Junior Achievement’s JA JobSpark Initiative Helps 8th Graders Explore Future Careers

By the time today’s middle school students begin graduating from college, Indiana will have more than 1 million open jobs that will need to be filled by skilled and inspired workers.  To address current and future workforce challenges, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana (JA) will host its 7th annual JA JobSpark program, presented by Eli Lilly and Company, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds this month, to help area 8th graders explore future in-demand careers through hands-on learning experiences with local companies.

JA JobSpark is a two-day, hands-on career expo (September 20th and 21st) that will bring more than 10,900 students from 72 schools across Indianapolis to the Fairgrounds.  As JA organizers open the doors to the Champions Pavilion and Blue Ribbon Pavilion next Tuesday morning, the first groups of teachers and students will be welcomed by more than 1,200 volunteers representing over 100 Indy employers – businesses, agencies and organizations from Indiana’s fastest growing industry sectors.

“It’s never too early to begin empowering our young people to own their future success – JA JobSpark aims to ignite enthusiasm in our students about their future careers and pathways to postsecondary success,” said Jennifer Burk, CEO of JA of Central Indiana.  “Thanks to an incredibly supportive business community, we can bring them face-to-face with the future.”

JA JobSpark is designed to “spark” a student’s interest in different careers, then provide them with an understanding of the classes they will need to take in high school, a plan for post-secondary success and a clear path toward that career. The culmination of the classroom curriculum is the JA JobSpark event, where students learn about skills and equipment used daily in industries of their interests at the guidance of Hoosier professionals from local companies and corporations, including Eli Lilly and Company, IU Health, JPMorgan Chase, OneAmerica, Republic Airways and many more.

Committees of corporate, government and institutional leaders volunteer to help JA recruit and organize JA JobSpark’s employer participants and hands-on activities within eight key sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics; Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Architecture, Engineering and Construction; Business and Finance; Government, Law and Public Service; Health and Life Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism; and Technology.

“JPMorgan Chase is excited to partner with Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, where students not only have the opportunity to learn about new industries, they have the opportunity to engage through interactive experiences,” said Erin Shaw, JA of Central Indiana Board Member, market manager at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Indianapolis.  “It’s imperative that we provide students the tools and resources they need to succeed, and this hands-on, real-world experience educates them on the skills they need today for the jobs of tomorrow.”

By getting students excited about high-demand jobs as they prepare for high school, JA JobSpark is an investment in Indiana’s future workforce. It’s never too early to encourage students to start thinking about a post-secondary plan. For more information, visit www.jaindy.org and www.jajobspark.org.