By JScott
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August 29, 2011
JA-Rocky Mountain, Inc. won a 2011 MetLife Foundation Entrepreneurial Award and a $25,000 grant for developing and demonstrating an outstanding innovation to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in young people. JA-Rocky Mountain, Inc. was one of six to receive this honor at the recent Junior Achievement USA™ National Leadership Conference held in Boston. JA Worldwide® (JA) and MetLife Foundation have partnered for the more than 10 years on the awards program, which honors innovation and entrepreneurship at the local level and provides funding to expand those efforts.
Igniting the American Spirit (Ignite) is JA-Rocky Mountain’s winning program awarded specifically for the a unique partnership with the Public Education and Business Coalition to create a robust volunteer training program. Working with schools and districts with a demonstrable need, virtually no financial resources and, most importantly, a strong desire to have their students excel in the classroom and on state-mandated tests, Ignite will serve as a potential national model for expanding students’ knowledge of free enterprise and their knowledge of personal financial literacy. JA-Rocky Mountain will illustrate that students participating in this project will do as well, or better than, higher income students on state-mandated testing in personal financial literacy and will have better attitudes and behaviors toward staying in school than their peers.
“JA operations play a vital role in providing young people with the knowledge, skills and role models they need to succeed in a global economy,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to join JA Worldwide in honoring JA-Rocky Mountain for exemplary innovation and entrepreneurship, which is helping reach more young people with effective, high-quality programs.”
The MetLife Foundation Entrepreneurial Award is a significant way to recognize — and inspire — innovation across JA through funding current programs promoting entrepreneurship. MetLife Foundation has been a JA partner since 1972 and also supports JA at the local level through volunteer engagement and board leadership. Building on its 92-year legacy, Junior Achievement continues to deliver innovation to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
By JA_Guest
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June 20, 2011
It was unclear who was more nervous on Friday morning: the students who were getting ready for their final business presentations, or their Company Advisors who were nervous for them! All seventeen groups gave terrific and compelling arguments for their Jamba Juice smoothie flavor, Omni family getaway package or Oogie’s Popcorn social media campaign. The winners were announced that afternoon at the closing ceremony, and they were:
Jamba Juice
1st Place: Company I, “Berry Smart” with a combination of mixed berry juice, strawberries, blueberries, coconut water, apple juice and mango. Their slogan, “The best school supply yet” was incorporated in their Point of Sale advertisements and their YouTube pencil drawing animation which can be seen here.
Look for this flavor in September, as profits will be shared with the winning team members.
2nd Place: Company H, “Peach Rise n Shine” with pineapple juice, mango-passion fruit juice, peach and strawberries. Their slogan: Tasty, Healthy, Cool. Go shine!
3rd Place: Company F, “Brainstorm” with apple-strawberry and mixed berry juices, pineapple sherbet, strawberries, mango and banana. Their slogan: Motivate your mind.
Omni Interlocken Resort
1st Place: Company L, “Rocky Mountain Rockin’ Weekend.” This group created a compelling promotional video, and their activity-packed weekend started with a camera and ended with a photo keychain loaded with the family’s photos.
The winning team members will get to experience the resort for themselves when they attend as Omni’s guests later this year.
Oogie’s Gourmet Popcorn
1st Place: Company Q, who created a video contest and kicked it off with their rendition of “Teach me how to Oogie” (set to the tune of “Teach me how to Dougie”). Their campaign also included a “What Oogie’s flavor are you?” Facebook quiz.
By JA_Guest
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June 17, 2011
Wednesday night’s Etiquette Dinner and Networking Event at the JW Marriott were both a huge hit! First year students learned how to properly butter a dinner roll (tear off small pieces to butter individually, do not make a “butter sandwich”), and second, third and fourth year students realized the importance of eye contact. Michelle Glasmann, 2nd year CA, said her students have been looking her in the eye all day today. In fact, it is making her slightly nervous, all that staring!
