Jersey Community High School
Jobs for Illinois Graduates (JILG) is very proud to feature Jersey Community High School (JCHS) this month. Jersey Community is located in the small town of Jerseyville, Illinois and approximately 1000 students from the surrounding communities of Jersey County attend the one county high school. Jerseyville is located approximately 13 miles north of Alton, Illinois and approximately 80 miles southwest of Springfield, Illinois.Currently, the Jersey Community High School JILG program is serving 45 students, while providing follow-up for the 40 students from the class of 2008.
Over the years, the JCHS JILG program has had a great deal of success with their service learning projects and this year was no exception. The JILG students raised over $1,000 for the American Red Cross to help victims of hurricanes and floods. Many of our students live in communities on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and know first hand the devastation of flooding. Recently, the students created lap blankets and holiday cards for local nursing home patients and disabled veterans in the St. Louis Veterans Hospital.
The students have been exposed to guest speakers from all walks of life. This year JCHS JILG has been visited by Chef Gabe, who made his mouth watering meatballs, Lisa Schuenke, who designed computer programs to stabilize glass bottles, and one of our local police officers. The students also learned valuable information from our guest speakers from Hickey College, Ranken Technology, Lewis & Clark Community College, Barbizon School of Modeling and the military.
This year the students were able to take a field trip to their local community college, Lewis & Clark Community College; where they were informed about the various classes, the enrollment procedure and ways to obtain financial aide. Six of our students were able to attend the JILG Leadership Development Conference in Flora, Illinois and the class will be attending the Career Development Conference this April in Effingham, Illinois.
In March, the JILG classes will be hosting a Career Exploration Fair. At this fair over 75 members of the community will come to JCHS to provide students with information about their careers. The fair is an excellent networking tool for future employees to make contact with future employers.
The Jersey Community JILG program provides assistance to students after their graduation from high school. For the class of 2008, the JILG program has helped 83% of its students graduate and has helped place 80% of those in full time placement, whether that be military, employment and post secondary schooling. The goal of the JILG program at Jersey Community High School is to give the students the skills they need to graduate and the confidence needed to succeed.
About the Specialist
Connie Springman is in her eighth year as a JILG Career Specialist at Jersey Community High School. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree and Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Mrs. Springman’s favorite JILG activity is any team project because “it is so rewarding to watch students learn how to be effective and respected leaders and team members.”
My best JILG moment was when a young lady said, “I’m really glad I took this class. I have made so many new friends and it’s the first time I’ve ever belonged to a group.”
