Riley Brown, a Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) student at Northwestern Michigan College, recently earned top honors at the National Career Development Conference (NCDC) held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sponsored by Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), the four-day event brought together more than 1,500 students from across the country to showcase their skills, explore career opportunities, and connect with employers.
 
Brown competed in the Prepared Speaking event and secured a first-place finish, demonstrating outstanding communication skills and leadership.  Brown's Prepared Speaking competition focused on enhancing oral communication skills, with the topic: "How has Jobs for Michigan Graduates (JAG) supported you in looking toward and preparing for the future?" Her speech was limited to a maximum of five minutes and was evaluated on criteria including delivery, engagement, overall impression, and more.
 
 In addition to her competition success, Brown was one of only 20 students nationwide selected to take the national officer exam and interview for the role of JAG Career Association President-Elect. She advanced to the Top 16 candidates in the race for office, a major accomplishment that highlights her dedication, hard work, and leadership potential. While she did not advance to the final round, Brown’s outstanding performance throughout the conference highlights her potential and marks the start of a promising future.
 
Reflecting on her experience, Riley shared, “No matter what, I’ll be winning at the end of the day because of this opportunity!”
 
Now in her third year with the JMG program, Brown has achieved remarkable success—congratulations to her, as well as to her JMG Specialist, Lisa Baldyga, and Youth Advisor Council Advisor, Kelsey Leemaster, for their guidance and support.
 
Locally, the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program is delivered by Northwest Michigan Works, a program of Networks Northwest, in partnership with intermediate school districts and postsecondary institutions.