Anna Joneboro High School JILG Class
Jobs for Illinois Graduates (JILG) is extremely proud to feature Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, home of the Wildcats. Anna-Jonesboro High School is located in the town of Anna, Illinois and sits in the foothills of the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois, approximately 30 miles north from where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers join. AJCHS serves approximately 575 students, drawing from 3 feeder districts including Anna, Jonesboro, and Lick Creek.
The JILG Program served 38 students during the 2006-07 school year and has 35 students enrolled in 2007-08 school year. The JILG program at AJCHS spends a great deal of time working on service learning projects within its local communities. The program has worked with the City of Anna, Bethany Village, Elks Club, and Youth Organizations in Union County.
During the spring semester, JILG students will be putting together the 2nd Annual JILG Golf Scramble to benefit all youth in Union County. Students use the GNAP techniques when selling sponsorships to the business communities of Union County. Students organize the fundraiser, work closely with the UCCC Golf Pro, develop a budget, and create and distribute entry forms. Committees are formed for set-up and clean up as well as for food and prizes.
We have many students working on service learning projects however; it is the first time most have participated in projects that help others. The students learn a lot about themselves as well as their community.
Besides the above mentioned activities, the JILG students have also learned a lot about careers and employment skills. They have researched and worked on the following: building personal resumes, letter writing, career interest surveys, application forms, appropriate appearance, employer expectations, job interviews, job shadowing, and practicing effective human relations.
We have had many guest speakers: Anna City Commissioner, US. Navy, AJ Guidance Counselor, Army National Guard, Hickey College, Rend Lake CC, Shawnee CC, Nashville Diesel College, Southeast Missouri Hospital School of Nursing, Bethany Village, Miss Illinois, Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative, and Southern Illinois Health Alliance.
In the spring, we have scheduled State Representative Mike Bost, Scott Wilkins and David Gould from the Anna-Jonesboro National Bank and Bridget Rice of the Illinois State Police.
About the Specialist
JILG Specialist Corey Miller
Cory Miller is in his 2nd year as a JILG specialist after teaching driver education for 28 years. Cory’s 30 years in education have all been at Anna-Jonesboro Community High school. After graduation from Joliet West High School, he attended South Georgia College, Joliet Junior College, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
The best moment in JILG is seeing students who enter the program with no idea of what they want to do after graduation and leave the program with ideas and a plan for their future.
