JAG provides students with choices and connections

Choices and connections was the message during the Jobs for American Graduates-Nevada ceremony on Oct. 16 at Douglas High School as 17 students were initiated and inducted into the program.

“We get into high school not knowing what we want, who we want to be and what we want to do for the rest of our lives,” said Career Association President and Douglas High School senior Stella Rae Bradley. “This program is designed to help us figure that out.”

Jobs for American Graduates is a national nonprofit organization that guides youth through education and career paths for brighter futures.

Susan McDonald is the JAG-Nevada Specialist for Douglas High School.

“It’s not only a safe place, but a place to further their goals and futures,” said McDonald. “Any advantage we can give for our students is going to help with that one step up to get to where they want to be.”

Douglas County District Judge Tod Young, who gave the initiation address and presented the installation of officers and initiation of inductees during the ceremony, said expecting someone to know what they want to be and do for the rest of their lives is “grossly unfair.”

“You don’t have to go to the Eiffel Tower, but you might want to think about it,” said Young. “You don’t ever have to see the pyramids, but you might want to think about it.”

Young said as students participate in the JAG program, they are putting themselves in a position to see those things in real life and to have the opportunity to expand their horizons.

“I want you to see yourself having that opportunity, because you will never do it if you don’t see yourself doing it,” said Young. “When you look in the mirror, I want you to see someone who has possibilities, someone who has options, someone who has choices for their life.”

Education Advisor to Gov. Joe Lombardo, Isabel Graf, was the keynote speaker during the Oct. 16 ceremony and shared her story of choices and connections that shaped her career.

“My career has been profoundly shaped by the relationships I have made along the way,” said Graf. “Every opportunity I have embraced, has stemmed from the connections throughout my education and professional life.”

Graf graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a degree in English. While working at a BBQ restaurant, she took a chance and asked a lobbyist if he needed assistance in the upcoming legislative session.

“Thankfully he did,” she said. “The insights I gained and the relationships I developed during that time proved really invaluable.”

Graf said after graduation, she was encouraged to join the governor’s political campaign and began working as a policy director.

“That leap into the campaign world not only shaped my professional journey but allowed me to continue working with Gov. Lombardo to further his policy goals and gave me a remarkable experience,” she said. 

For Bradley, who joined the program as a sophomore, JAG has taught her how to connect with people and to utilize communication skills and public speaking.

Because of JAG, Bradley has participated in the Career Development Conferences for three years and has the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. later this year where she will meet and talk with like-minded students.

“It’s amazing the things we are able to accomplish when we are just given the right help, the right set of hands, the right doors to be opened. It is incredible what we are truly capable of even as young adults,” she said.

Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates was established in 2013 when former Gov. Sandoval learned about the positive impact of the Jobs for American Graduates program had in other states. It came to Douglas High School in 2016, with McDonald becoming the program specialist in 2022.

“This is a special moment for each and every one of us in the JAG program, including the specialist (Susan McDonald), and everyone involved in the program,” said Bradley. “This would not be possible at all, yes, us students put in work alongside her, but in reality, she has helped us through everything that this program has to offer and it is possible thanks to her.”

Career Association Officers

Career Association President: Stella Rae Bradley

Junior Vice President: Elijah Canales

Publicity: Jaya Vann

Treasure: Thai Quintano

Communications: Josh Haller

JAG Secretary: Joanna Cervantes

Career Association Inductees

Alex Miller

Cody Ponder

Coral Millim

Devan Barnes-Roberts

E’Miyah Monroe

Elijah Canales

Jaya Vann

Joanna Cervantes

Josh Haller

Lee Peterson

Leila Etheridge

Liara Ewing

May Bolt

Selvin Rivera Ramos

Stella Rae Bradley

Thai Quitano

Yahaira Chaidez