Five Wagner JAG students were among the nine state winners in the South Dakota Jobs for America’s Graduates Career Development Conference (CDC) Nov. 12. In years past, these students would have qualified to attend the National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA) in Washington, D.C., in December. However, due to COVID-19, the NSLA was held virtually Dec. 1-3 and a traditional competitive events contest was not held.

Wagner students placing in the state contest include: math competition—sophomore Theron Zephier, first place, and senior Laila Young, third place; employability skills competition—junior Tawikaya Star Comes Out, first place, and senior Derek Drews, second place; and public speaking, junior Isabella Kreber, second place.

The Math Skills Event is a chance for JAG students to improve their ability to identify, solve, and apply mathematical principles involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, geometric problems, converting units of measure using a conversion chart, and solving basic algebraic equations. Math competitors took a competitive timed, 50-question test in a proctored online format to determine the state winner.

In the Employability Skills Event students interviewed for mock positions at a fictitious department store. Students were asked to apply for a position best suited to their real skills. Students were also asked to submit their actual cover letter and professional resume in advance and to complete a j ob application. Each of these items was judged separately and contributed to the students’ overall score. State judges included Cassie Hollenbeck and Allison Green with the Department of Labor and Tim Huether, a semi-retired newspaper industry professional. All interviews were completed virtually.

In the Public Speaking Event, students presented a 3-5 minute speech on the topic of “I Am the Voice of the Youth. How JAG Helped Me Find My Voice.” Students were judged on their presentation and communication skills, as well as the content and effectiveness of their speech. Judges included Jacquie Larson, recently retired from the Department of Education (DOE); Rick Kiley of the Sioux Falls City Council and South Dakota Safety Council; Tom Cartney, pastor at East Lake Andes Lutheran Church and former JAG Specialist; and Andrea Diehm and Megan Tatum, both with the Career and Technical Education Division of the DOE. All speeches were delivered virtually.

This is the first time the South Dakota CDC has been held using a virtual format.

The CDC was organized by State JAG Director Beth Schneider of the DOE.