KUDOS OF THE MONTH: Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that introduces K-12 students to the principles of business, economics and free enterprise in a classroom setting. Volunteers in the business world, such as lawyers, bankers or city officials meet with classes five to eight times a semester to teach these principles through hands-on experience.
JA was co-founded in 1919 by Horace Moses and Theodore Vail to inspire and prepare students to succeed in a global economy. Nearly a century later, JA reaches over seven million students in 305,000 classrooms and after-school locations with the help of 245,000 classroom volunteers. Locally, JA is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2007. Eastern Oklahoma JA
volunteers reach nearly 32,000 students at 172 schools.
While JA holds special programs for students, its heart and soul is the volunteers in schools. Students have access to unique programs at each grade level. Elementary students learn the importance of the world around them through programs focusing on the individual, the family, the community, the city, region and nation. Fifth-graders visit JA’s Exchange City facility where they operate their own city for a day. Middle school students learn more about national and global economics as well as personal finance, goals, interests and skills. High school students further skills learned in middle school programs through further classroom interactions as well as in JA’s Company Program or Job Shadow.
JA recently held its Fourth Annual Student Investor Challenge where high school students participate in a mock stock market. On April 19, JA will hold its Business Excellence Dinner honoring Lynn Schusterman.
Updated 03-01-2007
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