Several local high school students earned first-place in competitions at Iowa’s Career Development Conference last Thursday in Des Moines. Gracie Deal, Liam Fitzsimmons, Jayden Beichley, Tavin Coleman, of Green Mountain-Garwin High School, placed first in the Business Plan competition.

The Business Plan competition included more than 70 total student groups who are part of the iJAG program at the high schools. The competition challenges youth to write and present a business proposal to a panel of judges based on a real product or service concept. The purpose of the challenge is to convince the judges to invest in the business, similar to a Shark Tank concept.

Drayson Stephenson, Ethan Klemesrud, Caleb Ferch, Jocie Parks, of GMG High School, placed first in the Project-Based Learning competition that consisted of more than 70 total student groups who are part of the high school iJAG program. During the competition, students showcase a real community project from the current school year and explain how the project fulfilled a community need and positively impacted others.

North Tama County High School student Isabella Allen placed first in the Employability Skills competition that consisted of more than 70 total student participants who are part of iJAG at the high school. The Employability Skills competition challenges youth to prepare a cover letter and resume that is presented to a panel of judges.

Josh Lasley, of North Tama County High School, placed first in the Career Preparation competition that consisted of more than 70 total student participants who are part of iJAG at their high school.

The Career Preparation competition challenges youth to prepare for a future career and explain the experience, qualifications and skillset to a panel of judges through a mock interview scenario.

First-place winners from nine Iowa CDC student competition categories will advance to the national conference hosted by the national affiliate for iJAG Jobs for America’s Graduates.

The national conference the National Career Development Conference will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from April 30 to May 2 for top student leaders from 31 other state affiliates. More than 400 high school students and nearly 40 employers across Iowa participated in the annual Iowa CDC hosted by iJAG the state’s leader for in-school career development, leadership and employability programming. The Iowa CDC was held in Des Moines on March 26.

Iowa CDC featured four employer-led workshops, a career fair and skills competitions for students grades 11-12 who represent more than 70 iJAG programs across the state. In total, there are 205 iJAG programs statewide that serve students grades 7-12. A total of 26 high school students will represent Iowa at NCDC next month.

Students will network with national employers, attend skill-development workshops and participate in leadership activities.

A total of 20 students, will participate in competitions for the chance to earn top finishes nationally.

Nearly 700 JAG student leaders from across the country attend and compete at NCDC every year. The number of students who compete in each competition varies by category; around 32 in total per individual competition and approximately 125 in total per group-based competitions.