Press Releases Archives - Junior Achievement of San Diego County

Four Local Community Leaders Inducted Into the 2025 San Diego Business Hall of Fame

Catherine Van Weele — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:14:31 +0000

Youth workforce development nonprofit honors San Diego leaders for excellence in business, education, and philanthropy

Pictured left to right: Charlie Yim, Shirley N. Weber, and Jack Raymond. | Photo by Carlos Cacho

Oct. 24, 2025 (San Diego, CA) — Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) inducted the next class of Lifetime Laureates at the 2025 JA San Diego Business Hall of Fame presented by US Bank, recognizing four local leaders with a commitment toward uplifting the San Diego region. This year’s honorees are Jack Raymond, Darlene Shiley, Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., and Dr. Chun Bin “Charlie” Yim.

“We are honored to recognize these individuals for their work and investment in the San Diego community through education, business, policy, and beyond. They have had a transformational impact and serve as role models, especially for our youth,” said Sidd Vivek, President and CEO of JA San Diego.

Established in 1986, the San Diego Business Hall of Fame recognizes individuals in the community who embody business and philanthropic excellence.

Jack Raymond, Chairman and CEO of Raymond Companies

Jack Raymond has held numerous leadership roles in educational and community organizations, including the Escondido Elementary School Board of Trustees, the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Escondido Community Foundation, and the San Diego Economic Development Corporation. He has been recognized for his many contributions, including the LEAD San Diego Visionary Leadership Award for Regional Collaboration and the Escondido Business Leader of the Year.

Darlene Shiley, President of The Shiley Foundation

A patron of education, medical research, and the arts, Shiley’s contributions are evident throughout the San Diego region. Shiley serves as president of the Shiley Foundation, stewarding the philanthropic commitment of her and her late husband, Donald Shiley, in donating their estate. Shiley additionally volunteers her time as a mentor to university students.

Shirley N. Weber, PhD, California Secretary of State

Shirley Nash Weber, Ph.D., serves as the current California Secretary of State. She is California’s first Black Secretary of State and only the fifth African American to serve as a state constitutional officer in California history. Before her appointment, Weber served as an Assembly Member representing California’s 79th Assembly District and as a member and chair of the San Diego Unified School District. Weber is committed to creating equitable and fair policies and has successfully enacted reforms in education and criminal justice.

Dr. Chun Bin “Charlie” Yim, Entrepreneur

Born in Seoul, Korea, Charlie Yim moved to San Diego in 1969 to work with the Peace Corps. He later attended San Diego State where he earned a bachelor’s and doctoral degree. Yim spent several years serving in the public sector before dedicating his time to entrepreneurial endeavors, turning struggling businesses into huge successes. Yim has served in leadership roles for organizations focused on international business relations and is a philanthropist in the San Diego community.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego

Since 1950, Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) has been inspiring and equipping youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices. Through proven experiential learning programs, such as the McGrath Family JA BizTown and Mission Fed JA Finance Park, students build the financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship skills needed to thrive in a global economy. Annually, JA San Diego serves 30,000 students with the support of over 4,000 community volunteers.

Media Contact
Catherine Van Weele
Marketing & Communications Manager
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
(619) 906-4909

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2025 Business Hall of Fame Photo Gallery | Photos by Carlos Cacho

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Youth Entrepreneurs Showcase Innovative Business Solutions at 2025 JA COY

Catherine Van Weele — Fri, 02 May 2025 19:16:32 +0000

Overnight Oats DIY Kit Company Named JA Company of the Year

Student-led company Sweet Cham at JA COY tradeshow

Apr 30, 2025 (San Diego, CA) — Dozens of student-led companies shared their business solutions and entrepreneurial journeys at the annual JA Company of the Year Competition, held by Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego). Over the last several months, students have conceptualized and developed business ventures that aim to address an issue facing their community, while gaining hands-on experience in the entrepreneurial process.

