May 23, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. 

Graduation day brings something especially meaningful for a group of Sioux Falls high school seniors.

They’re among the first participants in the Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG, program, which was piloted in Sioux Falls at Roosevelt High School in the fall of the 2021-2022 school year. It’s a national program dedicated to supporting young people in school and on the job, leading to productive and rewarding careers.

The program now has expanded to other Sioux Falls high schools, and at Roosevelt it’s grown to a full roster of students next school year.

Participants there work with teacher Nicole Fette on leadership skills, confidence, public speaking and career exploration.

So when they partner with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation’s Career Connections program, they’re ready. The Development Foundation then connects the students with a variety of immersive career experiences, including visits to employers and even the chance to attend at speak at the annual WIN in Workforce Summit.

The results are striking. Click below to hear from the student participants in their own words and learn what’s next in their career journeys.