Volunteer and support the state’s largest youth leadership conference of the year! iJAG is looking for virtual volunteers to judge preliminary student competitions between February 5 – 9, 2024. Competitions include Business Plan, Career Prep, Prepared Speaking, Project-Based Learning Showcase, Employability Skills, and the L.O.V.E. Project.

Our drive to jobs in skilled trades is creating sparks! As employer partnerships continue to grow, so do opportunities for our students.

Just last week, iJAG student Matthew Deshamp of GMG High School earned first place in a welding competition open to students across the state. The competition took place at the Skilled Trades Convention hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa.

Earlier this month, eight student leaders joined staff members for an annual trip to Washington, D.C. From meeting up with iJAG alum and National Career Association President Kira Canada for some sight-seeing to visiting with Iowa legislators on Capitol Hill before attending the National Student Leadership Academy (NSLA), this trip was filled with unforgettable experiences that help shape our young people and the future of iJAG.

This fall, we were thrilled to launch the iJAG ALUMNi NETWORK with kickoff events in Des Moines and Iowa City. With more than 30 alumni in attendance, it was humbling to hear firsthand how our program and Education Specialists have made a life-changing impact on their careers and lives.

On October 20, Arconic hosted more than 200 Quad Cities area iJAG students for a first-ever Manufacturing Career Expo. The event was held at the Arconic Learning Center with six different occupations/units represented. Those included skilled trades (Roll Grinders, Machinists, Electricians), Information Technology, Engineering and Production.

The iJAG Leadership Development Conference (LDC) sponsored by the Wellmark Foundation was held in Des Moines at the Iowa Events Center on November 3. The event hosted nearly 1,100 students from across the state who were recently elected by their peers to serve as local Career Association officers!