McKinley Steam Academy Students Make a Sweet Impact Through JA Company Program® Pop-Up

Author: Cathy Essick
Entrepreneurship
Published: Wednesday, 09 Apr 2025

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Image caption: Students from McKinley STEAM Academy, along with their teacher Corbin Bundy and volunteer Paige Grimm of Shive-Hattery, celebrate the success of their JA Company Program® Pop-Up lemonade stand. The sixth grade team raised $134 to support Last Hope Animal Rescue, gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and community giving.

Students from McKinley Steam Academy in the Cedar Rapids Community School District recently put their entrepreneurial skills to the test through Junior Achievement’s JA Company Program® Pop-Up, and their hard work made a meaningful impact on a local nonprofit.
Under the guidance of teacher Corbin Bundy, sixth grade students Daliyah, Minnie, and Lucy developed and operated a small business as part of the program. With support from volunteer, Paige Grimm of Shive Hattery, the students planned and launched a lemonade stand in front of Bruegger’s Bagels in Cedar Rapids. Over the course of a few hours, they raised $134, which they proudly donated to Last Hope Animal Rescue.
The students chose Last Hope as their nonprofit beneficiary after learning about the organization's mission to rescue and rehome animals in need. During their donation visit, they were met by Amanda Rushton from Last Hope and even got to meet Kayla, one of the rescue dogs currently in the organization’s care.
The JA Company Program® Pop-Up gives students a unique opportunity to experience real-world entrepreneurship by creating and running a business with a social purpose. Students are empowered to think creatively, work collaboratively, and learn the fundamentals of business while giving back to their community. To learn more about this impactful program, visit https://easterniowa.ja.org/programs/ja-company-program-pop-up.

Image caption: Kayla, an adoptable dog from Last Hope Animal Rescue, made new friends!

Junior Achievement (JA) programs are led by volunteers from the community—professionals, parents, and local leaders—who bring real-world experience and passion into classrooms. Their involvement is what brings JA curriculum to life, helping students connect what they learn to the world around them. Volunteer Paige Grimm shared her experience supporting the McKinley students:
“This experience was such a blast. Usually when I go into a classroom, there are a few students who aren't interested—they’re disengaged or just sitting back. But with this activity, every single student got involved in some way. It was so rewarding to come in each day and see their excitement grow. I left the classroom every time feeling more energized by what the students were doing. They all did such a great job—it was truly a fun and inspiring experience.”
— Paige Grimm, Shive-Hattery
Educators also recognize the lasting value of entrepreneurial experiences. Kimberly Abrams, Future Ready Learning and School Counseling Lead, emphasized how this program supports students in thinking beyond the classroom:
“Students have an opportunity to consider entrepreneurial experiences, how they exist now, and then where it can take them later on in life.”
– Kimberly Abrams
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is grateful for dedicated educators and volunteers who help create meaningful experiences that spark inspiration and future-ready thinking in students.
To learn more about Last Hope Animal Rescue, visit https://adopthope.org.
To learn more about McKinley STEAM Academy, visit https://mckinleymagnet.crschools.us/.