CHARLOTTESVILLE — An instructor at Eastern Hancock High School who has devoted his career to helping students discover their careers recently received statewide recognition.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development named Greg Judy a JAG Indiana Outstanding Specialist of the Year. He was one of five specialists out of more than 130 JAG programs across the state to receive the honor.
JAG, which stands for Jobs for America’s Graduates, is a state-funded nonprofit workforce pipeline program that helps students learn in-demand job skills while providing a bridge to post-secondary education and career advancement opportunities.
Judy, who just finished his sixth year as Eastern Hancock’s JAG specialist, called the recognition an “incredible feeling.”
He said he contacted some of his students shortly after receiving the accolade.
“I wanted to share the glory with them,” he said. “They helped out with this as well. They were in my classroom and I taught them, but they grasped onto the things that I was teaching them and they took it and ran with it and now they’re doing good things in the community.”
Judy said JAG students can range from those who have barriers and a lack of opportunities in their lives to those who excel academically but don’t know what they want to pursue as a profession. He added he enjoys helping guide students toward their desired career paths through means like interest surveys, field trips and inviting employers to be guest speakers in his classroom. Watching students discover what they want to do, get into college and secure internships is rewarding, he continued.
“I think it’s my responsibility as a member of this community to lead the next generation to make wise and responsible decisions and to be leaders in the community,” Judy said.
Elizabeth Moffett, a JAG specialist at Whiteland Community High School who has known Judy for several years, nominated him for the distinction.
“I know he really puts his heart and soul into his job and especially into his students,” Moffett said. “What I admire the most about him is his ability to connect with his community and Eastern Hancock.”
Making that kind of connection can be difficult, she continued, as JAG specialists are not school employees due to their positions being funded by outside sources.
“That can be a bit challenging because you really have to make a name for yourself, and he really has,” Moffett said.
