Page 16 - The Edge - Fall 2019

DUCK RACE DELIVERS volunteers and a staff of 32, utilizing classrooms in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 partner schools.
“Students are taught how to open a bank account, how
to deposit and withdraw from a bank account, how to
students to the essential elements of a practical business run their own business, and what taxes are, among other
plan and then challenges them to start an entrepreneurial things,” Mehta said.
venture while still in high school. Students learn Junior Achievement’s working relationship with
about advertising, competitive advantages, financing, AASBO began this year, and Mehta said he looks forward
marketing, and product development. The program is to more ways of partnering with school business officials
composed of seven sessions, each 45 minutes in length, moving forward. Mehta said he has never attended an
and is recommended for students in grades nine through AASBO meetings, but suggested that’s about to change.
12. “We plan on getting more involved,” he said. “It’s going
AASBO President Nate Bowler explained why he chose to be very exciting.”
Junior Achievement, which is considered the world’s At the check presentation in September, Mehta
largest organization dedicated to educating students in learned that several AASBO members have taught
grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, Junior Achievement curriculum, highlighting the
financial literacy and preparing them to succeed in a close relationship between AASBO and Junior
global economy. Achievement.
“I selected Junior Achievement because of the many The AASBO contribution will help sponsor low-income
innovative things that they are doing with students,” students who otherwise would not be able to participate,
Bowler said. “They have a real hands-on and practical even though Junior Achievement fees are relatively small,
approach to showing kids how business and jobs work Mehta said.
in the real world. There have been so many people in the Junior Achievement’s website provides some eye-
school business world that have been impacted by their opening national statistics its programs are so important.
programs, and the partnership with AASBO and Junior Namely:
Achievement just made sense.”
When Eddie Mehta, Development and Marketing 20% of U.S. students will not complete high school
Coordinator for Junior Achievement of Arizona, learned on time and earn a diploma.
of the AASBO award he expressed his appreciation in an 49% of U.S. employers recognize that talent
email to Bowler and AASBO Executive Director Brian shortages impact their ability to serve clients and
Mee. customers.
“On behalf of everyone at JA, thank you so much for 36% of Americans say they have at some point in
your support of our organization and for taking the time their lives felt their financial situation was out of
to listen to me talk about what we are doing here,” Mehta control.
said. “We are blown away by the support that the Arizona 91% of millennials wish they had greater access to
Association of School Business Officials provided us. We entrepreneurial education programs.
would love to work more closely with your organization
and its members more in the future, and I am looking On its website, Junior Achievement says their
forward to working with you on how we can accomplish volunteer-delivered programs show students all of the
that! Again, thank you so much!” possibilities that are before them: “They realize they can
In an interview, Mehta said Junior Achievement choose different paths. College? A specific trade? Start
serves 85,000 Arizona kids with the help of some 8,000 their own business?”

“On behalf of everyone at JA, thank you so much for your support of our organization and for taking
the time to listen to me talk about what we are doing here. We are blown away by the support that

the Arizona Association of School Business Offi cials provided us. We would love to work more closely
with your organization and its members more in the future, and I am looking forward to working with

you on how we can accomplish that! Again, thank you so much!”
— Eddie Mehta, Development and Marketing Coordinator for Junior Achievement of Arizona

16 THE EDGE | FALL 2019