“In my future, I really hope to be a small business owner,” said Sabine C., Canyon Crest Academy student and CEO of Oatley, an overnight oats DIY kit company. “This experience has been amazing. I’ve really learned how to build my confidence and pitch myself to so many people, whether it’s classmates, a teacher, or judges from different companies.”

With two-thirds of young people interested in starting their own business, this program introduces young people to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and shows them how they can turn a business idea into a profitable business venture. The skills students develop from building their own businesses fuel their early career journeys and support students’ long-term success in any career field.

“The major I’ve declared is psychology, and I want to make an impact by helping others. I hope that I take lessons learned from working in a team, taking feedback, and working with other people to better myself and better understand situations or individuals,” said Daniel P., a student from e3 Civic High.

Nearly 800 students across the San Diego region engaged in the JA curriculum with 125 students representing Canyon Crest Academy, e3 Civic High, Torrey Pines High, Oceanside High, Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, and CETYS participating in JA COY. The top teams at the JA San Diego Company of the Year Competition will be nominated to compete in the national JA USA Future Bound summit held at Georgia State University in June.

The following teams were awarded at the 2025 JA COY:

JA Company of the Year

1^st Place – Oatley (Canyon Crest Academy): Oatley offers overnight oat kits to provide an easy and healthy breakfast for people on the go.
2^nd Place – Sweet & Simple (Torrey Pines High): Sweet & Simple offers ready-to-bake cookie and cake boxes.

JA Social Innovation Challenge

1^st Place – Eco-Track (Chula Vista Learning Community Charter): Eco-Track is an app that allows users to track their carbon footprint.

Social Impact Tradeshow Award

Simply Sprouted (Torrey Pines High): Simply Sprouted offers DIY herb growing kits for beginners.

JA Innovation Tradeshow Award

Wave and Glow (CETYS): Wave and Glow offers ethically sourced seashell candles.

JA COY was made possible with the support of Comerica Bank, Fitzpatrick Family Foundation, PenChecks, and UC San Diego Park & Market.

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Stock Market Simulation Shows Youth How to Grow Wealth

Catherine Van Weele — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:07:10 +0000

JA San Diego Brings the New York Stock Exchange to Local Students

Students participating in JA Stock Market Challenge

Mar 12, 2024 (San Diego, CA) — Students experienced trading on the New York Stock Exchange through a stock market simulation competition hosted by Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego). Presented by Mission Federal Credit Union, the 2025 JA Stock Market Challenge brought nearly 150 students from across the San Diego region to compete in building mock portfolios over a simulated 60-day trading period in the market.To prepare for the event, over 400 students participated in JA curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of the stock market and how to develop long-term investing strategies.

“My students were interested in learning about investing. Money is motivating, so they wanted to learn more about the stock market and how it works and how it could benefit them in the future,” said Breanne Ulloa, educator at King Chavez Community High School. “Once they started playing the simulation, they really got excited about how it works. They’re having fun and it’s real world.”

The experience aims to demystify the stock market by providing young people an opportunity to learn how to invest in a risk-free learning environment that prepares them to manage their personal finances as they enter adulthood. Through hands-on practice, young people become more familiar and confident in developing investing strategies and navigating the stock market.“This will help us like learn how to save, how to plan, and help us try to invest in stocks. This will help us like in the long run in how to finance our stuff better,” said Kirenia H., a junior at Hoover High.

Now equipped with the tools and knowledge on various financial vehicles and ways to grow wealth, students have begun to consider ways they can plan for their financial futures.

“I’ve already had some senior students talking about opening a CD. They want to put aside dollars that they know that they can not touch. They want to put that into an account so that it can start to earn them more money,” said Ulloa.

This year’s JA Stock Market Challenge champions were from CETYS in Tijuana, Mexico and O’Farrell Charter School secured second place.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego
Junior Achievement of San Diego (JA) has been inspiring and equipping San Diego youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs like BizTown program, JA also reaches more than 30,000 students annually through programs such as BizTown, Finance Park, and the JA Company program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 42 county school districts.

