Jobs for Tennessee Graduates Earns 2011 National Award

NASHVILLE— Tennessee’s Jobs for Tennessee Graduates (JTG), a partnership between the Department’s of Education and Labor and Workforce Development, has earned national recognition for the sixth consecutive year.  Regarded as an esteemed accolade, the Five of Five Award signifies JTG students exceeding the goals of the program and earning top marks for graduation and success rates.

 

“Education is the critical link in developing well-rounded and productive citizens and investing in our future leaders and position within a global economy,” Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said. “The running success of this program highlights excellence in education and furthers the goals Tennessee has set in the First to the Top plan.”

 

The achievements of JTG students are measured by parent organization, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), in each of the following areas:

 

 

Tennessee is also proud to recognize winners of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Senior Scholarships awarded to Laura Julian from Cloudland High School (Carter County) and Colton Baker from Perry County High School (Perry County). RoyeAnn Weaks from Lewis County High School (Lewis County) was awarded the Clara Theus Senior Scholarship at the JTG state conference.

 

“We are extremely proud of our JTG teachers and students across the state that have excelled and achieved these graduation and placement rates for six years,” said Betsy Houston, Executive Director for Jobs for Tennessee Graduates. “They are truly making a difference in over 50 schools and for over 1500 students entering the workforce and/or postsecondary education through this program.”

 

JTG is designed to assist at-risk youth in graduating from high school and finding and keeping quality jobs. Through classroom instruction, community orientation and career association activities, students develop competencies in essential employability skills. After leaving school, all students are provided follow up services for a period of one year. The Five of Five Award was presented during the National Jobs for America’s Graduates Conference Wednesday, July 13th in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

For more information, contact Amanda E. Morris at (615) 253-4754 or Amanda.E.Morris@tn.gov.

 

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