Shelton Mayor and Superintendent Kick Off Junior Achievement Program at Perry Hill Elementary School in Shelton

Junior Achievement and volunteers from many local businesses and the community taught important financial concepts to students in grades K-6 at Perry Hill Elementary School in Shelton on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Volunteers from participating businesses included Hubbell, Wells Fargo, CDW, Rexel Holdings, Schwab, Sikorsky as well as members of Junior Achievement's Board of Directors and others from the community. Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and Superintendent Christopher Clouet welcomed volunteers and kicked off the JA program.

Volunteers taught the JA Our Nation® and JA Global Marketplace® programs which provide information about the need for employees who can meet the demands of the 21st century job market. The programs also help students understand how goods flow through various economies and the effect globalization has on their lives.

According to Bernadine Venditto, president of Junior Achievement of Western CT, “As role models, our volunteers help young people connect the relevance of their classroom learning to their future success and the importance of staying in school. They are letting students know they care, inspiring students to dream big and reach their potential all while developing competitive skills and confidence to succeed in a 21st century global marketplace.”

Junior Achievement facilitates community-school programs where trained local business people volunteer their time in schools to teach students about a variety of topics including career and work readiness and financial literacy.