The South Dakota Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG-SD) state officers are in Washington D.C., this week (Dec. 2-5, 2025) attending the National Student Leadership Academy.
JAG-SD State Director Beth Schneider says the five state officers– which includes three students from Lyman and Todd County High Schools– heard from former Jobs for America’s Graduates Career Association presidents, visited the Capitol, and met with congressional representatives to learn more about the legislative process. She says through the JAG Career Association, students aren’t just learning about leadership—they’re practicing it every day.
The 2025-26 JAG-SD state officers are:
- Catelyn Fry, State President, Bennett County High School;
- Marlee Wells, State Secretary, Lyman High School;
- Lilly Kracht, State Parliamentarian, Roosevelt High School;
- Briley Oldenkamp, State School Representative A, Lyman High School; and
- Mariska Parkhurst-Barahona, State School Representative B, Todd County High School.
JAG-SD empowers students to take the lead on planning projects centered on civic responsibility, leadership, social interaction, academic performance, and professionalism. The overarching purpose of JAG-SD is to help students stay in school, persist through graduation, and provide participants with classroom and work-based learning experiences that result in a quality job or postsecondary study, leading to a fulfilling career after graduation.
To learn more about JAG-SD, visit https://doe.sd.gov/JAG-SD.
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