Thank you to Albion Community Foundation for sponsoring two JA Ourselves programs at Harrington Elementary.  A special thank you to Pat Chamberline for volunteering to present both programs.  Kindergarten students were introduced to personal economics and the choices consumers make to meet their needs and wants.  They learned about the role of money in society and gained practical information about earning, saving, and sharing money.

Marshall Middle School students are participating in JA It's My Future® and JA Global Marketplace® Blended Model programs. JA It's My Future® provides practical information about preparing for the working world while students are in middle school. JA Global Marketplace® introduces middle school students to the global marketplace and the ways in which countries buy and sell from each other. Blended Learning incorporates technology into a variety of interactions between students and the volunteer and/or educator. Session activities incorporate a combination of small group, pair and share activity, whole class discussion and use of paper worksheets or other ancillary elements. The updated resources and materials impact middle school students with financial empowerment, while launching students into career awareness and career exploration at a time that can be the most meaningful.  

Lakeview Middle School served as a pilot site for the JA It’s My Future® Blended Model
program. The program provides practical information about preparing for the working world while students are in middle school. Six program sessions utilize technology as a tool to enhance content delivery; JA blended-model programs make learning more relevant.

Following participation in the JA It’s My Future® program students are able to research potential careers, and learn how to plan for and keep a job. They also developed the personal-branding and job-hunting skills needed to earn a job. At the culmination of the program, the students participated in mock interviews along with other 7 th grade communication students.

The JA It’s My Future® Blended Model program is sponsored in part by the Battle Creek Area Chapter of Credit Unions and Enbridge.

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a young person?  We are looking for volunteers to teach in local area schools for less than an hour a week for five weeks.  Classes will start after spring break. Review the list below to see if you can lend a hand in your local area school!  Sign Up Here or Contact Us for more information.

Students from the Calhoun Area Career Center’s Education Academy are getting hands-on learning in Riverside’s kindergarten classrooms.  Aspiring teachers visited young students every Thursday in January to teach JA Ourselves – a program that introduces students to personal economics and the choices consumers make to meet their needs and wants.  

During the course of the program students gain an understanding of the concept of money, particularly earning and saving and they identify the importance of giving to a worthy cause.

“The students who join us are dedicated, well-prepared and all-around great young people,” explained Donna Keenan, kindergarten teacher.  “Our students at Riverside are enjoying learning about economics with them!”

Photo #1 - A CACC student works in her Junior Achievement workbook after learning about the importance of saving money.

Photo #2 - Kindergarten students share their ideas about money with aspiring teachers from the Calhoun Area Career Center.

Help educate and inspire the next generation!

We are looking for volunteers to present Junior Achievement “It’s My Future” program to 9th grade Academy students at the end of the school day at Battle Creek Central.  This commitment is one day per week for six weeks, Nov. 6- Dec. 15, from 2- 2:40 PM (cannot be Thursdays due to three half days during this time period).

JA It’s My Future provides students with practical information about preparing for the working world.  Following participation in the program, students will be able to:

• Explore potential careers, discover how to plan for a job, and learn how to keep it.
• Develop personal-branding and job-hunting tools for earning a job. 

Training is provided prior to the start of the program.

For more information click here.

Heather Pontius from Post Consumer Brands recently visited Junior Achievement (JA) of Southwest Michigan and presented Tom VanderMolen, President of JA Southwest Michigan, a $5,000 donation. Funds will be used for JA Titan® program in Calhoun County Schools. JA Titan is a web-based simulation where high school students run a virtual company, giving students a first-hand experience in running a business. Students learn how to make decisions on pricing and how much to spend on marketing, research and development and capital investment. Through classroom competitions teams from each school compete in one of two JA Titan Challenges; JA Titan Regional Challenge at WMU’s Haworth College of Business on December 15 or the spring 2018 Virtual competition.

“JASWMI is grateful for our donors and volunteers who work around the region to empower the next generation to turn students’ I can’t into I can, and their dreams into plans”, said VanderMolen.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan presented two JA programs as part of the New Genesis Summer camp in July.  “Taking Care of Business” provided campers with hands on activities which will allowed students to discover and develop skills in money management and entrepreneurial skills.

Volunteers Christina Blankenship and Veronica Rodriguez from Kellogg Community Credit Union partnered with their classroom coaches to work with upper elementary students with JA More Than Money, which introduces students to financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and to social studies learning objectives that include money-management skills, goods and services, and global markets. 

Middle school students participated in JA It’s My Business, that encompasses entrepreneurship curriculum for students. The program emphasizes entrepreneurship while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading, and writing skills. Students are encouraged to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations.

Tulani Glen, New Genesis, Academic Programs was grateful for the JA programs and thought it was a great supplement to their amazing summer camp and a great opportunity for their youth .  Junior Achievement’s goal is to empower the next generation the next generation to turn students’ I can’t into I can, and their dreams into plans.

Tom VanderMolen, President of Junior Achievement (JA) of Southwest Michigan, recognized four new board members at the July 12 Board Meeting. Ronald Foor, Community President/Commercial Relationship Mgr., Fifth Third Bank; Jason Howard, General Manager, I.H.S. Distributing Company; Todd Mora, Superintendent of Comstock Public Schools, and Kolby Smith, Associate at Plante & Moran are incoming board members. “Our new board members will add a diverse layer of skills to the current board, comprised of executives, business leaders, and educators who represent a wide range of backgrounds and professional expertise”, said VanderMolen.

