Wagner's Hollingsworth, South Dakota students benefiting from JAG program

Jan. 6—WAGNER, S.D. — Wagner High School sophomore April Hollingsworth spent a busy few days in Washington, D.C. last month.

She attended leadership seminars. She visited national historic sites. She took in a dinner etiquette class and dressed up in a red, white and blue outfit with fellow high schoolers she had just recently met. She even mingled with South Dakota lawmakers like Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson.

It was all a part of her participation in the Jobs for America's Graduates program, with which she served as a student delegate to the JAG National Student Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C. Dec. 1-3.

"It has expanded myself as a person," Hollingsworth told the Mitchell Republic of her experience in the JAG program, of which she has been a part going back to her middle school days. "We've grown as people in all aspects — socially, emotionally. We're always learning lessons that will stay with us into the future."

Jobs for America's Graduates is a leadership development and career exploration program for middle and high school students with more than 300 students members in South Dakota and 68,000 members nationwide. The program is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young people of great promise. Nationally, it dates back 40 years.

The program itself is in its 14th year in South Dakota, having expanded to about 315 participating students in six school districts this year. In addition to Wagner, programs exist in Bennett County, Todd County, Andes Central, Sioux Falls and Lyman County. JAG has roots in helping disadvantaged youth graduate high school and mentoring them through the college application and job-hunting processes.

But the program is about more than just that, said Beth Schneider, state director for the JAG program. JAG can benefit a wide range of students with a variety of backgrounds and grade point averages, she said.

"People think it's just for students with socio-economic issues. It's not, but that's where a lot of our challenges are apparent," Schneider said. "It's not a dumping ground for your challenging kids. It's a class for students who have leadership potential who want to be empowered."

Hollingsworth can testify to that. She said she was a generally shy person when she first joined JAG. But through the program's guidance she has opened up and sharpened her communication skills. She now can claim accomplished public speaking as part of her skillset, having addressed a crowd of over 1,000 people at a conference in Dallas. There were even more watching online.

"When I first started JAG, I was a very shy and quiet person. And this has totally expanded my social life," Hollingsworth said. "Two years ago I would not have been able to go to D.C. and speak with everyone and meet new people and socialize. The social skills I've learned and how to speak properly to other people have helped me a lot. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I hadn't (been part of JAG). It pushes me out there."

The JAG program encourages that kind of growth and offers support and guidance on how to make that happen. Amy Petrik, JAG specialist for Wagner High School, said there are several ways the program can give a leg up to students who may not have a clear path to education beyond high school or how to handle a big job interview.

"One thing I like about the program is the opportunity to do things with the kids that they wouldn't normally have the opportunity to do in other classes. For example, we have the luxury of taking the kids on college visits. Sometimes the parents don't have time to do it. The fact that I can do that with the kids is really something I didn't get to do when I was in high school, so I think that's pretty cool to be able to do that," Petrik said.

JAG students participate in community service ventures, fundraising and projects that take them outside the walls of the school for lessons in effective communication and social interaction. One recent activity involved taking students out into the community to purchase materials to make Christmas ornaments and then selecting a community member or business to give that ornament to.

That activity alone helps boost students' awareness of approaching and interacting with people in a professional manner, a sometimes overlooked skill that can take a student far in college or the work world.

"We have planned a lot of community service, we love helping. We do a lot of activities and preparation for our future. But also we've grown as people in all aspects socially, emotionally," Hollingsworth said. "Every class period is different, but we're always learning something that will stay with us for our future."

The program also provides a support network following graduation, when students are just learning to navigate alone outside the high school environment.

"A lot of time students get their diploma and they're out the door. Now what do they do? They don't have that guidance," said Lori Kokes, principal for Wagner High School. "And JAG is different. They are continually checking in with them that first year post-graduation to see how students are doing and what resources they need to continue to help them be successful."

