Area high school students show skills can build a bridge
Published 3:48 pm Sunday, March 20, 2011
Using their noodles is more important than ever when students from five area high schools measure the strength of home-engineered spaghetti bridges — testing their teamwork not only against weights but against each others’ designs.
Bridge building is just one of many competitions to take place at the state’s second Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference. The event is the yearly capstone of the Michigan Works JAG program, a nationwide dropout prevention and school-to-career transition initiative focused on student graduation, career preparation and college.
In addition to building spaghetti bridges, JAG students from Benton Harbor, Cassopolis, Covert, Coloma and Niles high schools will compete in events focusing on career preparation, community service, public speaking, entrepreneurialism and community problem solving. Students will display business start-up plans and are given $25,000 make believe dollars to solve a problem in their communities.
More than a dozen representatives from local businesses and other organizations will be on hand to serve as judges or as workshop presenters on colleges and careers.
“This program is performing the essential functions to tear down barriers and make sure area students get the education needed to move our region forward,” said Todd Gustafson, executive director of Michigan Works. “The Career Development Conference is a great way we can recognize the students accomplishments in leadership, career preparation, and entrepreneurialism.”
The half-day competition will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mendel Center of Lake Michigan College.
JAG is a component of YouthWorks, a comprehensive, tri-county effort to prepare young people for the workplace.
Michigan Works is a non-profit, workforce development organization providing the skilled workforce necessary to meet the needs of employers. They offer no-cost services to employers and jobseekers and oversee six service centers in Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Dowagiac, Niles, Paw Paw and South Haven.
