Simsbury High School Student to Be Featured at Junior Achievement Breakfast

Ana Cagganello, a 10th grade student at Simsbury High School, has been selected to be a student speaker at the 12th Annual Partners in Achievement Breakfast to support the financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship programs of Junior Achievement.

The annual event has become one of the region’s best opportunities for local business leaders to come together to be inspired by students, educators and volunteers who have all experienced JA programs. This year’s event will be on Thursday, May 21 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, 7:15 – 9:00 AM. JA is anticipating 500 guests in attendance.

Earlier this year, Cagganello participated in the inaugural JA Career Connections for Young Women, developed in collaboration with Junior League of Hartford. The focus of the new program was to provide female students with practical advice and wisdom about the world of work, from how to get hired to understanding your personal brand.

“Ana was quite impressive throughout the experiential learning program, and will provide both insight and first-hand experience in sharing how JA programs can make a difference in students’ lives, specifically the lives of young women,” said Jeremy Race, Chief Operating Officer of JA of Southwest New England. “She will bring poise and passion to her comments, and a glimpse into the challenges facing today’s teenagers on the brink of college and careers.”

Joining her on the program will be Kevin Carnale, a senior at Sheehan High School in Wallingford; and Dylan Washington, an eighth grade student at HALS Academy in New Britain. Carnale participated in the JA Global Connections program that traveled to China last year, and Washington, who will be emcee, has participated in JA programs each year in elementary school and middle school. In addition, a group of elementary schools students from Norris Elementary School in East Hartford will be ambassadors for the event.

JA’s Partners in Achievement breakfast is a fundraising event that supports JA’s financial education programs in the schools. Though the breakfast is free to attend, guests will be asked to make a financial contribution. Sponsors for the Partners in Achievement Breakfast include The Hartford, Stanley Black & Decker, Hartford Steam Boiler, RSCC Wire & Cable, and Private Capital Group.

Thanks in part to the funds raised at last year’s event, more than 33,000 students attending roughly 150 schools in 49 communities participated in volunteer-led JA programs.

“JA is focused on one of the most powerful ideas possible – giving young people the knowledge, the tools and the inspiration to understand our economy and make their way in the world,” said Lou Golden, president of JA of Southwest New England.

To RSVP for the Partners in Achievement breakfast on May 21 please contact Kelly McGurk at 860-525-4510 x237 or kmgurk@jaconn.org. To learn more about the JA, visit www.jaconn.org.