This morning, students heard from College in Colorado on how to match their interests with potential career choices. They filled out individual interest inventories, and set SMART short- and long-term goals. Then, it was back to the classrooms for tips on presentation skills and writing thank-you letters to the sponsors.
The highlight of Thursday was the eSummit, which consisted of a delicious plated luncheon with corporate sponsors and a panel of local entrepreneurs. The panel was moderated by Scott Bemis, publisher of the Denver Business Journal, and consisted of: Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality; Sandi Richter, Crazy Scrubs; Alexis Boian, Young Philanthropists Foundation; Ryan Goral, Strategic Equity Partners; and Mike Taylor, Taylor Realty Group. The students had many great questions, including, “Do you have any regrets?” and “What advice do you have for someone who wants to start their own coffee shop?” (By the way, the answers to the latter question were to utilize their local economic development office, and ask the advice of a coffee shop owner that you would like to emulate – but preferably not in the same geographic area, for competition’s sake.)
The students have a strict deadline, and they are working up until the last minute: by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday they must turn in their written summaries and PowerPoint presentations. Last night, they can grooved to their favorite club beats at the dance, and hope that they have prepared enough for their final presentations on Friday.
By JA_Guest
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June 15, 2011
The battle was on last night, as Dance2Live brought their dance crew and ended up “battling” JA Business Week intern, Carole Smith (who is also a dancer). The dancers faced off after an inspirational conversation with Dance2Live founder, Steven Silva (also a former JA Business Week student) who challenged students to “figure out what you love to do, and then find a way to make money at it.” What a perfect message for all of us!
This morning, first year students competed in the Great Tinker Toy Experiment, though the real lesson they learned was on leadership. Brian Addy, President and Founder of Ad-Venture Capital Management and Junior Achievement board chair, facilitated the activity with humor and enthusiasm. Seventeen volunteers from various businesses, such as State Farm and Ball Corporation, subbed for the Company Advisors and took on specific leadership roles to guide students in a manufacturing activity. The groups built and sold several items to volunteer buyers, negotiating prices based on quality. Students did not know these business volunteers, and therefore did not know that each played a role: authoritative, democratic, laissez-faire, or consultative. Volunteers took each role to the extreme; for example, the democratic volunteers had students vote on every decision they made, including whether or not a student could leave the table to use the restroom!
First year students also learned about how to create a brand identity from Motive D+I, with a Mood Tiles activity. Then, they learned how to dress appropriately for their own individual identity, with separate Dress for Success workshops specific to males and females. They will certainly look sharp for tonight’s Etiquette Dinner at the JW Marriott!
Second and third year students continued to work on their projects, with the help of volunteer consultants from Oogie’s and other businesses. They will be joining the first year students at the JW Marriott this evening, but for an event of their own: a Networking Event, where they get the opportunity to mix and mingle with more wonderful volunteers from Denver’s business community.
By JA_Guest
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June 14, 2011
Today started with a bang; or rather, it started with flashing lights and sirens. The campus fire alarm went off right after the morning assembly, but turned out to be a false alarm. Fortunately, the situation was assessed quickly and students were able to go back inside just in time for the first workshops to begin.
First year students heard from the Federal Reserve on using credit wisely, and were introduced to the topic by watching the SNL skit, “Don’t Buy Stuff (You Cannot Afford)” Students who answered questions about credit were rewarded by $165. Too bad the money was shredded from bills that were taken out of circulation! Second year students learned about marketing and event planning from Omni executives, and third year students received company consultations from various business volunteers.
After lunch, students entered a dimmed room for the Stress Reduction Workshop, learning breathing and other techniques to calm their nerves. (This will be very helpful as they work towards their presentations on Friday!). Then, students broke into company meetings, finalizing Jamba Juice flavors and continuing their Omni and Oogie’s campaigns.
Tonight, first year students will participate in Boundary Breakers - an activity that challenges members of each company to break down boundaries, and understand each other’s differences. Second and third year students will simulate a trading floor in the Stock Market Game, and all students will finish with an interactive dance and entrepreneurial workshop with Dance2Live.