Four Teams of Outstanding High School Students from Miami are Headed to Boston as Finalists in National JA Competitions

Four Teams of Outstanding High School Students from Miami are Headed to Boston as Finalists in National JA Competitions

Local teens to Compete for Honors at Future Bound presented by Pacific Life Foundation, Chick-fil-A, CNA Insurance, Delta Air Lines, and Staples

[Miami, FL] – Four teams of students from Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater Miami have been selected as finalists in national competitions, including JA Company of the Year, taking place at Future Bound by Junior Achievement in Boston, MA, scheduled from June 8-11. The three-day event is designed to inspire and empower young people, introducing them to real-world skills and insights they can apply to their futures and showcase their skills and knowledge through competing in JA competitions for national honors, awards, scholarships and prizes. The Outstanding Miami Finalists include:

National JA Company of the Year Finalist, Vis-à-Vis Productions: The team of students from Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High in North Miami created student-led, fashion-focused experiences celebrate inclusivity, creativity, and unity by empowering diverse voices, embracing individuality, and inspiring a community where everyone feels sees and valued. Students: Mia Jacobi, Kobi Biamby, Candela Rodriguez, Tata Monica Shalutashvili, and Liam Gleizer. Mentored by teacher Don Festge and volunteer Patricia Sacks.

National JA Company of the Year Finalist, Hoops4Hope: Teens from Coral Gables Senior High developed an inclusive basketball event where student-athletes and students with intellectual challenges play on the same team so that no one is left out. Students: Aimee Lagerweij, Carolina Planes, Alba Martinez, Christofer Moncada, Chrisopher Bustillo. Mentored by teacher Niki Brown and volunteer Priscila Carney.
JA National Social Innovation Challenge Finalist, The Artery: Students from the New World School for the Arts are bridging Miami’s communities through the power of collaborative art. Their monthly pop-up art experiences randomly pair participants to create a single masterpiece, ultimately turning strangers into friends and empty canvases into shared stories. The Artery’s vision is a future where art is a shared language across all communities. Selected pieces are curated for exhibition (and potential auction) during Art Basel, offering participants a rare opportunity to have their work showcased within a professional art context. Students: Saharah Johnson, Caililynn Salzer, Aissah Wall-Bryant, and Emily Stansfield. Mentored by teacher Ray Parris and volunteer Venanzio Ciampia.

JA National Stock Market Challenge Finalists, The Eagles of Wall Street: Southwest Senior High students earned their way to the national finals by winning their regional competition. The teens will compete against other teams from across the nation in a market simulation where students are given a hypothetical $1 million to invest and manage. Students: Robert Torralbas Ryan Torralbas, Anthony Hernandez, and Diogo J de La Torre Blanco. Mentored by teacher Mary Davidson.

"The competitions at JA Future Bound are a great lesson in entrepreneurship and innovation," said Lourdes de la Mata Little, President & CEO of JA Greater Miami. “This program is a fantastic way for students to learn real-world skills, while we build a talent pipeline for the Miami tech and innovation community, and connect our students with local mentors and business leaders.”

Pacific Life Foundation, Visionary Sponsor, and Presenting Sponsors Chick-fil-A, CNA Insurance, Delta Air Lines, and Staples are proud to support Future Bound by Junior Achievement and JA’s mission to prepare young people for economic success. Their commitment to empowering students through education and real-world experiences is at the heart of this dynamic event.

For more information about the event visit https://jausa.ja.org/events/future-bound-by-junior-achievement

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.8 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.ja.org.

About Junior Achievement of the Greater Miami
Junior Achievement of Greater Miami reaches over 38,000 public students from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties per year. They provide free lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship, delivered in local public schools with the help of our education partners and volunteers

Contact:

Dani Mackey, (703) 283-9698, Dani@DaniMackey.com