News release, Apr. 25, 2001C

Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

April 25, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOSEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WINS STATE JGG AWARD

ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that Tamekia Rouse of Augusta, a freshman at T.W. Josey High school, has won first-place honors in the Jobs for Georgia Graduates (JGG) MultiYear Program's statewide career manual writing competition.

JGG, managed by the Georgia Department of Labor, is a highly-successful school-to-work transition program for atrisk students. It helps the students make a smooth transition from school to the world-of-work. The program is a state affiliate of the national model, Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG).

Tamekia and other students from T. W. Josey and Lucy Laney high schools were honored recently at the JGG's first Multi-Year Career Association Luncheon in Atlanta.

Shown are, from left: Left, Malissa Collins, left, the JGG Job Specialist at Josey High School. Center, first place winner Tamekia Rouse, a freshman at T.W. Josey High School in Augusta.

This is the first year of the multi-year program for students Right, Nedra Wakefield, Georgia Department of

in grades 9 through 12. Previously, the program was only

Labor's Jobs for Georgia Graduates (JGG) project director.

available to seniors.

To compete, students were required to write a career development plan using three jobs or

file:///E|/pressrel%20from%201-98%20to%20present/fy01523.htm (1 of 2)1/19/2005 12:26:28 PM

Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
professions of their choice. The students researched such things as the education, skill requirements and salaries for each occupation, and then wrote a plan of action on how to pursue each career.
Cassidy Benge of Macon, a student at Southeast High School, was named first runner-up, while Ashlie Alford of Cherokee High School in Canton, was named second runner-up.
The five-year program, which includes one year of follow-up counseling after graduation, is now available in 12 schools. They are: Lucy Laney High School, Augusta; T.W. Josey High School, Augusta; Southeast Bulloch High School, Brooklet; Cherokee High School, Canton; Cass High School, Cartersville; Jones County High School, Gray; Southeast High School, Macon; Southwest High School, Macon; Marietta High School, Marietta; Baldwin High School, Milledgeville; Statesboro High School, Statesboro, and Chattooga High School, Summerville.
Each year, about 45 students are selected to participate in the program from each of the high schools. Job specialists are located on-site and work directly with the students during the program. The students are taught job skills, receive counseling on career development and work ethics, assisted in finding a job and given follow-up services.
Including the senior-only program, JGG is in a total of 36 schools statewide.
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032.

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-01-523

An Equal Opportunity Employer

file:///E|/pressrel%20from%201-98%20to%20present/fy01523.htm (2 of 2)1/19/2005 12:26:28 PM