TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Phyllis Gilmore recognized a Kansas teen Monday in Topeka.

They say Destiny Shelton, 17, of Stafford, faced tremendous hardship growing up including the death of her father, poverty and neglect. After successfully completing the new Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, she has been named one of 21 students across the country to receive a Smith Scholarship from the JAG National Committee. The Stafford High School student has been accepted to the University of Kansas where she’ll pursue a degree in psychology.

JAG is a multi-year program for students in 9th through 12th grades. It offers tools to successfully transition into post-secondary school or the labor market. Participants are selected for the program who are at risk of dropping out of high school and/or have a difficult home life.