of JAG-K Program Applies Skills to Cattle Ranching:
For Paydon Snow, a 2022 graduate of Arkansas City High School, the path to success led him from high school straight to the beef industry, where he quickly went from employee to owner/manager.
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Student Earns Employee of the Month for Life Saving Act
JAG-K doesn’t just prepare students for successful futures. It also prepares them to impact their communities in positive – even life-saving – ways while still in high school.
Read MoreNews Release: Student Journalist Hayden Brown Reports on JAG-K Day at the Capitol Event
On February 7, I was one of the 400 JAG-K students and staff who visited the state Capitol. This allowed students who have leadership positions in their local JAG-K chapter to experience seeing what the Capitol has to offer.
Read MoreNews Release: JAG-K Grad Finds Success in Law Enforcement Career Field
A 2021 graduate of Hiawatha High School, Austin Coffelt has already provided significant service to the community. Though just 21, he has gained work experience in corrections and law enforcement.
Read MoreHiawatha High School student travels to Washington, D.C. with JAG-K
Hiawatha High School student Hayden Brown traveled to Washington, D.C. with JAG-K. Brown was able to achieve this accomplishment because of his position in the leadership team of JAG-K.
Read MoreLarned High School senior navigates grief through JAG-K, represents Kansas at national conference
“This program has definitely changed his life. He’s a leader in our school, in JAG, at the state level. To see where he was as a sophomore to where he is now as a senior is amazing.”
Read MoreNews Release: Beloit High School JAG-K Student Learns Skills at Central Valley Ag
Kassie Domann, a senior at Beloit High School, was encouraged by Jacee Tice, the Beloit JAG-K Career Specialist, to apply for a seasonal job with Central Valley Ag (CVA), a farmer-owned cooperative that provides products and services in grain, agronomy, feed and energy.
Read MoreNews Release: Former JAG-K Student Now Passes On Lessons Learned
When the JAG-K program at F.L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City needed a new Career Specialist, it found a candidate familiar with the program because she was a product of JAG-K herself.
Read MoreNews Release: Russell JAG-K Partners with Ogallala Commons to Provide Internships
Not every student who serves in a summer internship gets to see their efforts celebrated on the big screen. But seven Russell High School JAG-K students who participated in internships coordinated by Ogallala Commons recently shared their experiences with the community in Hollywood style.
Read MoreNews Release: Norton High School Student Adjusts to New Country With Help from JAG-K
Angel Rios wasn’t lacking motivation when he joined the Norton High School JAG-K program in the fall of 2022. Rios was, however, lacking proficiency in English when he arrived at the school as a junior.
Read MoreNews Release: Hiawatha JAG-K Student Discovers Passion for Broadcasting through Job Shadow, Internship
Hiawatha High School student Paige Mueller decided to take a chance when an opportunity to job shadow at a local radio station was offered at her school. She wasn’t sure it would interest her, but she gave it a shot.
Read MoreNews Release: Shawnee Mission North JAG-K Student Turns Garmin Experience into Full-time Job
JAG-K prepares students for successful futures. For one Kansas City student, that meant turning his academics around, securing an internship, and developing the confidence and the skills to excel in the workplace.
Read MoreGreat Bend High School Senior Receives National JAG Scholarship
Ashley Reddig, a senior at Great Bend High School, was announced recently by JAG as one of 35 Kenneth M. Smith Scholars nationwide who will receive $2,000 toward their college education.
Read MoreNews Release: Russell High School JAG-K Student Learns About Career in Agriculture Through Internship
Last summer, Russell High School junior Hannah Gideon participated in an internship with Agrilead, Inc., an innovative local seed-care products company.
Read MoreJAG-K Student From Kiowa County High School Receives Rudd Scholarship
Kiowa County High School senior and JAG-K Career Association Vice President Liberty Gilkey was recently announced as one of 30 recipients of the Rudd Scholarship.
Read MoreNews Release: Recent Graduate Tells Legislators How JAG-K Guided His Turnaround
A former participant in a Kansas City JAG-K program recently shared with legislators how the program helped him turn his life around and set him on a path to success.
Read MoreNews Release: JAG National Office Hires Kansan as Student Engagement Intern
Linda Moyo, a 2018 graduate of Newton High School, is giving a voice to current JAG-K participants as the national Student Engagement Intern.
Read MoreHire Paths Student Feature: Travis Tolman, Cemetery Technician, City of Augusta
“I knew I wanted to work outdoors, but I didn’t know where to go from there. Thankfully, I’m a participant in the Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas program.”
