Jobs for Tennessee’s Graduates holds Regional Competition

As the buses from ten area high schools rolled into the Renaissance Center in Dickson on Friday morning, the noise level in the rotunda escalated with excitement. It was time for the JTG regional competition! It is always a pleasure to see the young students as they eagerly await the day’s events.  It was especially exciting this year as eight members of the North Tennessee Workforce Board had volunteered to judge.  I would like to say a special “thank you” to the following:

Mr. Dwight McWhorter, Frist Center (JAG Bowl Judge)

Ms. Debra Daniels, Randstad (Employment Interview Judge)

Ms. Amber King, Northcrest Medical Center (Poster Design Judge)

Ms. Brenda Head, National Council on Aging (Poster Design Judge)

Ms. Beverly Baum, Bath Fitters (Public Speaking Judge)

Ms. Christy Batts, CDE Lightband (Public Speaking Judge)

Ms. Angie Stepp, Temple Inland (Public Speaking Judge)

Mr. Ed Vance, Signature Cleaners (Public Speaking Judge)

JTG is a state affiliate of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates program (JAG).

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has helped nearly three-quarters of a million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue postsecondary education, and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.

Focused on workplace skills and ethics that represent the JTG model, I am happy to announce the following winners:

Program Cover

3^rd
Place        Brian McDonnell     Page High

2^nd
Place        Bailey Mullens       Centennial High

1^st
Place        Morgan Pitts          Centennial High

Employment Application

3rd
Place       Summer Duncan     Sycamore High

2^nd
Place        Grace Lampley        Fairview High

1^st
Place        Tyler Ryan              Houston County High

Business Math

3rd
Place       Hayden Johnson     Franklin High

2^nd
Place        Devan  Balwin       Centennial High

1^st
Place        Ryan Burns           Fairview High

Career Vocabulary

3rd
Place       Steven Culbertson Franklin High

2^nd
Place        Jacob Miller            Cheatham County High

1^st
Place        Amanda Oliver       Springfield High

Telephone Technique

3rd
Place       Katelyn Guiher        Creekwood High

2^nd
Place        Peyton Abernathy  Fairview High

1^st
Place        Marc Gross           Independence High

Poster Design

3rd
Place       Raven Ray                 Fairview High

2^nd
Place        Katelyn Covill           Fairview High

1^st
Place        Julia Babin               Fairview High

Decision Making

3rd
Place       Michalia Mangrum Fairview High

2^nd
Place        Joshua Doolan       Franklin High

1^st
Place        Camille Smolocha  Creekwood High

Employment Interview

3rd
Place       James Thomas         Creekwood High

2^nd
Place        Austin West             Springfield High

1^st
Place        Courtney Law         Fairview High

Public Speaking

Honorable Mention           Christina Mangrum            Fairview High

3rd
Place                               Alexa Batts                           Centennial
High

2^nd
Place                                Krystal Phelps                      Creekwood High

1^st
Place                                Caitland Baird                     Centennial  High

JAG Bowl

3rd
Place       Creekwood High

McKayla
Robinson, Stephanie Proctor, Elizabeth Novem, Christy Murtha

2^nd
Place        Cheatham County

Hussan Ismail, Samantha Taylor, Lauren Shasowens, Brittney Elliott

1^st
Place        Fairview High
Amber Singer, Ana Purvis, Bryan Ross, Alex Sewell

A special “thanks” to the JTG staff that worked tirelessly with the young adults and helped coordinate the event:  Debra Odom, Daina Hunter, Vickie Parson, Cathy Dennis, Scott Charlesworth, Jon Kerlikowske, Beverly West, Elizabeth Little and JTG Program Director, Jerry Jones!