The post Stock Market Simulation Shows Youth How to Grow Wealth appeared first on Junior Achievement of San Diego County.

Three Local Leaders with a Commitment Towards Education Inducted Into the San Diego Business Hall of Fame

Catherine Van Weele — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 16:55:12 +0000

Youth-focused workforce development nonprofit honors San Diego leaders for excellence in business, education, and philanthropy

Pictured left to right: JA San Diego President & CEO Sidd Vivek, Cox Communications Senior Vice President Sam Attisha, Wilson Kosmo Turner Partner Emeritus Vickie Turner, Girard Foundation Founder Buzz Woolley, and JA Fellows Alum Diana Montes | Photo by Paul Nestor

Oct. 8, 2024 (San Diego, CA) — Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) inducted Sam Attisha, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Cox Communications; Vickie Turner, retired partner of Wilson Turner Kosmo; and Buzz Woolley, founder of the Girard Foundation into the San Diego Business Hall of Fame.

“JA San Diego is thrilled to recognize these three individuals for their leadership in the business community and their commitment, through their philanthropy, to making the San Diego region a thriving community”, said Sidd Vivek, President and CEO of JA San Diego.

Established in 1986, the San Diego Business Hall of Fame recognizes individuals in the community who embody business and philanthropic excellence. The 2024 honorees have lead and supported community organizations and initiatives that aim to uplift the San Diego region.

Sam Attisha, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager of Cox Communications

As West Region Senior Vice President and Regional Manager at Cox Communications, Sam Attisha is an advocate in our community who has demonstrated a commitment to digital equity and to making San Diego a “tech-forward” region. Under Attisha’s leadership over the past 17 years, Cox has invested millions of dollars into local nonprofit organizations, including JA San Diego, as a founding member and longstanding supporter of JA Biztown, as well as an integral supporter of the expansion of the JA Fellows youth workforce development program. Attisha also has played a key role in securing grant funds for the larger community, including, most recently, the Chicano Federation, to aid victims of the historic January 2024 flooding. Attisha currently serves on the management council for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors for CalBroadband, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and Monarch School. He has previously served on the board of the USS Midway Museum and Make-A-Wish San Diego.

Vickie Turner, Partner Emeritus of Wilson Turner Kosmo

Turner was pivotal to the growth and development of Wilson Turner Kosmo, the largest certified female-owned law firm in San Diego and recognized as a “Go To” Law firm for Fortune 100 companies. In addition to remaining Partner Emeritus, she has served on numerous boards and committees of organizations including Endeavor Bank, National Bar Institute, the UC San Diego Foundation Trustees Board, Ford Motor Company, and USD School of Law Board of Visitors. Turner is co-founder and Chair of the Links to STEM program which has positively impacted the lives of students over its 10-year history and enhanced the pipeline of students prepared to succeed in STEM majors and careers. She was recognized as one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers in America and Woman of the Year for the 79th California State Assembly.

Buzz Woolley, Venture Capitalist & Founder of Girard Foundation

A venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Woolley began his career at IBM before starting Girard Capital, one of the first venture capital firms in San Diego. Throughout his career, Woolley has founded innovative organizations including the Girard Foundation (supports K-12 education in San Diego County), CONNECT (connected high-tech companies with UC San Diego researchers, financial sources, and service providers), Voice of San Diego (one of the first non-profit local media outlets), and the Charter Growth Fund (an early backer of charter schools). Woolley has also served on the board of Claremont McKenna College, Ed Voice, and numerous advisory boards at UC San Diego.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego

Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) has been inspiring and equipping San Diego youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs like BizTown program, JA also reaches more than 30,000 students annually through programs such as the McGrath Family JA BizTown, Mission Fed JA Finance Park, and the JA Fellows program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 3,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts.

Media Contact
Catherine Van Weele
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
(619) 906-4909

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2024 Business Hall of Fame Photo Gallery | Photos by Paul Nestor

The post Three Local Leaders with a Commitment Towards Education Inducted Into the San Diego Business Hall of Fame appeared first on Junior Achievement of San Diego County.

