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Powering Possibility: Wells Fargo and Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Wells Fargo’s partnership with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa reflects a shared commitment to building financially resilient communities. Through financial support and hands-on volunteer engagement, Wells Fargo empowers students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions and prepare for future careers. Their investment in innovative programs like JA BizTown® Mobile...
60 Years of Impact: JA Alumni Prove the Power of Real-World Learning
By Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
As Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa celebrates 60 years of impact, new national research shows the lasting difference JA makes in students’ lives. The 2025 JA Alumni Report reveals that 96% of alumni credit JA with positively influencing their personal and professional success — from stronger work ethic and money management skills to thriving careers and financial stability.
Locally, JA Eastern...
Inspire Students. Change Futures. Volunteer with Junior Achievement.
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Every day, students across Eastern Iowa are dreaming about their futures — imagining what they might become, the careers they’ll pursue, and the lives they’ll build. At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, we believe those dreams deserve guidance, encouragement, and real-world perspective. That’s where you come in.
When you volunteer with Junior Achievement, you help students connect what they’re...
Staff Spotlight: Meet Shelby Kobliska, 3DE™ School Coordinator
By Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is excited to welcome Shelby Kobliska (koh-BLISS-kah) as our new 3DE™ School Coordinator at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. Shelby joined the team on July 1st and is helping launch Washington’s first year of 3DE™, a project-based learning model that connects classroom lessons to real-world careers.
Drawn to JAEI by its strong culture and community impact,...
Junior Achievement Launches It’s First Industry Recognized Credential
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Technical knowledge may open the door to a job, but skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are what help students succeed long-term. That’s the focus of JA Essential Skills for Work, a new program now recognized as an Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC) by the Iowa Department of Education.
Through hands-on simulations at a fictional company, students practice decision-making,...
Volunteer Spotlight: Niki Davis
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Niki Davis, a financial advisor and founder of Maloney Davis Wealth Management, has been a dedicated Junior Achievement volunteer since 2009-2010. With a passion for financial literacy, she began teaching JA programs while working at Wells Fargo and continued as her children entered Lisbon Schools. She enjoys engaging students in discussions about business planning, taxes, and budgeting. Niki...
Gen Z's Career Confidence vs. Future Challenges: What Today’s Teens Really Think About Work, AI, and Education
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Work Readiness
As American teens stand on the brink of adulthood, they're navigating a rapidly changing world — one shaped by artificial intelligence, shifting views on higher education, and increasing financial pressure. But according to new research from Junior Achievement USA and Citizens, despite these mounting challenges, today’s teens are still remarkably optimistic about the...
Shape the Future: Volunteer with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to dream big, plan boldly, and step confidently into their future. None of that is possible without volunteers like you.
Whether you want to guide students through hands-on simulations, help them explore careers, or inspire them in the classroom, there’s a place for you at JAEI. This fall, we...
Congratulations to Whitney Schreder, CBJ Forty Under 40 Honoree and JAEI Leader
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to celebrate Whitney Schreder, Vice President of Finance, who has been named a Corridor Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree. With more than a decade of service at JAEI, Whitney has combined her financial expertise and passion for empowering young people to make a lasting impact on both the organization and the...
Students Are Asking: “Why Are We Learning This?”— And That’s a Good Thing
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
If you've spent time in a classroom recently, you've probably heard a student ask:
“Why are we learning this?”
At first, it might sound like defiance or disinterest. But in reality, it’s one of the most important questions a student can ask—because it signals a desire for meaning, relevance, and connection. And in today’s world, those elements are essential to authentic learning.
The good...
