Celebrating 60 Years of Junior Achievement: How It All Began and How It’s Evolved

Author: Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Published: Thursday, 13 Nov 2025

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Image caption: Celebrating 60 years of impact made possible by dedicated volunteers who bring JA to life in classrooms across Eastern Iowa.

For 60 years, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa has empowered young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build brighter futures. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also reflecting on a story that began long before JAEI was founded—a story rooted in innovation, opportunity, and a belief that every student deserves the chance to succeed.

The Early Days of Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement’s national story began in 1919, when business leaders Theodore Vail, Horace Moses, and Senator Murray Crane came together around a shared mission: helping young people develop the skills and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. In the decades that followed, JA evolved from an after-school business program into a nationally recognized organization helping students understand work, money, and entrepreneurship.

By the time Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa launched in 1965, JA had already built a strong reputation for preparing young people for the future. JAEI brought that mission home to the Corridor and Cedar Valley, partnering with local educators and businesses to ensure young people across Eastern Iowa had access to high-quality, real-world learning.

Growing with the Needs of Students

Over the decades, JA has continued to evolve—just like the world around us. What started as simple entrepreneurship experiences has grown into a comprehensive learning journey that blends financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and hands-on simulations that mirror real life.

Today, JA’s learning experiences are designed to meet students where they are and prepare them for where they’re going. From foundational lessons in elementary school to immersive experiences in middle and high school, JA equips students with the confidence, capability, and connections needed to pursue opportunity-filled futures.

A Strategic Shift: Education for What’s Next

As the world of work changes faster than ever—driven by technology, automation, and the jobs of tomorrow—JA’s mission has also grown. Our modern approach focuses on accelerating economic mobility through education, ensuring students don’t just learn about the future—they’re prepared to shape it.

Rather than treating financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship as separate pillars, JA now connects them into one powerful, future-focused strategy. This integrated approach helps students build practical financial knowledge, work-based competencies, and an entrepreneurial mindset that supports resilience and innovation.

Six Decades of Local Impact

Through the dedication of educators, volunteers, business partners, board members, and community supporters, JAEI has grown from a small, local initiative into a regional leader in real-world education.

Over 60 years, hundreds of thousands of Eastern Iowa students have:
Explored careers and discovered their strengths
Practiced budgeting, saving, and investing
Built foundational work skills through hands-on learning
Connected with mentors who expand their understanding of what’s possible
Gained confidence in their ability to achieve their goals

And soon, JAEI will celebrate another historic milestone—serving our 1,000,000th student.

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

As we enter our 60th anniversary year, we’re celebrating the legacy that brought us here while continuing to expand what’s possible for future generations. Our commitment remains the same: partnering with educators, families, and employers to ensure every student has access to the tools, experiences, and support needed to build a thriving future.

The past 60 years have been filled with progress, innovation, and countless moments of impact. The next 60 promise to be even more transformative.

Help us continue this legacy—get involved, volunteer, or support JA today! Get involved!