Hollingsworth is only a sophomore, but she is already putting those skills to good use. Meeting with Thune, Rounds and Johnson was a chance to see skilled communicators working up close, as well as a chance for her and her fellow students to show their own abilities.

"I think the person we conversed most with was Johnson, just because he had a less busy schedule, so we talked about a lot of issues with him," Hollingsworth said.

Johnson gave them a unique tour of his office, which overlooks the roof of his building where visitors could step out and take in the view. They talked about agriculture issues with Rounds, and they encouraged Thune to talk with his colleagues about JAG itself when he asked what he could do to bring more awareness to the program.

They took in historic sites like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where they saw a changing of the guard ceremony, and Arlington National Cemetery, where they gained some perspective on military sacrifices made over the course of American history.

Hollingsworth cited the leadership conference itself as a particular highlight.

"I think the highlight was actually the leadership sessions. We learned a lot of activities that would help with our emotional intelligence, and we had a networking social where we played games and had to get in groups of people that weren't from our state," Hollingsworth said. "That's where I met a lot of new people."

More and more students across the state are benefitting from the program, Schneider said. Participation is up 55.67% compared to last year among the participating schools. Since 2020, the program has seen a 147% increase in participation.

Schneider wants to see that grow even more, and said when schools hear about the program and what it is accomplishing, they are intrigued.

"When districts hear about it when I present at places, (they say) 'this sounds so great why don't we have JAG?' That's what I'm asking you, why don't you have JAG? Everybody knows, and the research tells you — relationships, connecting, engaging, making students feel welcome and giving them a voice and a choice — all of those things that we know that students need (are important)."

The South Dakota program has the advantage of being administered through the state department of education. Many state programs are operated as non-profits and don't have the same resources or data-gathering abilities. Schneider is the first full-time director of the program and is focusing on bringing the program's benefits to every student.

There is clearly a need, she said.

"There is no reason we should not have universal JAG in South Dakota. That's my goal. Every district, when I talk to every administrator and every teacher, (I tell them they) can think of that student who just needs an arm put around them, who just needs somebody to listen to them. You can't tell me you don't have that in your district," Schneider said.

There is work yet to be done. While funding for the program is solid, further expansion is more a matter of districts being able to have JAG specialists in place when education is already experiencing workforce issues.

But students like Hollingsworth are serving as a prime example that Schneider can point to when extolling the benefits of the program.

"April and the students we took (to Washington, D.C.), they are go-getters. They are definitely leaders," Schneider said.

There are some developments coming on the horizon. The state JAG program recently established a statewide advisory board and continues to host annual statewide student events and attend national student and specialist conferences. In March of 2023, students will elect the first-ever South Dakota Career Association Officers for 2023-24.

Not one to let opportunity pass her by, Hollingsworth already has her eyes set on an officer role.

"I've heard that applications are opening in February, and I will immediately be on that. I'm very passionate about being a first-time student on that state board," Hollingsworth said.

Kokes said she is thrilled with the Wagner JAG program, which has been in place since 2009, and she can see just how much it benefits students like Hollingsworth.

"It's amazing to see our students grow in their confidence, whether it be their social skills or their speaking skills. JAG is just a great program for community outreach to give them stronger employment skills or academic skills. It just helps them become a more well-rounded individual before they graduate," Kokes said.

Petrik said Hollingsworth is taking those lessons and then leading by example.

"I'd like to see current students becoming leaders, following in April's footsteps. She is very organized and on top of things. She's going places, and that will rub off on other kids and they'll hopefully become just as motivated as her. That is something that I'm really excited about," Petrik said. "The fact that my kids are excited, that's what I'm excited about."

With a state officer position in her sights and two more years of learning and growing ahead of her, Hollingsworth said she's looking forward to meeting more people and cultivating her leadership skills.

She hopes more students will join her.

"It's about the people you meet and the different cultures you're surrounded by. You can speak in front of all these people. You can be a voting delegate. There are so many opportunities," Hollinsworth said.