California Leads with Excellence: Leadership, Achievement, and Impact at the 2026 National Career Development Conference

JAG California students and JAG Specialists recently attended the National Career Development Conference (NCDC) in Salt Lake City, held April 30–May 2, 2026. Hosted by Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG National), the conference brought together students from across the nation to demonstrate leadership, career readiness, and workplace competencies through competitive events, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities with peers and professionals from across the country.

The National Career Development Conference (NCDC) is the pinnacle experience for JAG youth to demonstrate their skills, explore career pathways, connect with employers, and prepare for future success as members of the JAG Career Association (JAGCA). Students engage in real-world application of employability skills, leadership development, and career exploration while building confidence and professional readiness.

JAG students shined brightly at the NCDC Competitive Events program, delivering outstanding performances across more than a dozen categories. From Outstanding Chapters to individual and team competitions, students nationwide demonstrated their expertise in Business Plans, Financial Literacy, Prepared Speaking, the Knowledge Bowl, and more. Their hard work, preparation, and commitment were on full display throughout the event.

JAG California students actively competed in several national events, including Employability Skills, Prepared Speaking, Career Preparation, Financial Literacy, and Business Plan. In addition, JAG California proudly had a representative from Assurance Learning Academy (ALA) serve as a voting delegate, helping select the new JAG Career Association leadership.

NCDC Workshops & Leadership Sessions

Throughout the conference, students participated in engaging workshops and leadership sessions such as:

• Your Career, Education, and Life in the Agentic Age (exploring future-ready skills, adaptability, emerging careers, and navigating a rapidly changing workforce)
• Message in Motion: Communicating with Impact (strengthening communication skills, leadership presence, and effective storytelling)
• Regions Bank: Financial Literacy – Reality Check (building practical financial literacy skills including budgeting, banking, and real-world money management)
• Dream It, Do It, and Lead It! (JAG Career Association Student-Led Session) (highlighting student leadership, peer inspiration, and engagement through JAGCA)
• National Officer Session (JAG Career Association Leadership) (focusing on student leadership, governance, and national-level involvement within JAGCA)
• The Burnout Balance (supporting student wellness, stress management, resilience, and healthy balance in school and career pathways)
• Arts-Powered JAG (using creativity and the arts to enhance engagement, self-expression, and career exploration)

Students also explored Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, including visits to the Hogle Zoo, Utah Olympic Park, Park City, and local attractions, creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities beyond the conference sessions.

The conference provided students with valuable experiences in leadership development, public speaking, collaboration, financial literacy, career exploration, and professional networking.

JAG California National Competition Winners

Employability Skills

• 1st Place – Gabriela Reyes (Assurance Learning Academy – ALA)
• 3rd Place – Kamiyah Harris (Elev8)    
• 4th Place – Logan Larson (Alta Vista Innovation High School – AVIHS)

Prepared Speaking

• 1st Place – Snow Feather (AVIHS)
• 2nd Place – Amari Guy (AVIHS)
• 3rd Place – David Ramirez Lara (Elev8)

Career Preparation

• 1st Place – Erik Reyes (San Diego Workforce Innovation High School – SDWIHS)
• 2nd Place – Maritza Tirado (AVIHS)
• 3rd Place – Alyssa Ramirez (ALA)

Financial Literacy

• 1st Place – Erika Sanchez Rodriguez (SDWIHS)

Business Plan

• 1st Place – Keishawn Rander (SDWIHS)
• 2nd Place – Jordan Garcia (SDWIHS)

Closing Recognition

Congratulations to all of our JAG students, JAG Specialists, school sites, and school leadership teams who helped make this experience a success. We are incredibly proud of the way California represented JAG on the national stage.

Special recognition goes to our JAG Specialists - Zenaida Alcantar (Elev8), Mike Cruz (SDWIHS), Nancy Esqueda (ALA), and Edith Osorto (AVIHS) - whose leadership, dedication, and commitment made these accomplishments possible.

Your work continues to inspire students, enhance programs, and elevate JAG California to the highest level.

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