JA San Diego Announces Erin Polek As New Board Chair

Catherine Van Weele — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:30:20 +0000

Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) announced Erin Polek as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Polek is the retired Chief Accounting Officer at Qualcomm. Polek joined the board in 2020 and serves on the Executive and Finance Committees. She has been a tremendous asset to JA San Diego, offering strong leadership and expertise while consistently driving the organization’s mission forward.

“I am honored to be elected as Chair of the Board of JA San Diego to further support its mission to provide key building blocks to young people across our county to help enable successful futures through a focus on financial literacy and career readiness. I look forward to working more closely with JA San Diego’s creative and dynamic management team and the other members of the Board, who bring their unique and diverse backgrounds and skills, to further support this important mission,” said Polek.

Polek brings over 25 years of leadership experience in accounting and finance. She joined Qualcomm in 2006 and served in a number of positions. Polek additionally serves on the Board of Aeva Technologies, Inc. Polek attended San Diego State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.

Polek succeeds retired Mission Fed CEO Debra Schwartz who will continue to serve on the JA San Diego Board of Directors.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego
Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) has been inspiring and equipping San Diego youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs, JA San Diego reaches more than 30,000 students annually through programs such as the McGrath Family JA BizTown, Mission Fed JA Finance Park, and the JA Fellows program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 3,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts.

The post JA San Diego Announces Erin Polek As New Board Chair appeared first on Junior Achievement of San Diego County.

Teaching Youth How to Build Wealth Through the JA Stock Market Challenge Investing Simulation

Catherine Van Weele — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:28:16 +0000

JA San Diego Brings the New York Stock Exchange to San Diego Students

Mar 21, 2024 (San Diego, CA) — Investing has become more accessible than ever before with the rise of online investing platforms and apps. At the same time, more employers are switching from traditional pensions to 401(k)’s and 403(b)’s that require individuals to invest their own money. The knowledge and skills to invest successfully are rarely taught in traditional education. To equip young people with the tools to make smart and strategic investing decisions, Junior Achievement of San Diego immerses high school students in to the world of investing at their annual JA Stock Market Challenge simulation.

On Thursday, Mar. 21, 2024, nearly 100 students from across the county came together and compete in building mock investment portfolios over a simulated 60-day trading period following news updates mirroring real-world events.

To prepare for the event, over 400 students participated in JA curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of the stock market and how to develop long-term investing strategies. The curriculum covers key investing concepts such as risk and benefits assessments, the importance of diversification, and how company performance can be influenced by current events.

“Knowing how to invest isn’t a ‘bonus’; it’s a critical competency needed to save for retirement, build wealth, and achieve financial independence for demographics that have been historically under-invested. At JA San Diego, we’re working towards economic equity and we’re starting by empowering our youth,” said Sidd Vivek, JA San Diego President & CEO. “JA Stock Market Challenge provides high schoolers with a unique to opportunity gain real, hands-on experience investing in a safe, risk-free learning environment.”

Lincoln High teams secured first and second place and an O’Farrell Charter team won third place.

To learn more about bringing JA Stock Market Challenge to your school, visit our High School Experiences page on our website or contact Nancy Quidachy at nquidachay@jasandiego.org.

Media Contact

Catherine Van Weele
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
(619) 906-4909

The post Teaching Youth How to Build Wealth Through the JA Stock Market Challenge Investing Simulation appeared first on Junior Achievement of San Diego County.

Biotech Leader and Innovator, Bill Rastetter, Inducted Into The JA San Diego Business Hall of Fame

Catherine Van Weele — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:40:41 +0000

Biotech leader and SD2 co-founder Bill Rasetter and JA San Diego President & CEO Sidd Vivek | Photo by Melissa Jacobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 11, 2023

Youth-focused workforce development nonprofit honors San Diego leaders for excellence in business, education, and philanthropy

Oct. 11, 2023 (San Diego, CA) — Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) inducted scientist, innovator, and local entrepreneur, Bill Rastetter, into the San Diego Business Hall of Fame at their annual luncheon on Oct. 11, 2023 at The Lodge at Torrey Pines.

