NEW NATIONAL CAREER OFFICERS ELECTED AND 11 COMPETITION WINNERS

 

2^nd ANNUAL JOBS FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY IN ORLANDO WITH NEW NATIONAL CAREER OFFICERS ELECTED AND 11 COMPETITION WINNERS

Students from 24 States Competed in 11 Competitions.  Alabama Takes Home First Place in Most Categories; Two Students from Arizona Elected as NCA Officers.

Alexandria, Va., April 27, 2023: More than 800 students from 24 states flew home from Orlando, Fl. last Sunday following a fun-filled and action-packed three days at the National Career Association’s (NCA) 2nd National Career Development Conference (NCDC).

Students from Jobs for America’s Graduates programs in 24 states traveled to Orlando to compete in competitions ranging from business plan creation and public speaking to creative problem-solving and interviewing.  They also participated in workshops on such topics as dressing for success and resume writing and attended a two-day career expo.

“This year, we doubled the number of students traveling to NCDC,” Janelle Duray, Executive Vice President and COO of JAG said. “Why? Because the 2022 conference was life-changing for our attendees. Youth from across the country connected with peers, competed to place nationally in our competitive events program, and perhaps even ran to be a national youth officer.”

 “Students both this year and last left more confident in themselves and better prepared for their future,” Duray added. “The adults who accompanied them left completely inspired and eager to welcome even more youth into the NCA next year.”

In addition to competitions, the NCA, JAG’s student-run organization, elected new officers from a large slate of candidates across the nation.

Incoming JAG National Career Association Officers

President:  Kira Canada, IA

President-elect:  Frida Medrano Ibarra, AZ

Secretary:  Jenna Flores, AZ

Parliamentarian:  Seth Kenna, DE

High School Competition Winners

• NCA Outstanding Chapter, recognition winners:
• MPACT (Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Tech), AL
• • McAdory High School, AL
  • Phillips High School, AL
• Phillips HS, AL
• McAdory HS, AL
• Montgomery Prep ACT, AL
• Scottsburg HS, IN
• Great Bend HS, KS
• Kiowa Co. HS, KS
• Menifee Co. HS, KY
• Morgan County HS, KY
• Charleston HS, MO
• Purdy HS, MO
• Dora R-3 HS, MO
• McComb HS I, MS
• Starkville HS, MS
• McComb HS II, MS
• South View HS, NC
• Cibola HS, NM
• Rio Grande HS, NM
• Blair MS, NE
• NCA Service Project, recognition winner
• LEAD Coronado High School – Arizona JAG
• NCA Service Project, merit recognition winners:
• Apollo High School – Kentucky JAG
• Dora High School – Missouri JAG
• Highland Home School – Alabama JAG
• Phillips High School – Alabama JAG

• Knowledge Bowl
  • 1^st Place: Highland Home High School, AL
  • 2^nd Place: Morgan County Schools Technology Park, AL
  • 3^rd Place: Coolidge High School, AZ
• Creative Decision-Making
  • 1^st Place: Aurora High School, MO
  • 2^nd Place: Joe T. Robinson High School, AR
  • 3^rd Place: Springfield Hillcrest High School, MO

• Project-Based Learning
  • 1^st Place: Kansas City Central High School, MO
  • 2^nd Place: Marshfield High School, MO
  • 3^rd Place: Straughn High School, AL
• Business Plan
  • 1^st Place: Straughn High School, AL
  • 2^nd Place: Howard High School of Technology, DE
  • 3^rd Place: Bolivar High School, MO

• L.O.V.E. Project
  • 1^st Place: Paradise Valley High School, AZ
  • 2^nd Place: New Hope High School, AL
  • 3^rd Place: Dubuque Hempsted High School, IA
• Career Prep
  • 1^st Place: West Point High School, AZ
  • 2^nd Place: Zuni High School, NM
  • 3^rd Place: Emporia High School, KS

• Financial Literacy
  • 1^st Place: Sheridan High School, AR
  • 2^nd Place: Bennett County High School, SD
  • 3^rd Place: Tri-County JOG, OH
• Prepared Speaking
  • 1^st Place: Bridge Academy-Blount County, AL
  • 2^nd Place: Mt. Gilead High School, OH
  • 3^rd Place: Hayti High School, MO

• Employability Skills
  • 1^st Place: Phillips High School, AL
  • 2^nd Place: Kiowa County High School, KS
  • 3^rd Place: San Gorgonia High School, CA

 

Middle School Competition Winners

• Creative Decision Making
  • 1^st Place: Clay Co. Middle School, KY
• Project-Based Learning`
  • 1^st Place: Hot Springs Junior Academy, AR
• Business Plan
  • 1^st Place: Hot Springs Junior Academy, AR
• Financial Literacy
  • 1^st Place: West Tallahatchie Middle School, MS
• Prepared Speaking
  • 1^st Place: Warren East Middle School, KY

NCDC Corporate Partners

JAG is grateful for the financial and logistical support of the following NCDC partners:  IHG Hotels & Resorts, Regions Bank, Kohl’s, Old Navy, HCA Healthcare, Pearson, SHRM, Microsoft, ADM, Honeywell, Synchrony.