Swansea High School JAG-SC team takes 2nd in Nation
July 7, 2017
The Swansea High School Students in Action Team placed second nationally in the Jefferson Awards Foundation competition. They were recognized for their service learning project which is to promote community service.
The team created and serviced a food pantry from which they fed more than 100 families twice a month throughout the school year. The students chose this project because 90 percent of the community lives below the poverty rate.
Students in Action is part of the high school’s Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, which is administered by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. JAG is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has helped more than one million young people across the nation stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.
“This wasn’t the only thing that they did throughout the year. They stuffed book bags with food to give to kids who didn’t have food during the weekends, they adopted families for Christmas, made cards for veterans at the VA hospital, held a texting and driving campaign, a Walk for Life and an End the R Word rally – they are really involved,” said Tammy Jones, Swansea High’s JAG – SC specialist.
“We are so proud of these students. They have not only overcome their own barriers and are thriving in school, they also have seen and met the needs of so many others in the community, making their community a better place for all residents. This is a true sign of leadership,” said Cheryl Stanton, DEW’s executive director.
Swansea JAG – SC participants were Nate Winch, Hunter Fairbanks, Seth Hoffman, Ron Bell, Brianna Coots, Skylar Cosentino, Rachel Burns, Ragan Williams, Jerry Mendez, Carlos Arriaga, and Shawn Adcock. The team’s primary function is to promote community service by getting people involved to have a greater impact.
The team learned they had placed second during a black-tie gala in Washington, D.C., on June 22. First place winner was Lake High School in Uniontown, Ohio.
In 2016, Greenville Technical Charter High School in Greenville, S.C., won the top honor.
About DEW
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency invests in building a pipeline of quality workers, matches workers with jobs, and is a bridge for individuals who find themselves out of work for no fault of their own. This promotes financial stability and economic prosperity for employers, individuals and communities. DEW is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services that meet the needs of the state’s businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.
About the Jefferson Award Foundation
Launched in 2006 by the Jefferson Awards Foundation and Deloitte, Students In Action develops high school students into community leaders. Currently active in communities across the U.S., the program encourages teenagers to positively impact their schools, communities and world. The organization leverages its network of Media Partners, corporations, universities, local governments and non-profits to reach and promote the work of SIA teams and student leaders. The Jefferson Awards Foundation was founded by 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard.
About JAG
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has helped more than 1 million young people across the nation stay in school through graduation, pursue post-secondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.