The JA Business Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to recognize San Diego’s leaders who have been professionally successful while also continuing to invest in the community through philanthropy, mentorship, innovation, or other creative engagement.

“JA is thrilled to recognize Bill Rastetter at this year’s Business Hall of Fame for his contributions to the life sciences industry and more recently, his commitment to build and support diverse talent pipelines across STEM fields”, said Sidd Vivek, President and CEO of JA San Diego, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering local youth through experiential learning programs that provide K-12 students with tools and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern economy.

Rastetter serves as the chairman of three life science companies in San Diego, Neurocrine Biosciences, Fate Therapeutics, and Daré Bioscience. Additionally, he is an advisor to Illumina Ventures. Rastetter is a co-founder and chairman of San Diego Squared (SD2). SD2 is a nonprofit focused on increasing the diversity within the STEM industries in San Diego through mentorship, partnerships, and financial support for underrepresented high school and college students.

For more information, please visit https://jasandiego.org/event/san-diego-business-hall-of-fame-luncheon-2023/.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego

Contact

Catherine Van Weele
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
(619) 906-4909

Event Photo Gallery | Photos by Melissa Jacobs

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San Diego Teen Entrepreneurs Secure Coveted 2023 Global Possibilities Award, Presented By FedEx

Catherine Van Weele — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:04:54 +0000

FedEx recognizes innovative business plan driving job creation and environmental protection

From left to right: CocoLoco CEO Daniella Addeo-Cortes, JA USA President & CEO Jack Kosakowski, CocoLoco COO Shaan Garg, FedEx Senior Federal Affairs Representative Justin Krawczyk, CocoLoco CMO Noah Benhaim

[San Diego, CA] — During the esteemed Junior Achievement (JA) National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held from June 11-15 in Washington D.C., the exceptional student-run company, CocoLoco, emerged as the proud winner of the prestigious 2023 Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx. Evaluated by a distinguished FedEx jury, the student company presented an outstanding business plan with the potential to foster job growth and champion environmental sustainability.

To qualify for the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, a Junior Achievement student company needed to be among the finalist teams competing at Junior Achievement’s NSLS. These talented teen entrepreneurs participated in additional sessions focused on the concept and impact of global access, a program developed by FedEx that complements the JA Company Program®. The award recognized the JA student company that devised a marketing plan for a product or service showcasing a comprehensive understanding of global access.

“FedEx was founded with one essential purpose: to connect people and possibilities around the world. We believe a connected world is a better world. With the strength of our global network and logistics expertise, we help our customers – from small business owners to Fortune 500 companies – compete more effectively in the global marketplace,” said Adrian Edmonds, Director of Global Citizenship at FedEx. “The FedEx Global Possibilities platform celebrates the power of global connectivity and the next generation of innovators. The Global Possibilities Award recognizes a student-run business that best exhibits the four principles of global connectivity: Driven by Innovation, Connecting to New Markets, Fueling Community Development and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.”

CocoLoco provides high-quality, eco-friendly coconut products and gifts. Committed to a sustainable business model, CocoLoco repurposes coconut shells to create soy candles and succulent arrangements. CocoLoco believes in the value of giving back to the community and has partnered with Cancer for College, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to cancer survivors, to donate 10% of their profits to the organization.

“CocoLoco takes great care in prioritizing social responsibility within our business practices. We source all our coconut shells from Vietnam and the Philippines where there is a surplus of shells polluting those areas. We take pride in supporting local economies by sourcing both our succulents and soil from a local nursery in San Diego,” said Daniella Addeo-Cortes, CEO at CocoLoco. “Our dedication to global connectivity, ecological awareness, community development, sustainability, and social responsibility has allowed our business to thrive. We are honored to receive the FedEx Global Possibilities Award which recognizes and celebrates the positive impact our business has made in these areas.”

