Junior Achievement of the Virgin Islands (JAVI) is recognizing outstanding volunteer participation for the 2011-2012 school year. JAVI successfully recruited 75 volunteers for this year’s programs and looks forward to continued growth in the future. Volunteering for Junior Achievement is more than simply an academic experience. JA volunteers act as mentors and leaders to young people across the territory.
JA volunteers served to teach 818 young people about business, economics and the free enterprise system. For example, seventh grade students learned how to create a budget as part of Junior Achievement’s Economics for Success program, and high school students learned basic concepts of starting a business through Junior Achievement’s Be Entrepreneurial program.
Schools that participated include the Julius E. Sprauve Junior High School on St. John, and Addelita Cancryn and Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School as well as Charlotte Amalie and Eurdora Kean High Schools on St. Thomas. On St. Croix volunteers taught at John H. Woodson, Elena Christian and Arthur Richards Junior High School, as well as the St. Croix Educational Complex and Central High School.
Also, during this school year, Alpine Securities USVI sponsored and conducted an afterschool program called JA Company Program,along with attorney Adriane Dudley from the Law Office of Dudley, Clarke and Chad. Thirty five students in the St. Thomas-St. John district participated. Two groups of 17 high school students, led by six business professionals, received basic economic education. By organizing and operating an actual business enterprise, students not only learned how businesses function, they also learned about the structure of the free enterprise system and the benefits it provides. JA Company Program helps young people appreciate and better understand the role of business in our society.
"Junior Achievement programs could not have the profound impact they have on young people without the support of volunteers from the business community. Each of our volunteers provided their own unique education and career experiences with the students, which enhanced the curriculums provided by JA. It really helped open our students’ eyes to possibilities for their own lives,"said Judi Fricks-Buckley, executive director of JAVI.
The Junior Achievement programs were made possible by volunteers from the following companies throughout the territory: Scotiabank, Glacial Energy USVI, White Bay Group, Alpine Securities USVI, Merchants Commercial Bank, The Avis, US Viking LLC, HOVENSA, WAPA, the VI Housing Finance Authority, InterOcean Insurance, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP, Apex Management, Energy Answers International, LLC, RE/Max Real Estate, Coldwell Banker Realty, and various other business professionals.
Funding this year is provided by the following generous companies: Alpine Securities USVI, Innovative Telephone, Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP, Professional Holding Company VI, LLC, Green Light Education, as well as individual donors.
Those who want to become a JA volunteer, call 513-7077 or e-mail Judi Fricks-Buckley at javirginislands@gmail.com. JA offers programs from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as an afterschool program. It orients volunteers on how to use program materials and work with students.
