Honoring Excellence: Charron Basey Named 2026 JMG Sterling Service Award Winner

The Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) Sterling Service Award is reserved for specialists whose unwavering dedication leaves a lasting mark on the lives of young people. This year, that honor was proudly awarded to Charron Basey—a JMG specialist whose decade of service has transformed countless futures through authenticity, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to youth success.

For 10 years, Charron has served as a JMG specialist at Lansing Area School District, a program of Capital Area Michigan Works!, building a reputation not only for excellence, but for impact that extends far beyond the classroom. Her work consistently reflects the very best of JMG, with a decade-long track record of running a high-quality program and achieving strong outcomes year after year. Most recently, she has met all of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) National’s key performance benchmarks for two consecutive years, underscoring both her sustained excellence and her relentless drive.

Charron’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, she has been recognized with numerous honors, including:

• 2025 JMG Influencer Award, This award recognizes those individuals who utilize social media for good by celebrating their youth and sharing the JMG story.

• November 2023 Specialist of the Month, This award recognizes JMG specialists who make a meaningful difference for students every day.

• 2021 Specialist of the Year, Recognized for all-around excellence, consistently delivering on the mission and offering best-in-class programs.

• 2020 Living Our Values: Leadership Award, This award recognizes members of our JMG network who embody our organizational values in their everyday lives.

  
  

While these accolades highlight her professional achievements, they only begin to capture the depth of her impact.

What truly sets Charron apart is her authenticity. She shows up as her full self every day—honest, passionate, and deeply invested in the growth of her students. She challenges young people to rise to their potential while ensuring they feel supported every step of the way. Through trust-based relationships, she creates an environment where youth feel seen, heard, and valued.

Charron’s influence often extends into roles far beyond that of an educator. For many students, she becomes a trusted mentor—and even a surrogate parent—offering guidance, accountability, and unwavering support. The bonds she forms don’t end when students leave her program; they endure, shaping lives for years to come.

Her manager, Kere Milow, captures this impact best:

“Charron is one of the most authentic people you'll ever have the opportunity to encounter in life, as she is incapable of pretense. Her drive and energy are contagious, and her ability to engage the students and hold them accountable is only possible because of the strong relationships she's able to build with them. As her supervisor, I feel more than fortunate to have her as a part of our program family… Congratulations Charron, well done!”

This powerful reflection underscores what so many already know: Charron’s work is not just a job—it’s a calling. Her influence is lasting, her leadership inspiring, and her commitment to young people truly remarkable.

As we celebrate the 2026 Sterling Service Award, we honor not just Charron’s achievements, but the lives she has changed, the confidence she has built, and the futures she has helped shape.

Congratulations, Charron Basey—your impact is immeasurable, and this recognition is well deserved.