By Community Contributor brimsgard
Post-Tribune Community, ChicagoTribune.com
Kei'Chelle Jordan is a senior at Calumet New Tech High School, is in the top 10 percent of her class, and was nominated for Outstanding Senior at the State Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference, where she received honorable mention. The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (NWIWB) invited Kei'Chelle to attend their March 2015 meeting and share her experience with attending the State JAG conference and update them on her plans after graduation.
This was Kei'Chelle's first year participating in JAG at Calumet New Tech High School in Gary, where she also serves as Vice President of the JAG Career Association. She's also the secretary for the National Honor Society at Calumet New Tech High School and provides computer repair assistance at Lake Ridge Middle School as a community service to the students and teachers. She was also a CTE student, taking computer networking classes during her junior year at Hammond Area Career Center.
Kei'Chelle told the NWIWB that she plans on attending IUPUIand will be studying to become a Network Specialist. She hopes to work for a hospital as a Network Specialist after graduation. When asked why she wants to work at a hospital, she responded by telling them she chose a hospital environment after completing extensive career research in preparation of her career presentation at the JAG Regional Career Development Conference and found out they need qualified people to support, troubleshoot, and maintain all the computer systems within their hospital.
Before leaving the meeting Kei'Chelle was given business cards from several board members including a representative from IU Health LaPorte Hospital with a request to contact them about potential employment after she completes her coursework.
Kei’Chelle is also a finalist in the 2015 Smith Scholars Program which will be announced on May 1. Recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Ken Smith Scholarship Fund and be referred to as a Smith Scholar for their overall excellence during involvement in the JAG-Indiana State Program.
The JAG program is a national model for high school students needing added support to transition to employment or post-secondary education. Students are taught up to 88 competencies while in the program such as team leadership, critical thinking, and effective communications skills that will increase their marketability to employers. While in school and through the program, JAG students receive adult mentoring and perform community service. The JAG program provides ongoing support to students to remain in school, graduate, and go on to post-secondary education or training. The local JAG program is funded by grants through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and the local program is offered through the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board.
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