JAG provides students ‘A Decade of Dreams’

More than 160 students from across Nevada competed in the Jobs for Nevada Graduates’ 10th annual Career Development Conference, “A Decade of Dreams” in Las Vegas on April 22.

Douglas High School took fourth overall, with sophomore Aleisa Navarro winning the T-shirt design, sophomore Elijah Canales placed third in the interview section, junior Stella Rae Bradley scored in the top ten during the public speaking portion, and sophomore Joanna Cervantes was recognized for her creative idea in the Entrepreneurship category.

In her speech, Bradley highlighted some of the benefits JAG has provided for her and her peers.

“JAG has many values,” reads Bradley’s speech. “In a universal sense, they value our futures. All the work they put into us is for our benefits in the future, when we begin new chapters, frankly the most important chapter in our lives and potential careers.” 

Navarro’s T-shirt design captures those same values in a simple image of a graduate raising their arms with a diploma in hand, and the words “celebrating a decade of dreams” above the graduate, which pays tribute to the 10th anniversary of the conference.

Though a simple image, Douglas High School’s Jobs for Nevada Graduates Specialist Susan McDonald said Navarro exceeded the expectation of what the judges were looking for down to the style of the font.

“She pulled it together perfectly,” said McDonald. “What was really cool, is that each competitor and specialist received a free T-shirt with the design. It was so amazing to see hundreds of students and specialists wearing shirts designed by a DHS students.”

Canales said the interview section of the competition was set up like a real interview where competitors were asked questions such as; what values can you bring to the company or position, and what are your strengths and weaknesses. The judges also paid attention to eye contact and how the interviewee presented themselves during the interview.

In the Entrepreneurship category Cervantes presented an idea of a mirror that was both an outfit designer and a therapist.

“It’s an AI mirror that helps boost your confidence and put together an outfit for indecisive people, while giving a pep talk and advice like you could get from a therapist,” said Cervantes.

Cervantes said though she did not place, the judges liked her creative idea.

McDonald said she is proud of how well her students did during the conference.

“They worked so hard preparing that they were actually pretty calm during the competition,” she said. “Their maturity and professionalism were highlighted by their enthusiasm for JAG.”

Now in her second year as Douglas High School’s Jobs for Nevada Graduates Specialist, McDonald said she has a better understanding of the JAG philosophy and is trying to provide her students with as much realistic career experience in the classroom as she can.

“I have taken it up a level in providing more network opportunities and giving them feedback to improve and gain skills that will help them in their futures,” she said.

In celebration of its 10 year anniversary Jobs for Nevada Graduates rebranded to align with the national organization “Jobs for America’s Graduates,” with the new acronym JAG Nevada.

Jobs for America’s Graduates is a 501C3 non-profit guiding more than 70,000 students in 37 States throughout their high school career to graduate and find pathways for a better future.

Visit Jobs for America’s Graduates at https://jag.org/ or JAG Nevada at https://jag.org/nevada/ for more information.