PIERRE, S.D. -- Jobs for America’s Graduates – South Dakota (JAG-SD) held its annual Career Development Conference in Mitchell on March 11 on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) in Mitchell.

The conference hosted 230 JAG-SD students from across South Dakota. Students competed in competitions that showcased skills that will serve them well in adulthood. Competition categories were based off the six JAG core skills that form the backbone of the JAG program:  career development, job attainment, job survival, basic skills, leadership and self-development, and personal skills.

Volunteers from the surrounding communities and the Department of Education (DOE) were on hand to serve as judges for competitions and to provide feedback for the students. The DOE will continue its commitment to supporting JAG-SD students as they compete at the JAG-National Career Development Conference in Indianapolis on April 24-26. Students who received medals in each category will be eligible to compete at the national level.

First place winners in each category are: 

• Maggie Lingemann, Lyman High School, employability skills;
• Mia Ohayon, Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, financial literacy;
• Addy Moran, Lane Olivier, Kori Hanson, Lyman High School, knowledge bowl;
• Memphis Choal, Lyman High School, prepared speaking; and
• Sha’Vell O’Dell, Arriyyon O’Dell, Charlotte Selemani, Jasaya Pinckney, Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, project-based learning.

After the competition portion of the conference, students selected the JAG-SD state officers for 2025. Those elected are:

• State President: Hayden Wren, Wagner High School;
• State Secretary: Catelyn Fry, Bennett County High School;
• State Parliamentarian: Marlee Wells, Lyman High School;
• School Representative A: Briley Oldenkamp, Lyman High School; and
• School Representative B: Mariska Parkhurst-Barahona, Todd County High School.

Beth Schneider, the state director for JAG-SD, congratulated the new state officers, and thanked outgoing officers for their dedication in 2024. She also recognized school staff members for making JAG-SD a success. “We want to recognize the specialists, mentors, and supporters who have guided and encouraged these and all of our students along the way – your dedication makes these achievements possible,” Schneider said.