JAG KY receives national honor for 8th consecutive year

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – A program that helps students gain job-seeking and keeping skills has earned national recognition for the eighth consecutive year.

Jobs for America’s Graduates Kentucky received the JAG National 5 of 5 Award. The honor comes after JAG KY’s achievement in five performance areas, including a 100% graduation rate for the 531 Class of 2020 graduates from the program.

During a training event at Frederick Douglas High School, First Lady Britainy Beshear came to thank the teachers who helped contribute to this accomplishment.

“The success rate of JAG KY students is unprecedented during one of the most difficult and trying times in our state’s history,” said First Lady Beshear. “To know these students exceeded expectations during a global pandemic shows their resilience and the outstanding commitment of their respective JAG KY specialists. They all have made the Commonwealth of Kentucky extremely proud.”

The achievements that led to JAG KY’s 5 of 5 for 2020 included: 100% graduation rate, 71% employment rate, 75% full-time placement, 87% positive outcome rate and 48% in full-time jobs. Additionally, 15 individual JAG KY high school programs achieved “5 of 5” recognition: Barbourville, Belfry, Bryan Station, Casey County, Carter G. Woodson, Clay County, Elkhorn Crossing, Frederick Douglass, Martin County, Middlesboro, Morgan County, Phoenix Horizon, Shelby Valley, Warren Central and Warren East.

Students involved in the program believe it sets them up for long-term success.

“I think that it gives kids, especially in a small town, a chance to talk and a chance to speak and be who they are, so yeah,” said Kaylee Harless, Martin County High School JAG Career Association member.

During the 2020-2021 school year, JAG KY worked with over 1,900 youth through 43 high school, middle school and alternative programs.

Co-Executive Director Marcie Hanson said, “Achieving 5 of 5 is a remarkable feat for JAG KY specialists and students who did not allow a global pandemic to prevent them from success.”

“JAG students want to succeed and watching them learn to believe in themselves is very rewarding. Seeing them thrive in the workforce and use their employability skills to comete in our global economy speaks volumes about our programs and the students we serve,” said George Stafford, Co-Executive Director of JAG KY.