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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Utah consistently ranks among the top states to do business in, and Junior Achievement of Utah, a nonprofit, is making sure we keep this reputation when the next generation is sitting in the corner offices. Junior Achievement educates Utah's students about finances.
Junior Achievement runs over 25 programs which reach 80,000 Utah students each year. The group has opportunities available for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Some of the programs focus on the workplace, and others teach skills like managing a household budget. Eighth grade students who participate in Junior Achievement's budgeting program are given a monthly dollar amount to allocate, along with a life card that details the specific life situation they're budgeting for.
One of Junior Achievement's biggest undertakings is JA City. Fifth graders take a field trip to JA City at Discovery Gateway, where they're in charge of conducting the city's business. Each class spends months preparing for their trip, learning about and applying for available jobs in the city. The staff at Junior Achievement has made sure JA City is as lifelike as it can get. Students running businesses have to take out business loans and stock their shelves. When one student goes on break the others must cover their duties, and they even get paychecks to spend at the JA store.
Phil Cofield, president and CEO of Junior Achievement, is thrilled at how motivated students are about their future careers after spending a day in JA City. He said students leave excited about school because they know what they're learning is important in the workplace.
While they're at JA City, kids can take aptitude assessments to see what types of careers fit their interests, which is a great way to get them excited about their future job. Junior Achievement wants to extend this type of assessment, and is in the process of creating a career exploration center for all students. The center will expose students to a variety of career options and give resources to help them start preparing for a career early on in their education.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Junior Achievement of Utah, Inc. 515 East 100 S., Ste. 200 Salt Lake City, UT 84102 801-355-5252 www.ja-utah.org
