Program Overview

With the help of local businesses and entrepreneurs, local high schools put together comprehensive business and marketing plans for products and services of their own creation. This pitch event is the culmination of three months of preparation that teaches high students the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. The students compete for local and state-level scholarships. The local winners from each market across Louisiana then compete for additional scholarships at the state competition. Additionally, the local and state winners earn funds for the school they represent.

Please reach out for more information on the program and logistics.

Program Overview

Is Your Teen Ready for Work?

Junior Achievement’s high school work readiness initiative, “Get Hired, Stay Hired” seeks to address the sentiments of employers and industry leaders across our area, “Are young workers really ready for the workplace?”

In an ever changing globally competitive economic climate, businesses with the strongest workforce will see greater success.  The competition among firms and industries for qualified workers is growing at a rate faster than jobs can be filled. All indicators and economic forecasts point to a manufacturing and economic boom for Louisiana and employers are already feeling the pinch for qualified workers. More importantly, many employers find young workers grossly underprepared and lacking in professional soft skills.

Using both classroom instruction of JA Career Success and JA Job Shadow, students spend 10-12 hours of sector specific career exploration interviewing and job skills mentoring and exploring of various roles within the host company.

Program Overview

Connecting to Success teaches students skills they will need to better prepare themselves to join the workforce, pursue advanced training and skills or to attend college.

This program uses Junior Achievement’s Career Skills program for young adults. Students use role playing, case studies, group discussion and individual assessment to build workplace professionalism, and the ability to influence others as responsible, professional adults. Students undergo individual interpersonal skills and career development assessment. Volunteers help students explore the endless possibilities and opportunities within multiple job sectors.‍

Connecting to Success is designed to give high school students the opportunity to experience the look and feel of a professional, sophisticated business conference. The conference is designed to help students hone the skills they will need to be better prepared to join the workforce after high school, to pursue advanced training in technical skills areas, or to attend college.