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“JA has ignited the fire in me to step up and be an influencer to young women"
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
Underground Social member Caylee Knox calls her Junior Achievement volunteer experience “one of the best I’ve had so far in life. I truly believe in the importance of mentoring young women and showing love and support in hopes they will pay it forward...
JA Helps Create a Ripple Effect in the Community
By Sara Koci Scheilz
Community Involvement
As both the (former) Principal of Tomahawk Elementary School and Executive Director of the Cloud L. Cray Foundation, Brian Watson greatly values financial literacy and economic education for kids from grades K-12. “Every kid, every family needs to learn about commerce, finance, and how money works and can work for them,” Brian says. It’s this passion that drives the commitment to Junior...
Newest JA Board Member Helps Build Connections in the Classroom
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
When a co-worker and JA advocate invited Wendee Peres and all of BOK Financial to volunteer with Junior Achievement, Wendee enthusiastically accepted. Since then, BOK has become a cherished Junior Achievement partner — and Wendee, Corporate Trust Officer and Vice President at BOK has signed on as a director of the JA Board. But it is not just Wendee making a difference, it’s a company-wide effort,...
“All of us left that day feeling like we had an impact."
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
When Myron King’s entire ad agency shut down for a day of global service, he seized the opportunity to partner with Junior Achievement and spend the day volunteering in a sixth grade Kansas City classroom. And the day was life-changing for Myron and all his colleagues at...
"I learned what I need to do to plan for my future.”
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
For Martin City Elementary fifth graders, just one day in JA built new ideas for their future and new confidence to accomplish their dreams. And it all happened when volunteers from Fishtech, a Martin City-based company with a global footprint, volunteered in their classroom. “I feel pretty inspired because I learned so many new things,” says fifth grader Daniel Gamboa. “Now I know what I need to...
"Every job in the world a woman can do"
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
Without positive role models, it can be difficult for young women to envision themselves being successful. But for Crossroads Academy sophomore Imani Berry, that all changed at Junior Achievement’s Future Women’s Leadership Forum. “I see now that women can do everything,” she says. “Every job in the world, a woman can do. Future Women’s Leadership Forum opened my eyes to new jobs I didn't think...
"You'll get more back than you'll ever give."
By Sara Koci Scheilz
Financial Literacy
Vercie Lark is on a mission to inspire a million millionaires .As a former Executive Vice President and Head of DST Financial Services, Vercie has witnessed firsthand the great need for financial literacy and career education. This drives his dedication and passion to inspire and support Junior Achievement...
"To light that fire in students... is what keeps me coming back."
By Sara Koci Scheilz
Community Involvement
When Jackie Loya-Torres became Community Development Officer at Commerce Bank, she leaned into her responsibility of creating relationships in the community and leading the bank’s inclusivity efforts. Determined to practice what she preached, Jackie became a bilingual Junior Achievement classroom...
"If I wanted to be a professional basketball player, this was like having NBA stars in my classroom."
By Sara Koci Scheilz
Corporate Responsibility
After pitching her business idea to a panel of real business owner judges, Zoe Scott earned the title of aspiring entrepreneur. Thanks to several weeks of Junior Achievement curriculum, Zoe knew just what it took to formulate a viable business idea and successfully pitch the product to...
"If you can give back a little bit of knowledge to help even one person make a difference in their life, you’ve had a greater impact than you could ever dream of."
By Sarah Koci Scheilz
Community Involvement
Nearly two decades before becoming a Junior Achievement board member, Aladdin Ashkar was a JA student at Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, KS, and the President of Raider-Aid. “The premise of the Junior Achievement class was that we were going to create a business, from A to Z, and compete with other classes to see whose business could be the most successful,” Aladdin...
