November 13, 2013 at 4:18 p.m.
AT&T helps students through donation to JAG program
AT&T helps students through donation to JAG program
The program received a $30,000 grant from AT&T Monday.
JAG Regional Director Sandy Leslie said the program is in place to assist students in preparing for whatever future they envision for themselves.
"We've been around the state of Wisconsin since 2009," she said. "We came here about a year ago. ... It's about career and leadership development. It's about bringing out the best of what students have to offer and reminding them of their worth."
To help achieve that goal, JAG works with students throughout the school year and beyond as they attempt to navigate the long road to adulthood.
"We're here every day. We're involved in the classroom helping the students figure out what they want to do with their lives after high school, helping them down the various career pathways, helping them figure out what school to go to if they want to go to college," Leslie said.
"If they don't want to go to college and they want to work, we help them figure out what kind of work they want to do, and then help them bridge that gap to the community through mock interviews, going out on field trips, bringing in guest speakers, and things like that."
That includes working with students after graduation as well.
"We also provide 12 months of follow-up after they graduate from high school," Leslie said.
"We're there to help them if they lose their job at say McDonalds, we help them figure out what they want to do - maybe there's a job at Hardee's, maybe there's a job at the library, maybe Walmart is looking. We try to help them figure out where they're heading next."
JAG Career Specialist Kim Brown also works hand-in-hand with the students on the journey.
"I'm excited to help the students graduate, find jobs, get into post-secondary education, provide community service activities, and mentor and tutor and all of the other things that the JAG program allows to happen," Brown said.
"My hope is that this program continues to grow and inspire students to follow their dreams."
One of the facets of the program involves helping students find work experience.
NCSS sophomore Anavay White, who worked with the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce last summer, gaining valuable experience and knowledge through the JAG program.
"I joined JAG last year around April and I joined looking for new opportunities and I received many," White said.
"JAG gave me the chance to have a paid work experience at the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce. I was able to obtain a lot of great skills and amazing opportunities. They have helped me grow and learn to become who I am today."
AT&T's Director of External Affairs Robyn Gruner said the company's decision to invest in the program was an easy one.
"We're very excited to have the opportunity to bring the JAG program to the students here in Rhinelander," Gruner said.
"The students are the future Robyn Gruners of AT&T, they're the future engineers of AT&T, they're the future people who are going to be creating the new iPhone when the iPhone is like the old RAZR phone. They are the people that are going to be doing these jobs in the future."
Gruner noted the community service aspect of the JAG program was a key reason why AT&T decided to donate the money.
"The focus that the JAG program has not only on their personal development and their leadership development, but the fact that they have a portion of the program that's focused on community service opportunities, those things are so important," Gruner said.
"AT&T is very committed to education. We're very committee to workforce development."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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