CREATING A FUTURE-READY GENERATION
State Career Development Conference
March 4th, 2025 - Ames, Iowa
During the State Career Development Conference (SCDC), students in grades 11-12 will participate in a full day of career discovery and professional development with employer-led workshops, networking, and a career fair.
This event features several categories of competitions that challenge students on various subject matters in addition to soft skills, presentation abilities, and professionalism. Whether competing individually or as a group, students work closely with their iJAG Specialists and employer mentors to prepare for the big day.
First-place competition winners earn an all-expenses paid trip to the JAG National Career Development Conference (NCDC). Not only do students compete nationally in their respective categories, but they participate in other experiences that influence them for a lifetime. Only about 300 of JAG’s 65,000 students attend NCDC annually.
In 2024, SCDC was the largest iJAG event to date with nearly 500 students in attendance. Meet last year’s finalists and NCDC attendees, plus read the news about the third-place national finalists from Davenport!
Career Preparation
Students research a career and present on why the career is the right fit for them
L.O.V.E Project
Teams identify community inequities and work together to make a positive impact
Employability Skills
Students participate in a simulated employment interview
Prepared Speaking
Students prepare a speech and practice effective oral communication
Project Based Learning Showcase
Teams present a PBL project to a panel of judges
Business Plan
Teams develop and explain their business plan.
Creative Decision Making
Teams work on a creative solution to a problem scenario.
Financial Literacy
Students prepare and take a test including questions based in several financial literacy areas.
Ways to get involved:
- Students: Check back soon for the list of 2025 competition categories! Enter a competition and prepare with your Specialist!
- Employers: Sponsor, lead a workshop, host a booth at the career fair, and/or serve as a judge during one of our student competitions. Email info@iJAG.org to lock in your involvement!
- Community: Contact us to serve as an event volunteer.
Thank you, 2025 sponsors!
Our annual CDC event is just one way employers can invest in building the future.
Contact us to learn how your organization can get involved.
