By Savannah Edgar

Special to The Luverne Journal 

 

On Wednesday, Feb. 5,  Highland Home and Luverne JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) celebrated combined success at the JAG South District Career Development Conference in Mobile. The participating students were able to prove themselves by securing numerous large placements and a highly-anticipated spot at the state conference later this month. 

Highland Home JAG competed in all eight events, taking home titles in all group competitions. For the first time ever, the Creative-Decision Making team, consisting of senior Gameel Lett and sophomores Joniya Griffin and Richard Likens, used their complex thinking skills to secure third place. 

Senior Ray Henderson and juniors Alyssa Wolfe, London Pickett and Maddie Burkett, came together to deliver an empowering presentation about hands-on learning to claim third place in the Project-Based Learning event. The Business Plan team composed of seniors Cheyenne Kinman, Isaiah Romero and William West, and junior Elisabell Ortiz delivered an incredible performance securing second place, the highest ever earned by the team for the category.

 One of the Business Plan team members described how she felt about the feat.

“Because JAG revolves around professionalism and confidence, I felt like I had to do my very best especially because I could not let down my teammates. A group competition means effort being put in by every competitor.” Ortiz said. “After the competition was over I felt relieved and confident that we made it. One of the judges even congratulated us. I just knew that all our hard work paid off based on her smile and comment.” 

The newest edition to Crenshaw County JAG program, a Luverne team, started their first competition season strong, competing in five events. Their entries ranged from all four individual events to the group event, the JAGCA Knowledge Bowl. 

Their knowledge bowl team blew everyone away in the initial rounds of the competition. In an incredible turn of events Luverne and Highland Home faced each other in the final round of the knowledge bowl competition. Highland Home had to defend their district championship and ultimately claimed the victory, leaving Luverne the second place title. Kazydee Sykes, Samantha Kent, Skilar Sykes and Reed Johnson from Luverne joined Highland Home senior Anna Kate Foster, juniors Chris Thomson and Madalyn Perdue, and sophomore Lori Majors on the awards stage to claim their second and first place titles respectively. 

“After every competition, no matter how hard, I have an overwhelming sense of courage,” exclaimed two-time knowledge bowl competitor, Christopher Thomson. “JAG has significantly empowered me to excel in everything I do, whether it’s competing or managing daily life. The confidence I’ve gained through this program lets me know there are no limits to success. I now know that it is possible to win in every aspect of life if I try hard enough.”

The students will advance to the state competition on Feb. 25 in Birmingham, where they will face an even bigger challenge. Additionally they will be joined by JAGCA Outstanding-Chapter competitors, and Highland Home will combine their efforts with competitors in the L.O.V.E Project. 

Additionally, chapter members will be able to attend and cheer their teams on as they compete for a state title. All top three placements will attend the National Career Development Conference taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana from April 24-26. 

Spirits remain high as students work towards this significant goal.

JAG competitions were designed to motivate students to achieve their personal best while developing the skills and competencies needed for life after high school. Healthy competition encourages students to do their best, step out of their comfort zones, and learn new skills that they previously would not have. 

Luverne senior Sofia Valencia-Reyes expressed what the program meant to her. 

“JAG has empowered me through competition by giving me confidence and encouragement to do my very best,” Valencia-Reyes said. “I was able to step out of my comfort zone and be proud of myself. I feel empowered and ready for the future. There’s so many options out there for someone, and being in JAG has shown me all the possibilities.”