Read MoreNews Release: Student Adopted from Foster Care Assumes Role of JAG-K Student President
Russell-Unger shared in a video presentation to the JAG national staff his experiences in foster care.
Read MoreSuccess Story: Tionna
Tionna came to the Pittsburg High School JAG as a freshman angry and always ready to start a rebellion.
Read MoreSuccess Story: Courtland
Courtland’s attendance in fall of 2020 was spotty at best. He wasn’t interested in remote-learning, and was bored with his school subjects. By the end of the semester, he had essentially dropped out.
Read MoreNews Release: McPherson JAG-K Student Awarded Rudd Scholarship
MHS JAG-K Career Association President Kyra Byrd was announced today as one of 30 recipients of the Rudd Scholarship.
Read MoreSuccess Story: Christian
Christian is a recent graduate from Concordia High School who is now serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was a participant in the Concordia JAG-K program his junior and senior year, during which a lack for knowing his career path led to frustrations of an undecided future. But researching career options with his Career Specialist…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Autumn
Somebody’s got to step up and be a leader!
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Keegan
“I believe that JAG-K has helped me to not give up on myself when times get hard.”
Read MoreJAG-K Student Featured on KPR, Receives Gift of Free College
A Kansas student named Kira has put a lifetime of abuse, neglect and stunted development behind her, and has a bright future ahead.
Read MoreGood News for JAG-K Student: Kira’s Compelling Story Inspires Generous Radio Listener
Original story posted at https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/good-news-jag-k-student-kiras-compelling-story-inspires-generous-listener By J. Schafer – Kansas Public Radio, April 30, 2020 There’s been a lot of bad news to report lately: from new cases of coronavirus to rising unemployment numbers. But today… we actually have some good news to share. So turn up the radio, sit back and listen. KPR’s J.…
Read MoreAbused, Neglected, Rescued, Saved; How JAG-K Helped a Kansas Girl Reclaim Her Life
KPR’s J. Schafer reports on one of those students who claims JAG-K isn’t just helping her succeed… it helped save her life.
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Jace
“My favorite part of JAG-K has been learning the employability skills,
competing and qualifying in them all the way to nationals, and the
college visits.”
–Jace Tweedy, JAG-K Senior and President of Holcomb JAG-K
PHS student selected as ambassador for Tourette Association of America
By From Staff Reports / news@morningsun.net Posted Dec 22, 2019 at 6:44 PM PITTSBURG — Pittsburg High School junior Emily Wachter has been selected by the Tourette Association of America (TAA) to represent the state of Kansas at its Youth Ambassador Training in Washington D.C. Wachter and her mother, Shauna Rooks, will attend the event in March, a release said.…
Read MoreGreat Bend student competes, participates in leadership workshops in Washington D.C.
t 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…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Sebastian
He is a great example of how important it is to keep going in spite of adversity and setbacks, and we are very proud of his hard work and resiliency!
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Megan
When Megan joined JAG-K in 7th grade, she was struggling with behaviors that were keeping her from success at school and at home. She had made some bad decisions that were leading her down the wrong road. At the end of last year, she had a transformation and has turned things around. Megan says, “What…
Read MoreSTUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Tyrianna
Tyrianna is a junior in high school in Kansas City. This is her third year in JAG-K, and she has made tremendous strides. During her freshman year, Tyrianna struggled with her grades and was once suspended for fighting. Last year, Tyrianna made a significant effort to bring her grades up and finish her sophomore year…
Read MoreIN THE NEWS: Hays High School Senior
‘I knew I needed that second chance’ Hays Daily News: Juno Ogle Of the more than 170 Hays High School seniors who will cross the stage Sunday afternoon, eight of them in particular overcame some incredible odds for the honor. The eight are the first Hays High students to earn their diplomas under the Jobs…
Read MoreJAG-K STUDENT COMPETES AT NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
TOPEKA (December 20, 2017) – Jason Mitchiner Jr., a senior at Topeka High School, earned second place in the national Math Skills competition at the 21st Annual JAG National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) held in Washington D.C. on November 29-December 1, 2017. The Math Skills competition is designed to encourage JAG students to improve their…
Read MoreJAG-K STUDENT AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP AT JAG NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
TOPEKA (December 18, 2017) – Gabriel Smith, a senior at Lawrence Free State High School, was presented a $1,000 Jim and Karen Koeninger Scholarship during the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Awards Luncheon at the National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) in Washington, D.C. Gabe’s Smith’s application was based on a personal essay and resume and was…
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