Cody Fitch Gives Back Through Mentorship
We believe success comes full circle—and few stories reflect that more than iJAG alum Cody Fitch. In honor of National Volunteer Week, we’re proud to highlight Cody’s continued commitment to supporting students and strengthening iJAG Nation.
Work-Based Learning: Iowa’s Competitive Advantage
This is a three-part thought leadership series that advocates and showcases the impact of work-based learning in Iowa.
Iowa’s economic future will not be determined by chance. It will be shaped by the decisions we make today about how we prepare young people for work—and how deeply businesses choose to engage in that preparation.
iJAG Receives Grant from Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa for Innovative Career Learning Solutions
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) announces it has received a grant from Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa (Variety) for innovative career learning solutions. The statewide nonprofit organizations leverage grant funding to introduce Virtual Reality (VR) headsets in select iJAG classrooms to adapt and support the ever-changing needs of students.
Broadlawns Boosts Career Certainty
iJAG senior Arianna Johnson has entered her final year at Hoover High School in Des Moines with peace of mind knowing she has a plan after graduation that will continue to put her on a path to a career she’s passionate about.
Exploring Possibilities, Building a Career
When Waukee High School graduate Josh Knight joined iJAG, he discovered opportunities that helped him turn curiosity into a career. Through career exploration and the Build My Future Bootcamp, Josh gained the skills and connections that led to his job with Mediacom.
Hy-Vee Renews $50,000 Commitment to Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, Strengthening Pathways to Iowa Careers
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) announced today that Hy-Vee, Iowa’s largest private employer, is renewing its commitment to Iowa students with a $50,000 donation to support iJAG programming, which features in-school, work-based, and community experiences that help students discover, plan, and prepare for a career.
Apollo Opportunity Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to iJAG to Support Iowa’s Future Workforce
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) is proud to announce that it will receive $1 million in grant funding over the next two years from the Apollo Opportunity Foundation. iJAG’s mission is to empower youth with the skills and support they need to succeed in education, employment, and life. Thanks to the Apollo Opportunity Foundation’s transformative funding commitment, iJAG will be able to strengthen its programs across the state and help more than 11,000 students overcome barriers to a better future.
A DRIVE TO IOWA EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE & CONTINUED CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY — COPY
Dr. Skylar Mayberry-Mayes is an iJAG alum whose passion for civic and social responsibility has never waivered since he graduated from North High School in Davenport. Skylar started his path to educational excellence by earning a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa (Finance) followed by a Master’s degree from Iowa State University (MBA) and later, a doctoral degree from Drake University (Ph.D) – making his future extremely bright just based on academic achievement alone! But Skylar’s accomplishments continued well beyond education.
State Career Development Conference Creates Lifelong Impact for Students
The State Career Development Conference (CDC) is an event that Lexi Vazquez and nearly 600 other 11th and 12th-grade iJAG students look forward to every year. Vazquez, one of four State Career Association (SCA) student officers for 2024-2025, reflects on key experiences from GMG High School iJAG that prepared her to capture a first-place finish in the Prepared Speaking competition. Lexi, along with 24 other Iowa students, earned a spot to compete at the National CDC at the end of April in Indianapolis.
From Classroom to Career: How iJAG Helped One Student Land a Job at John Deere
Lindsay, a 2021 Dubuque Hempstead graduate, transformed her future thanks to iJAG—landing a job at John Deere, buying her first home, and building a life she’s proud of. Discover how one class taught her the life skills and provided her with the connections that made it all possible.