Founded by talented students from San Diego, CA, CocoLoco emerged as a result of their participation in the highly regarded JA Company Program®. This immersive program empowers high school students to establish and operate authentic business enterprises under the guidance of dedicated mentors from the local business community. The passionate teen entrepreneurs identified an unmet consumer need, successfully recruited investors for their company, and skillfully produced and marketed their innovative product or service.

“CocoLoco embraced the concept of global access by having the power to transform industries, connect diverse markets, and drive sustainable growth,” said Sidd Vivek, JA San Diego President & CEO. “By leveraging the opportunities presented by global connectivity, these young entrepreneurs can create innovative solutions that transcend borders, foster inclusive economic development, and make a positive impact on a global scale.”

Junior Achievement’s National Student Leadership Summit serves as a platform to recognize the remarkable business acumen, creativity, and innovation displayed by U.S. JA Company Program students aged 15-18 throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. The JA Company Program grants teens the invaluable opportunity to launch and manage their own businesses under the mentorship of local business volunteers.

During the three-day event, the student-run companies competed for various accolades, participated in engaging seminars led by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business, and presented their companies to a distinguished panel of judges comprising esteemed business leaders.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego

Junior Achievement of San Diego (JA San Diego) has been inspiring and equipping local youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs, JA also reaches more than 20,000 students annually through programs such as the McGrath Family JA BizTown, Mission Fed JA Finance Park, and JA Company Program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 3,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts.

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA) 

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 3.3 million students per year in 102 markets across the United States as part of 12.5 million students served by operations in more than 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About the Global Possibilities Award

FedEx serves as the global sponsor of the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx for JA Worldwide. To be eligible for the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, a student company must be one of the finalists selected to compete at the JA National Student Leadership Summit in the USA or one of the JA Company of the Year Competitions worldwide. Student company members must complete a seminar conducted by FedEx on the idea and impact of global access.  The Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx is given to the JA student company which best demonstrates their understanding and application of global access, leveraging international trade to create jobs, grow small businesses, expand global development and improve the environment.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $93 90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 530,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.

Media Contact
Catherine Van Weele, JA San Diego
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
619-906-4909

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High School Seniors Get Ready For Internships with a Shopping Spree for Business Professional Clothing

Catherine Van Weele — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 14:53:25 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

La Mesa, California – High school seniors from Lincoln High School in Southeast San Diego will be going on a very specific shopping spree next Tuesday. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the shopping trip is for students to buy office and work clothes for paid internships this semester. It will take place on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 8:30-10:00 am at the Burlington Coat Factory in La Mesa, California. The store will be opening an hour before regular business hours to give students the entire store to themselves.

All the students are enrolled in unique, in-class, year-long experience in partnership with Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego), called JA Fellows. This program provides mentors, “real world” experiences, and work-based learning to underrepresented students to empower their future success. Through the JA Fellows program, students have been connected to internships with local businesses including Jack in the Box corporate headquarters, Cox Communications, YMCA of San Diego, and Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation.

“As we approach the start of our internships, our Fellows have expressed excitement and nervousness about the upcoming opportunity,” said Junior Achievement Program Outreach Manager Adam Armas who oversees the JA Fellows program. “In the short term, this shopping trip will provide students with the confidence of looking like the young professionals they are. In the long term, this shopping trip represents a launchpad; access to opportunities/resources like paid internships and professional mentors are often out of reach for students in historically underresourced communities like Southeast San Diego. We want them to see their future selves today.”

About Junior Achievement of San Diego
Junior Achievement of San Diego (JA) has been inspiring and equipping San Diego youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs like BizTown program, JA also reaches more than 20,000 students annually through programs such as BizTown, Finance Park, and the JA Company program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 3,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts

Media Contact
Catherine Van Weele, JA San Diego
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
619-906-4909

The post High School Seniors Get Ready For Internships with a Shopping Spree for Business Professional Clothing appeared first on Junior Achievement of San Diego County.