Governor Kristi Noem’ s office contacted Wagner Community School about a visitto learn more about the Jag program in South Dakota and chose to visit Wagner. Noem wanted to learn the student’s perspective on JAG. She was on a fact-finding mission on how the program has affected students and what can the legislature do to help the program.

Wagner started with a JAG I program for freshman then expanding the program to JAG ii and JAG III for older students. There are now 62 students enrolled in grades 7-12. The program for the high school focuses on academics while the middle school focuses on social aspects and school transitions. JAG lets students become involved with community service, technical training and career days.

Renee Van Der Werff, Evan Papousek and Thomas Cartney are the JAG specialists here in Wagner, with Renee and Evan in the high school area and Mr. Cartney in the middle school. They hold other teaching duties and are extra-curricular advisors besides the JAG program.

Mrs. Van Der Werff spoke of the successes that she has seen in the JAG program from getting jobs to going to college to become a speaker at the National JAG convention. Wagner JAG program has been recognized nationally. Kids need to find out what they want to do and that is what JAG helps them do. Renee said, “The more involved kids are, the better students they are. We ask what they want to be involved in besides JAG. We want them to have all sorts of support networks in place.”

Mr. Goter stated, “ JAG truly offers a family atmosphere, when they belong to JAG, it’s like a second family. They want to come to school for a reason. They feel loved, supported and they feel people want them here.”

JAG is helping students in Wagner become better students and become more involved in the school and community.

The Governor stated that the students’ stories were inspiring and that she will to look further into programs like JAG to bolster positive influences in the lives of the next generation – just like Wagner High School is doing now. Four students from the Wagner JAG program have received National Scholarships.

“THE STUDENTS IN THE WAGNER JAG PROGRAM ARE INCREDIBLY INSPIRING. TODAY, I HEARD THEIR STORIES. THESE STUDENTS HAVE INCREDIBLE TESTIMONIES OF HOW THE PROGRAM HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. I ALSO HEARD STORIES OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM JAG AND GONE ON TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS LIKE SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY. THESE STUDENTS ARE AMAZING. I’M COMMITTED TO SEEING WHAT THE STATE CAN DO TO BOLSTER PROGRAMS LIKE WAGNER’S TO CONTINUE STRENGTHENING THE NEXT GENERATION.” GOVERNOR NOEM