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Great Bend JAG student places first in CDC state conference
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courtesy photo Financial Literacy at the JAG-K State Conference stand between two sponsors. The students, from left to right, are Kenton Grauerholz, Great Bend, first place; Ivan Cuveas, Shawnee Mission West, second place; and Chris Tomlinson, Shawnee Mission North, third place.
Published: Mar 17, 2025, 6:18 PM

Great Bend High School JAG-K recently attended the State of Kansas Career Development Conference in Wichita. Students competed in events focused on areas of Career Development. Kenton Graurholz, a senior at GBHS, won 1st place in state competition. He will be participating in the national career development conference which will be held April 23 through the 27th in Indianapolis.

Larned students Kaylyn Snodgrass and Brennon Stahlecker placed second in the Business Plan Team competition and also qualified for nationals. (The top three finishers of the four different individual areas of competition and the top two finishers in the three team competitions earned the opportunity to compete at the national conference in April.)

JAG-K (Jobs for America’s Graduates - Kansas) is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills.

The CDC was sponsored by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.

At the event, students elected officers for next year and competed in areas of job preparedness.

“The State CDC is one of the most anticipated and exciting events of the year for JAG-K students,” said JAG-K President and CEO Chuck Knapp. “Representing your school at state is a rare opportunity, and all these students should be proud of the work and preparation it took to get there.”

JAG-K participants across Kansas voted for statewide officers for the next year. Elected to serve as state officers were President Jaden Exantus, Junction City; Vice President Analicia Aquino, Shawnee Mission North; Secretary Acacia Weeks, Winfield; and Parliamentarian Macy Patterson, Russell.

Students competed in events that showcase competencies attained in the JAG-K program.

Kansas’ 114 JAG-K programs serve approximately 6,000 students in 48 school districts across the state. JAG-K Career Specialists help students graduate and learn career, leadership, and life skills by executing a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model. Participants must meet criteria to be selected for the program and have potential to overcome various barriers to post-secondary success.