Bringing Business to School

Despite its recent arrival locally, the Junior Achievement organization is making an impact on economic and business education in schools throughout Benton and Washington counties.

Using volunteers from the business community, the organization provides classes on everything from the proper way to fill out a check to handling a stock portfolio. Junior Achievement has been around since 1919, but it just became active two years ago in Northwest Arkansas.

Judy Van Hoose, district manager for the organization, said the local organization was able to fund its first two years with a $110,000 grant from the Don Reynolds Association and a $25,000 grant from the CommunityCare Foundation. Those funds run out in July, and Van Hoose is actively seeking funding for the program from area businesses and community organizations. Each course costs Junior Achievement between $300 and $500, she said.

“Our goal is to have a student ready when he or she graduates from high school with a basic understanding of free enterprise and business,” Van Hoose said.

It’s good for the students to hear about the real business world from people who are involved in it locally, Van Hoose said. Volunteers visit a classroom once a week for five to 12 weeks.

The Junior Achievement program is also good for area businesses that promote business education. Van Hoose calls it “investing in the future work force.”

During the 2001-2002 school year, Junior Achievement volunteers have taught 137 different classes in Washington and Benton counties. Van Hoose hopes to make it 150 classes next year.