New Jr. Achievement program expands

The Junior Achievement program launched this school year in Columbia will easily reach its goal of involving 2,000 students in after-school and in-school economic education and will expand to the high schools in January, the regional coordinator said after a dedication ceremony.
More than 75 people and about 150 students attended the ribbon cutting at Russell Elementary School on Nov. 9.
Meredith Knopp, senior vice president of St. Louis-based Junior Achievement of Mississippi Valley, said the nonprofit organization hopes to hire a local program manager in January.
Junior Achievement’s mission is to empower young people to succeed through activity-based curriculum that teaches entrepreneurship, work-readiness and financial literacy education.
JA offers experienced-based learning programs that correlate real-world situations and experiences into the classrooms that are facilitated by trained volunteers at no cost to the schools.
Seven elementary schools and all three middle schools have become involved in Junior Achievement so far this year, Knopp said.
JA of Columbia is guided by an advisory board. The members are: Michelle Baumstark, Columbia Public Schools; Brant Bukowsky, VA Mortgage Center; Bill Chrisco, Schnucks Markets; Kat Cunningham, Moresource Inc.; Tami Ensor, Russell Boulevard Elementary; Michael Holman, AmerenUE; David Keller, The Bank of Missouri; Becky Kendrick, Boyce and Bynum; Lexi Klaus, Chamber of Commerce; Paul Land, Plaza Real Estate; Cindy Mustard, Volunteer Action Center; Carolyn Paris, The Callaway Bank; Mary Ropp, The Bank of Missouri; Jolene Schulz, First State Community Bank; Lezlie Stephens, Elsevier; Anne Williams, Job Finders; and Trina Williams, State Farm Insurance.
In conjunction with the event last week, Russell Boulevard Elementary received a $1,000 donation from The Callaway Bank, one of their Partners in Education, to sponsor its fifth-grade students to travel to St. Louis to participate in a special “capstone program” called JA BizTown this spring.
“We understand the importance of developing good financial skills at an early age,” said Gary Meyerpeter, president of The Callaway Bank’s Boone County market. “Today’s students will become our community leaders, as well as state, national and worldwide leaders. The better understanding they have of finances and entrepreneurship, the better their chances of success.”
For more information on Junior Achievement in Columbia, visit www.javmi.org