Two Larned High School students earned the chance to represent their school — and Indian Ink — on a national stage. They may not have brought home hardware, but this trip was a win in every way.
Kaylyn Snodgrass, a senior, and Brennon Stahlecker, a sophomore, competed in the Business Plan category at the National Career Development Conference in Indianapolis. Their presentation was a full business pitch centered on Indian Ink, Larned High School’s student-run apparel shop.
The journey to Nationals didn’t happen overnight. First, Kaylyn and Brennon won at the local level, then advanced through regionals at Barton Community College. From there, they qualified for the state competition at Wichita State, where they took top honors and punched their ticket to Nationals—joining more than 1,800 students from 39 states.
Their success was no accident. As JAG advisor Mr. Hagerman said, “If you do the little things right, you stand out.” And that’s exactly how this team came to be.
Each Monday in class, JAG students are asked to give short reports about their weekend. While many see it as just another box to check, Brennon takes it seriously, practicing his public speaking week after week. Mr. Hagerman noticed, and when Kaylyn needed a teammate, he recommended Brennon. He was right—and before long, this perfect team was hitting the road to Indianapolis.
Their presentation included a 10-page business plan, a product sample, and a live pitch in front of a panel of judges. When asked why they chose Indian Ink as their project, Kaylyn said the business was a perfect fit. “The program gave us real numbers, real challenges, and real experience,” she shared. “This is something we’ve actually done—and we’re excited that we had the opportunity to share Indian Ink with students and staff from across the country.”
Beyond the competition itself, Kaylyn and Brennon made the most of their time in Indianapolis. They toured the Colts stadium, visited the zoo, explored the Motor Speedway, and attended a full lineup of breakout workshops and leadership sessions. They also took part in the long-standing JAG tradition of state pin trading, connecting with students from across the country and earning leadership badges along the way.
Both students said meeting new people and making connections was one of the biggest takeaways from the trip. “Leaving home is hard,” Brennon said, “but it was really good for us to go.” Kaylyn agreed, and joked that she surprisingly did survive the week without her mom (though she still called her every night!). She also added, “JAG kids are the nicest kids you will ever meet.”
The lessons these two were able to bring home—about leadership, confidence, and doing the little things right—are bigger than any trophy. We are so proud of them and Mr. Hagerman, and we can’t wait to see where they go next.