Andrea Tucker of Marshall Community Credit Union was recognized as JA’s Volunteer of the Year. Andrea has a passion for financial literacy. She coordinates co-workers to volunteer and assists JA with many special projects such as JA Titan Challenge and served on the scholarship committee.

Left to right: New Board Members: Ron Foor, Jason Howard, Todd Mora and Kolby Smith.

Left to right: Volunteer of the Year: Tom VanderMolen, Andrea Tucker, and Jodi Havera.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan is grateful for the support of Chemical Bank for their donation for JA programs in area schools, providing volunteers, and in support of our JA fundraisers throughout the years.   Pictured left to right are Sarah Russell, Tom VanderMolen, and Bridget Wisniewski.  Thank you Chemical Bank for our continued partnership.

The Battle Creek Chapter of Credit Unions hosted an event to recognize and honor local non-profit organizations that have made a positive impact in our community. Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan was one of the organizations honored that evening. They were presented with a donation of $1500 by chapter members to use towards educating students grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential hands-on programs.

“The credit unions of Battle Creek are outstanding partners in helping our local students become successful,” said Tom VanderMolen, Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan’s President. “Junior Achievement is grateful for their support.”

The Battle Creek Chapter of Credit Unions is pleased they are able to offer grants to organizations to help members in their communities as they have done in previous years, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan would like to announce Andrea Tucker as the 2016/2017 Volunteer of the Year recipient. Andrea works for Marshall Community Credit Union and is an avid supporter of JA. While she not only supports JA by volunteering herself, she also helps coordinate others at the credit union with their volunteer experience. Andrea has become like part of the family here at JASWMI. She helps us with many events and special projects. This year she was a great help for both of the JA Titan Challenges and also on the Scholarship Committee. JASWMI wishes to thank Andrea for the hard work and dedication that she shows our organization.

Altria Client Services LLC presented a  $5,000 donation to Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan. JA appreciates their support for developing work-readiness skills, financial literacy and entrepreneurship to provide programs that will help kids achieve success.

Tom VanderMolen, President of Junior Achievement (JA) of Southwest Michigan, is pleased to announce that Battle Creek Central’s team “The Executives” placed 2nd in the Junior Achievement National competition on May 10, 2017.  Team members include Anthony Riege, Jessica Remos, and Owen Payne.  Thanks to Jason Coats, Battle Creek Central High School teacher, for your efforts in preparing students in strategies to facilitate players through each phase, or “quarter” of game play prior to the competition.

Forty-seven teams Nationwide took on the role of a corporate business leader by making decisions to steer their business to success. Student teams in the JA Titan virtual game were prompted to make decisions that affect the profitability and sustainability of their virtual company, and attempted to outperform competitors in profit, sales, and market share. Students set prices, determined production levels, invest in capital, develop budgets, and plan marketing and research. 

Vicksburg, Comstock, and Parchment High Schools also competed in the National Competition.  “Each team put up a solid performance and every student was dedicated and willing to work hard to excel,” added Tom VanderMolen.  “Those are key traits of future leaders.”

Congratulations to all!

Tom VanderMolen, President of Junior Achievement of SWMI, receives $2,500 from Omni Community Credit Union for the Spring 2017 JA Titan program.  This funding is used for High School students who have their business and economic classes during the winter and spring to participate in a virtual JA Titan Challenge.  Two teams from the spring session joined three teams from the December 2016 Titan Challenge and will be competing in the National Competition on May 10.  Good luck to High School teams from Vicksburg, Comstock, Parchment and two teams from Battle Creek Central.

Thank you Omni Community Credit Union for giving students this opportunity to learn critical economics and management decisions through JA Titan interactive simulations in volunteer-led sessions in the school.

Listen to WKZO's Kevin Lanphear interview Tom VanderMolen from Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan and Ron Foor from 5th/3rd Bank on the Dollars Make Sense campaign.  

Click here to read more about the Dollars Make Sense Campaign or 

Sponsored by: 

Junior Achievement President, Tom VanderMolen, receives $12,000 from Eaton's Laurie Andrus and Christine Elder.

Approximately 430 local students will be impacted by this generous gift and Eaton volunteers will work to deliver JA programs to half of those. Thank you Eaton for all that you do.

Mrs. Ramhap at Prairieview Elementary School welcomed Officer Herbstreet into her 2nd grade class for their JA Our Community program.

Various jobs and their required skills are identified to demonstrate how the work people do positively affects a community's economy, and in this session police, firefighters and government workers are discussed.  Officer Herbstreet presented many aspects of his education and training for his job and the students engaged with many questions about his profession. 

Thanks also to JA Volunteer, Susan Terry, for forging bonds with students for Junior Achievement.

Mrs. Ramhap at Prairieview Elementary School welcomed Officer Herbstreet into her 2nd grade class for their JA Our Community program. Various jobs and their required skills are identified to demonstrate how the work people do positively affects a community's economy, and in this session police, firefighters and government workers are discussed.  Officer Herbstreet presented many aspects of his education and training for his job and the students engaged with many questions about his profession.  Thanks also to JA Volunteer, Susan Terry, for forging bonds with students for Junior Achievement.