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The day after he graduated from Hempstead High School, Justin Beck started a full-time job as a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist at Decker Precision Machining in Peosta—no small feat in an economy in which few high school students can find even part-time summer jobs.

But just three months earlier, Justin’s post-graduation plans had been far less clear. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he says. “Judy Simon, Hempstead’s I-JAG Education Specialist, told me about this new advanced manufacturing program.”  He credits her in helping unlock his potential.

Make Plans to Attend….. 

Pre-NTS Professional Development Workshops, July 8-10, 2013

30^th Anniversary National Training Seminar, July 10-12, 2013

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

2800 Opryland Drive ŸNashville, TN 37214 ŸTel 615.889.1000

The 2012 National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) 418 of our young leaders and 121 Specialists and staff.

An intensive series of leadership development and teaming activities were conducted.  All of the students were able to participate in the Leadership Awards Luncheon.  They also received a special tour of the icons of American democracy and interacted with the senior management of Jobs for America's Graduates.

There is a school of thought that individuals are born to do certain things. Call it destiny or natural talent, nineteen year old Fred Green would be considered one of these people. Politics is in his blood. Just a year out of high school, Wilmington, Delaware residents recall Green entering the political arena at just 13 years of age.  Now Green is being called Delaware’s first Youth Czar by many.

There are so many success stories each year involving students in the JAG programs around the country, including graduating from high school. And it is always rewarding to see these students recognized. Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates shares the stories of two students enjoying their successes at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year. Nikki Rutherford earned her GED through the JOG Our Way program and was honored as Adult Learner of the Year and Stephanie Foxworth, also a GED graduate from JOG Our Way was recognized as a young entrepreneur.  

Up in the eastern corner of the country in Maine, Hauns Bassett a Master Specialist in Jobs for Maine’s Graduates helped to bring a guest speaker to two schools. The speaker’s message was one of inspiration and perseverance.  Middle school students from across the state raised $4,000 in six weeks by selling raffle tickets, bracelets and t-shirts to bring a young man named Darius Weems to speak at two middle schools.  The students were incredibly moved by Weems story.

For the past four years the Jobs for America’s Graduates Board of Directors and Friends of JAG have offered the Smith Scholarships to students from the JAG network. In 2012 the scholarship program saw double the applicants compared to 2011. There were 112 seniors in high school that submitted their applications to be considered for one of twelve $1,000 scholarships. The nominees chosen by the scholarship committee represented ten of the JAG programs from around the nation. The committee was very pleased with the submissions and felt the quality of applicants was exceptional.