JMG students end year strong with awards

PLAINS – The seniors of Plains came back from the Career Development Conference in Billings with handfuls of awards depicting the hard work they put in through the JMG course.

JMG instructor, Annawyn Griffin, said the kids were able to learn a lot at the conference.

“I thought they did really good. It was a great learning experience,” Griffin said. 

Not only did the students prepare throughout the year for the trip, providing a valuable educational experience, but the trip also served as one last hoorah for the students.

“In a lot of ways, it’s the senior class trip,” Griffin said.

After their work was complete, the students played laser tag, mini golf and enjoyed some good meals. 

“Some of the money that they raise all year long goes towards some of those fun things at the end of the year,” Griffin said.

The fundraisers the students host throughout the year allow them to reap their rewards at the end. The students are responsible for a vending machine as well as the 50/50 raffle at games. Although they raise money though other methods as well, those two events bring in the majority of funds.

Jobs for Montana’s Graduates is a two year course and provides students with a mentorship throughout their senior year and their first year out of school. The class teaches the students many life lessons and also helps them hone their resume and cover letter skills.

With graduation next weekend, the seniors are ready to move on from their JMG class and into their next phase of life. Throughout their time in the class, Griffin said it’s a rewarding experience to see them move on.

Many of the students will be entering into some sort of post-secondary education, while a few are headed either into the military or straight into the work force. 

Griffin will keep in contact with them next year, touching base four or five times throughout the year to make sure they are on track with their goals. She will also be available if any of them need a helping hand with resumes or job opportunities. 

“Every class is unique and it’s different every year. This has been a really well behaved group for the most part and nice kids to be around,” Griffin said. “It’s always fun to see them go and get going into areas of interest that they have.” 

Many of the students also agree that the class and the conference are invaluable experiences.

Sakoya LaDeaux, president of the class, explained that the conference tied together everything they had learned throughout the year. During the class, LaDeaux learned how to better delegate; a skill she knows will pay off in the future. 

Laura Bratz also gained experience at the conference that will help her throughout her years.

After placing in the employment prep category at the conference, Bratz has sharpened her cover letter, resume and interview skills.

“That was my favorite part of the class – learning how to do resumes and interviews because I had no clue before,” Bratz said. 

Nicole Rehbein, the civic coordinator for the class, agreed. Rehbein said the class teaches the students important life skills and the conference helped bring that all together. 

She enjoyed getting to meet the other students while showcasing her abilities in a friendly competition. 

The conference took place April 28-30 and helped the seniors finish out their year strong, building confidence in what they have accomplished throughout the class.