Teen Entrepreneurs to Compete at Junior Achievement’s National Student Leadership Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2023

TEEN ENTREPRENEURS TO COMPETE AT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT’S NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Students from Coral Gables Senior High will compete with teen entrepreneurs from across the U.S.

After winning Miami’s Inaugural Junior Achievement Company Program Competition, five high school students from Coral Gables Senior High School have been selected as one of 15 finalist teams to compete at the Junior Achievement National Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.

At NSLS, students compete for the following awards:

• JA Company of the Year – First, Second, and Third Place
• Delta Social Impact Award
• FedEx Global Possibilities Award
• ICE Best Financial Performance Award

The Miami students spent the better part of this school year launching, operating, and liquidating a real-life business venture through the JA Company Program. Their student-operated company, Charm Department, manufactured and sold school-spirit-based shoe charms under guidance from teacher Niki Brown, and volunteer advisor Patrick Creegan from BlackRock.

Within the corporate structure of this real-life student enterprise, 21 students were investors with a $15 per stock share. A leadership team of six captains provided oversight to different aspects of the corporation. The company partnered with the University of Miami's School of Architecture for 3D printing. Upon liquidation, Charm Dept. donated 10% of their earnings to the Mexican American Council.

When asked to reflect on winning the JA Company Program Competition, sophomore Lia Samper, Head of Sales for Charm Department, said, “I did not know what to expect from the competition. I saw the company as just a class project and the competition as just another class assignment. I was pleasantly surprised and gratified by the news due to all the hard work the company and its people have put into the project.”

Delta Air Lines is a sponsor of the competition, and proud supporter of Junior Achievement, including Junior Achievement of Greater Miami and 30 Junior Achievement chapters across five continents, with support including providing students with  opportunities to shadow Delta employees, offering valuable insights into the aviation industry, and fostering a deeper understanding of the business and what it takes to succeed. As a

"We are thrilled to support the next generation of entrepreneurs as they compete at Junior Achievement's National Student Leadership Summit," said Luciano Macagno, Managing Director for Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Florida at Delta Air Lines. "We wish them the best of luck as they showcase their innovative ideas and business acumen on a national stage. Delta takes great pride in being part of an event that fosters leadership and entrepreneurship, and we eagerly anticipate the impact these students will make in the business world."

At the NSLS event, student companies will be assessed on financial performance, personal and professional development of team members, a self-produced commercial, a live presentation to business leaders, and their company's performance at an Entrepreneurship Expo on Capitol Hill. The Expo will be held on Tuesday, June 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT, and is open to the public with free refreshments.

About Junior Achievement of Greater Miami, Inc. (JA Miami): Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Here in Miami, JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that provide 40,000 students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA USA reaches more than 2.5 million students per year in 102 markets across the United States, as part of 10 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.jamiami.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA USA): Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 2.5 million students per year in 103 markets across the United States as part of 10 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

About the JA National Student Leadership Summit: The Summit is Junior Achievement’s opportunity to celebrate the achievements of students from across the United States. This pinnacle event brings 15 JA student companies to Washington, D.C. for three days of high impact JA experiences. Students will demonstrate their business acumen, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking in a competitive environment—showcasing their companies to Members of Congress and business leaders. In addition to the competition, JA Company Program students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops led by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business.

About Delta Air Lines: Through the warmth and service of the Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) people and the power of innovation, Delta never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer. More than 90,000 Delta people lead the way in delivering a world-class customer experience on over 4,000 daily flights to more than 275 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other. Delta is committed to safely serving as many as 200 million customers annually, with industry-leading customer service innovation and reliability – recognized as North America’s most on-time airline.