CONCORD – New Hampshire Jobs for America’s Graduates (NH-JAG), serving New Hampshire youth who face significant academic, emotional, and economic challenges, has achieved the prestigious national 5 of 5 Award, meaning the program has met or exceeded Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG’s) highest national performance standards. With the support of Governor Chris Sununu, NH-JAG is helping the state’s youth overcome challenges and succeed in school, post-secondary education, careers, and life.

As part of his commitment to the organization, Gov. Sununu also joins 13 other governors from both major parties in serving on the JAG National Board of Directors. Governor John Bel Edwards (D-LA) and Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) serve as the Chair and Vice Chair of the bi-partisan organization, which has more governors on its board than any organization in the United States.

There are eight high school programs across New Hampshire and one out-of-school healthcare training program, serving more than 300 students this year. NH-JAG has served more than 19,000 New Hampshire students since its inception.

Through a combination of mentoring, employability skills instruction, and leadership development activities, JAG National has served more than 1.4 million students over the past 40 years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school closures, NH-JAG has pivoted to virtual and hybrid models to continue providing uninterrupted services to its students.

The JAG model consists of comprehensive services that apply a holistic approach to assisting students and participants. Components include classroom instruction, competency-based Project Based Learning, mentoring, student-led leadership development, job and postsecondary education placement services, and 12-months of follow-up services after high school graduation.

“In New Hampshire, JAG boasts an impressive 100% graduation rate and 76% full-time job placement rate, even amid a pandemic. We applaud the NH-JAG Specialists (teachers) for their hard work and unwavering support of their students, which helped NH-JAG achieve the 5 of 5 Award this year, despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19,” said Ken Smith, President of Jobs for America’s Graduates. “We recognize and appreciate Governor Sununu’s leadership and his efforts to support the JAG program in New Hampshire, which will help ensure NH-JAG continues into the future.”

“The 76,000 students that JAG National serves across 39 states, including New Hampshire, have been hit the earliest and hardest – and likely will be impacted for the longest – by the COVID-19 pandemic. They need NH-JAG more than ever. Many were experiencing significant challenges before the crisis hit, and now those scenarios are even more acute, given the loss of jobs and income many are facing,” Smith said. “NH-JAG will continue serving the students that need us the most at a time when employability skills are incredibly important in such a difficult job market.”

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