LEXINGTON — Martin County showed up and showed out at the 2024 Jobs for America’s Graduates State Career Development Conference March 26-27 in Lexington.

Martin County High School JAG KY contingent clinched first place in the Promotional Video category and the Knowledge Bowl with team members Russell Maynard, Maleah Jarrell, Erika Alley and Caroline Mills leading the charge.

Not stopping there, the students secured second place for Project Based Learning, with team members Sophie McCoy, Jaylee Deskins, Addison Sweeney and Drew Wilson giving impressive performances. MCHS also claimed second place for NCA Outstanding Chapter thanks to the efforts of team members Keelynn Stepp, Hailey Damron, Katie Maynard and Aaliyah Cline, and fourth place for Community Service Project with Raegan Horn putting in the work.

Martin County Middle School brought home two first-place winners. Audrey Vanover received first place in Career Preparation, while Hope Caldwell won first place in the Essay division.

These students worked hard all year to prepare for this competition and are now eligible to compete at the national level later this month in St. Louis. 

The students were not the only ones bringing home awards. MCHS JAG KY Specialist Lance Tackett was honored with the Above and Beyond Award for his hard work and dedication to the JAG KY program. Tackett, who is in his third year serving as JAG KY specialist at MCHS, brings a unique perspective to his role. He spent three years in the JAG program while a student at Sheldon Clark High School, serving as president during his senior year.

Tackett expressed immense pride in his students’ success at the state CDC and satisfaction with his role.

“As MCHS’s JAG Specialist, my students make my job the best job in the world,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”