<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576179466278.jpeg" alt="Great Bend High School student Austin Moore preparing for an interview at the JAG National Student Leadership Academy in Washington D.C." />
 <figcaption>Great Bend High School student Austin Moore preparing for an interview at the JAG National Student Leadership Academy in Washington D.C.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K)&nbsp;was represented by&nbsp;16 students&nbsp;at the&nbsp;JAG National Student Leadership Academy&nbsp;(NSLA) in Washington, D.C., including Great Bend High School student Austin Moore.&nbsp; The&nbsp;students competed in skills competitions, attended leadership workshops and had the opportunity to tour familiar monuments and museums in the nation’s capital.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The students who attended NSLA earned the all-expense paid trip by placing first, second or third in one of four skills competitions at the JAG-K Career Development Conference in April 2019. The competitions included Employability Skills,&nbsp;Math Skills, Public Speaking and Project Based Learning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576179529411.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Three statewide JAG-K Career Association Officers, elected at the Leadership Development Conference in October, also earned positions&nbsp;on the national team.&nbsp;“This was a fabulous group of young people, who were participating in the largest event in JAG history,” said Chuck Knapp, JAG-K President and CEO. “Many of our students had never traveled before, and this was certainly a life-changing experience. I wish to thank the AT&amp;T Foundation for helping sponsor this outstanding opportunity.”&nbsp;JAG-K is a multi-year&nbsp;program for students in grades&nbsp;7-12&nbsp;in 79 schools in 41 districts across the state,&nbsp;serving over 3,900 students in both the classroom setting and in follow-up after graduation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576179553298.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The nationally accredited, evidence-based model provides&nbsp;tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military&nbsp;or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. JAG-K students had a 98-percent graduation rate.  &nbsp;The 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization is one of 39&nbsp;state affiliate organizations of Jobs for America’s Graduates&nbsp;and&nbsp;is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by DCF. In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include AT&amp;T, John Deere, and&nbsp;Taco Bell.  &nbsp;Learn more about JAG-K at&nbsp;www.jagkansas.org,&nbsp;‘Jobs for America’s Graduates- Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.

Great Bend student competes, participates in leadership workshops in Washington D.C.