By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley High School Student Alysa Jensen recently experienced an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., courtesy of sponsors of the Nevada Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program and private funders.
Jensen is the president of her JAG class at MVHS and applied last September for the trip. It offered a week-long leadership conference for JAG members around the country and their advisers. Jensen was chosen on the basis of her “compelling essay” and the recommendation from her JAG adviser, Tammie Archibald.
Archibald was also able to attend the conference with Jensen as a chaperone and participate in adviser trainings.
Archibald and Jensen traveled to D.C. as part of a delegation of 34 students from all over Nevada. Students were housed in a hotel and split their time between leadership seminars and classes and seeing the historical sights of the nation’s capital.
Archibald said that the purpose of the annual event is to allow JAG students from all over the country to meet and learn about each other while developing communication and leadership skills.
The students spent at least half of every day in classes where they did communication activities and “inner work” where they learned reflection and sharing techniques. In the afternoons they visited many historical sites that included the Lincoln and Washington Memorials, Vietnam and Korean Memorials, and the Martin Luther King and the Roosevelt Memorials, among others. They also visited the Smithsonian Museum and had the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum.
The trip was also about having fun and networking as well as learning. The students were treated to a dance on their first night there. A student talent show was also held on one of the nights.
A highlight of the trip was attending a gala event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, which was also attended by no less than five current state governors.
One favorite activity was to watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. This event was special for the JAG students because it was followed by a special wreath ceremony using a wreath provided by the national JAG program.
Jensen said that the trip was certainly a memorable learning event for her. “I think my favorite thing was meeting all the other kids from around the country and getting out of my comfort zone,” she said. “The people I met throughout the trip were all so nice to us and very helpful. It was a great experience.”
Archibald viewed the trip as a very positive experience. While Jensen was attending her leadership classes, Archibald was able to attend adviser trainings. But one of her favorite things was watching the students learn and grow, she said.
“This was my first time attending this conference and I thought it was an awesome experience,” Archibald said. “I really loved watching the changes in the kids as the week progressed. They started out unsure and shy and then as the week went on, they really bloomed and came out of their shells and bonded with each other. It was an amazing experience.”
Archibald was full of praise for all the representatives from Nevada and especially for Jensen. “The Nevada students were really a great group and Alysa represented her school and community very well,” she said. “I am very proud of her for her service in our JAG organization and for her willingness to learn and grow. She’s an exceptional kid who always just jumps in and helps our group, not for a grade, but just because she wants to help out.”
The JAG program at MVHS is open to all students and focuses on helping them gain employment and education skills that can aid them in making a smooth transition to whatever they choose to do after high school. Students learn leadership and business skills, including resume writing, event planning, interview skills, and many other things.
For more information on the JAG program, contact Archibald at archit@nv.ccsd.net.
