Junior Achievement launches in DeWitt and Piatt County schools
February 14, 2022
First National Bank launched its fourth year facilitating Junior Achievement (JA) at five elementary schools and one middle school in DeWitt and Piatt Counties with over 49 classrooms of grade K-8. Schools involved include Clinton Elementary, Douglas & Lincoln, Schneider Elementary in Farmer City and DeLand Weldon Elementary and Junior High School.
First National Bank employees volunteer their time to teach five lessons in their assigned classroom. The program began in November and will run through April.
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy and learn about their community, jobs and entrepreneurship. JA reaches students with fun, hands-on programs that teach students financial literacy and equip them with the knowledge and skills to make better life choices. All programs align with national and local curriculum standards; therefore, educators fully enjoy the opportunity to involve their students.
“We believe in and support ‘Economic Empowerment through Education!’ Through our engaging, hands-on programs, Junior Achievement is a solution to the societal issues of inequality, wage gap, student loan debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and financial independence,” said Roxanne Mulvey, Junior Achievement of the Midlands, Inc. senior educational services manager. “Outside of JA, most young people may not consider the concepts of money management, careers and business ownership until they are out of school.”
Students are encouraged to think practically about starting a business with entrepreneurial thinking to meet the requirements of a demanding and ever-changing workforce. The students learn new vocabulary words, engage in hands on activities and games and discuss local businesses and entrepreneurs.
“We appreciate and value the partnership with First National Bank and Trust Company. We are grateful for your commitment to children in the communities they serve through your support of Junior Achievement to make a difference in students’ bright futures,” added Mulvey.
The program allows community members to be involved in financial literacy instruction and gives teachers an opportunity to take advantage of third-party resources to offer different perspectives to their students.
“I am privileged to have the opportunity to touch so many students’ lives, providing them tools to be successful with money as they grow and become adults,” said Connie Unruh, First National Bank and Trust Company financial literacy coordinator. “JA is an effective and engaging curriculum to teach students and achieves financial and economic literacy standards in the state of Illinois.”
To learn more about Junior Achievement, contact Connie Unruh, financial literacy coordinator at First National Bank and Trust Company at connie.unruh@firstnbtc.com or 217-935-7464.
About First National Bank and Trust Company: First National Bank and Trust Company is a community bank located in Clinton, Illinois as well as Arcadia, Whitehall and Independence, Wisconsin. Dedicated to community prosperity, the First National Bank and Trust Company was chartered in 1872 under the name DeWitt County National Bank and became part of the TS Banking Group in 2017. With $400 million in assets, First National Bank and Trust Company is dedicated to community reinvestment and gives 10% of its net income back to the community. For more information, visit firstnbtc.com.
About Junior Achievement: Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy and learn about their community, jobs and entrepreneurship with hands-on programs, knowledge and skills to make better life choices. For more information, visit ja.org.