High Schoolers Participate in 2021 JA Entrepreneurship Summit
Author: JA of Greater Washington
Entrepreneurship
Published:
Tuesday, 03 Aug 2021
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Image caption: At the JA Entrepreneurship Summit, student teams were tasked to develop creative solutions for local challenges in the areas of education and work readiness, equity and social justice, and the environment.
Six teams representing students from the Greater Washington region, and as far as Cyprus, spent five intense days participating in Junior Achievement’s sixth annual JA Entrepreneurship Summit, a virtual “startup boot camp” that challenges high schoolers to design socially conscious businesses.
The experience helped students develop the technical and soft skills needed to not only become successful entrepreneurs, but also meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy in a variety of professions and careers. Students utilized technology to brainstorm and collaborate with peers, participated in mini-seminars and workshops, and learned from business leaders and trained volunteer mentors.
This year, student teams were tasked to develop creative solutions for local challenges in the areas of education and work readiness, equity and social justice, and the environment.
In addition to creating and prototyping business solutions, students developed a lean business canvas that allowed for growth and sustainability and prepared a business pitch. Students learned to operate with limited resources in a high-stress situation, meet deadlines in spite of steep learning curves, and build leadership skills from every level within an organization.
Volunteer Support
The student teams were supported and guided by over 50 volunteer mentors throughout the week.
Thank you, Team Advisors:
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Elizabeth Hamilton, Leidos
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Stephanie Jorge-Machado, Leidos
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Alex Evonsion, Leidos
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Chris Ricci, NVA Career Coaching LLC
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Edward McNabb, LinkedIn
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Hanley Staley, Community Volunteer
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Jason Wheaton, Nestle
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Raul Diaz, Leidos
Thank you, Qualifying Round Judges:
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David Brough, E*Trade
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Thomas Daher, Nestle
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Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen, George Mason
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Elizabeth Hoffman, E*Trade
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Carolyn Ibacache, E*Trade
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Brian McCarthy, E*Trade
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Michele Naber, Capital One
Thank you, Final Round Judges:
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Jeff Burchett, Custom Ink
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Jermaine Johnson, PNC Bank
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Dwayne Redd. State Farm
Thank you, Volunteers:
Alexis Tonkel, Custom Ink
Alison Cawood, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Anna Oluyomi, Deloitte
Armun Asgari, Custom Ink
Ben Knezic, Custom Ink
Beth Ruedi, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Chrisi Schauder, Custom Ink
Durecia Moorer, ABCD & Company
Elias Economopoulos, KMPG
Erica Mariani, KMPG
Erin Fusco, Custom Ink
Evan Wilson, HSBC
Gayle Robinson, FBLA
Griffin Cole, Custom Ink
Hunter Rheaume, KMPG
Irene Onyango, KMPG
Jared Wilson, ABCD & Company
Jimmie Jones, Truist
John Clary, Community Volunteer
Jordana Cole, Custom Ink
Karlene Sinclair-Robinson, Community Business Partnership Environment
Katie Plunkert, Custom Ink
Kerry Wekelo, Actualize Consulting
Kimberly Ginyard, Salesforce
Kristin Blake, KMPG
Kyle Rumsey, KPMG
Linda Wu, JA Alumna
Mike Bryan, Entrepreneur
Myisha Procter, Custom Ink
Natalie Van Dyke, Custom Ink
Selena Smith, Truist
Tamir Sherif, ATCS
Yvette Schuler, State Farm
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