JAG Indiana Expands to 250 Programs for 2025

There are several schools in SEI that contributed to this number.

Pictured: Angel Tunney (South Ripley) and Shelby Williams (Milan). Photo provided.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) successfully reached its Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) target growth goal.

Governor Eric Holcomb announced this week that the number of middle and high school programs has grown from 125 to 250 prior to 2025.

Holcomb set the expansion goal in September of 2023 to remove barriers to graduation some young Hoosiers face. JAG is a resiliency-building workforce program helping both middle and high school students learn in-demand employability skills and receive career exploration and coaching experiences. Administered by DWD, JAG Indiana has served 40,000 Hoosier youths to date.

There are seven schools in the Eagle Country listening area that currently have JAG programs. They are Franklin County High School, Lawrenceburg High School, South Dearborn High School, Jac-Cen-Del Jr./Sr. High School, Milan High School, South Ripley High School, and Switzerland County High School.

Angel Tunney, of South Ripley, currently serves as the JAG Indiana President, and Milan student Shelby Williams is the State Secretary.

Other area JAG schools include Madison, North Decatur, Greensburg, South Decatur, Southwestern (Hanover), and Jennings County high schools. 

For the high school graduation class of 2023, JAG Indiana had a 97 percent graduation rate. In addition, 84 percent had full-time employment secured when they graduated. The students who decided to pursue higher education earned over $20 million in scholarship funding.

 “I’m incredibly proud of the JAG team for reaching this lofty goal and ensuring students across the state of Indiana can explore their potential and find their career path of choice,” Governor Holcomb said. “JAG develops leaders who go on to make excellent participants in the workforce which in turn only betters Indiana, community by community. These kids will forever have the support of the JAG system and one another. Congratulations to all involved.”

 For more information on Indiana’s JAG program, visit https://www.in.gov/dwd/jag/.