When Dowagiac Union High School senior Anthony Neubauer first enrolled in the high school’s new Job for Michigan’s Graduates program, he figured it would just be another elective course.

After a couple of months working with program instructor Nathan Davies, participating on job education projects and visiting locations like Whirlpool to witness local professionals hard at work, the student has developed a whole new take on what his life will look life after he turns his tassel next spring, he said.

“College wise, I just wanted to go to Southwestern Michigan College, get it over with and start working,” Neubauer said. “But he [Davies] helped me realize I could broaden my future and maybe do something besides just work at a Subway for a couple years.”

Neubauer is just one of several students thriving under the recently introduced job education program, which launched this year at the high school and at Pathfinders adult education center. The Dowagiac senior shared what he has learned over the last several months of enrollment with the program during a presentation to the members of the Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Education Monday night.

Several representatives with Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates were in attendance during the meeting, discussing with school board and others present during the meeting about the achievements the state-based organization has made since its inception in 2008.

A part of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates program, JMG is a school-to-career program designed develop job skills, leadership and financial literacy for participating school districts.

Initially designed by Berrien County-based nonprofit Kinexus to address the low graduation rate at Benton Harbor High School, the program has since expanded to districts across the state, including in Dowagiac, Cassopolis and Hartford, said Assistant Director of Operations Jan Ennis.

The program is looking to serve 9,000 Michigan students by 2018, Ennis said.

“We’ve got a big undertaking, and we’re completely capable of that,” Ennis said. “Dowagiac Union High School and Pathfinders fits into our plans to serve 9,000 students by 2018.”

Currently, around 32 high school students and around 10 adult education students are enrolled in the program in Dowagiac, growing from just five high school students on the first day of class, Davies said. Among the lessons students have learned this year includes building up job interview skills and learning how to apply for college scholarships, Davies said.

Some of the skills the students have learned have already benefited them outside the classroom, the teacher said.

“I’ve already had three students who I’ve trained before their interview,” Davies said. “I let them know what kind of questions they’re going to hear, and they should be prepared for those questions.”