National Youth Organization to Host 32nd Annual National Leadership Awards Luncheon in Washington, D.C.

Governor Markell to deliver keynote remarks

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Chair of Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Board of Directors, along with the largest turnout of the JAG National Board will be hosting JAG's 32^nd Annual JAG National Leadership Awards Event tomorrow.  Elected leaders who will be attending include JAG National Board Members: U.S. Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL), Washington State Superintendent Randy Dorn, and Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford.  Other community leaders and JAG National Board Members present include Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League, and Stacey Stewart, U.S. President of United Way Worldwide.

The Luncheon will recognize senior leaders from business, government, education, and the workforce system, and individuals who have gone far "above and beyond" in their commitments to the work of Jobs for America's Graduates and helping high-risk young people succeed.  Awards will be presented to:

• Western Union – National Youth Investor Award to be accepted by Patrick Gaston, President of the Western Union Foundation
• AT&T – The Catapult Award to be accepted by Beth Shiroishi, President of the AT&T Foundation.
• Delta Regional Authority – National Partnership Award to be accepted by DRA Chairman Chris Masingill
• General Electric – Corporate Leader of the Year to be accepted by Athena Kaviris, Global Human Resources Manager
• Governor Mike Pence – Government Leader Award to be accepted Scott Sanders, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
• The Honorable Bill Walker, Director of the Arkansas Department of Career Education – National Network Leader Award
• Delaware Secretary of Labor John McMahon – Government Leader Award

The event will also welcome more than 500 of JAG's youth leaders across JAG's 31 state network.  Select students, who competed and raised funds to attend, will perform on stage, receive awards, and prepare for JAG's National Student Leadership Academy.  The select group of students are part of the JAG National Network of approximately 50,000 students who are at-risk of dropping out of high school and being unemployed.  Since its inception, JAG students have achieved 90% graduation rates and 80% successful outcomes, meaning they go on to post-secondary education, employment or a combination.  Recent reports also show that JAG doubles the rate of employment for high-risk young people, and triples their rate of full-time employment.

About JAG
Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) is a non-profit organization that just celebrated its 33^rd anniversary with a proven track record of helping at-risk young people graduate from high school and make successful transitions to postsecondary education or meaningful employment.  JAG has served over 900,000 youth and is currently assisting approximately 47,000 young people in over 1,000 community high schools, middle schools, community colleges, and other learning locations in 31 states to achieve academic, career and life success. Some 90% of the youth in the JAG National Network have successfully graduated and over 80% are working, in college, or both a year after graduation. For more information about JAG go to www.jag.org.

SOURCE Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG)