Fifteen eighth-grade students from Sanford Middle School's Jobs for Maine's Graduates (JMG) program recently completed an exciting two-day adventure trip on May 21-22, showcasing the leadership and career skills they've developed over the past 1-2 years in the program.
The overnight trip included hands-on experiences designed to explore future career paths and build confidence. Students toured veterinary and dental programs at UMA Bangor, explored transportation history at the Cole Transportation Museum, interviewed military veterans about their service careers, and participated in an exciting NASA mission simulation at the Challenger Learning Center.
The adventure culminated at Thomas College, where our students joined over 250 eighth-grade JMG participants from across Maine to demonstrate their interview techniques, leadership abilities, and networking skills in a statewide showcase.
Five Sanford Middle School students earned prestigious statewide JMG awards—a remarkable achievement considering only 15-20 students received each award from the 250 participants statewide.
Congratulations to our award winners:
Jarezz Jackson - Leadership Award
Ayanna Bissell-Moores - Leadership Award
Gemma Sigouin - Leadership Award
Izzy Burns - Magnanimitas Award (Greatness of Spirit)
River Dee - Magnanimitas Award (Greatness of Spirit)
These students represent the best of what JMG offers—developing young people into confident, skilled future leaders ready to make their mark in Maine's workforce.