JA of Georgia 75 Years Strong

Seventy-five years ago, JA of Georgia was founded, initially focusing on after-school programs where students crafted items like birdhouses and ashtrays to sell, instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in 1949's high schoolers.

However, during the same time period, Georgia's education landscape faced challenges with segregated schools and disparities in resources. Not until 1949, with the Minimum Foundation Program, was a uniform nine-month school term mandated. To address funding gaps, the Georgia General Assembly passed a 3% sales tax to help support schools.

Fast-forward to the early 2010s; when JA of Georgia collaborated with education and business partners to address income mobility, career-readiness gaps, and middle school engagement decline.  These priorities became the impetus for establishing JA of Georgia’s first Discovery Center, founded by the Chick-fil-A Foundation in 2013. The excitement of what a JA Discovery Center could offer our young people, as well as the business and education sectors, took flight! 

Two years later, Gwinnett County provided the capital to build the second JA Discovery Center in the state. In 2017, philanthropists Mike and Lynn Cottrell provided the capital funding for a third JA Discovery Center in Forsyth County, and in 2020, Engineered Floors provided the capital resources needed to construct the fourth in Dalton. As the appetite for JA’s programs has grown across the state, so has JA’s expansion to reach Georgia’s students.

On the heels of opening the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center in Savannah in 2022, funding emerged from the Columbia County and Richmond County school systems to build the latest center in the Augusta area, which opened several months ago. With these 6 centers, JA now serves nearly 50% of middle school students across the state.

Simultaneously, JA developed the 3DE education model to re-engineer high school. This program offers high school students a modified curriculum that incorporates into the classroom important business and soft skills needed for today’s workplace. Georgia now has 15 schools using this model.

Though much has changed since 1949, JA remains dedicated to inspiring and preparing Georgia’s youth for success in a global economy…and in life.

Junior Achievement (JA) Celebrates the Return of the JA of Greater Augusta Business Hall of Fame Gala

Augusta, GA - On October 17, 2024, JA of Georgia will honor two distinguished laureates and showcase the impact of Junior Achievement programs on the next generation of entrepreneurs. This year’s gala is presented by Georgia United Credit Union, Georgia’s Own, and Piedmont Augusta. 

The gala will be held at the Augusta Marriot Convention Center, bringing together influential business figures, community leaders, and supporters of Junior Achievement to celebrate the lifetime achievements of Dave Brendza, Division Vice President and General Manager for the ADP offices located in Augusta, GA and Louisville, KY and Stephanie Stuckey, Chair of Stuckey’s. As this year’s Laureates, Brendza and Stuckey will be inducted into the JA of Greater Augusta Business Hall of Fame. 

JA of Georgia's President and CEO, John Hancock, shared, "We are thrilled to recognize the incredible business endeavors of Dave and Stephanie during this year’s eagerly awaited return of the JA of Greater Augusta Business Hall of Fame. I am excited for the years ahead and the exceptional business leaders we will have the privilege to honor." 

Dave Brendza is the Division Vice President and General Manager for ADP's Augusta, GA, and Louisville, KY offices. Since joining in 2014, he has spearheaded initiatives like facility upgrades and wellness activities, significantly growing the Augusta facility and earning it recognition as one of Georgia Trend Magazine's Best Places to Work. In 2020, Dave took on the Louisville office, driving growth and community support, earning a Boom Award for Leadership in the Community. With 40 years at ADP, Dave has held various senior roles and holds a BA in Accounting and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University.

Stephanie Stuckey serves as the Chair of Stuckey's, a renowned pecan snack and candy company located in Wrens, Georgia. A proud alumna of the University of Georgia, she holds both a BA and JD. Stephanie's diverse career includes roles as a trial lawyer, a state representative, and the Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta. She is also the author of “Unstuck: Reviving an American Icon.” In her leisure time, Stephanie loves embarking on road trips to discover quirky attractions like the world's largest ball of twine. 

Along with the induction of Brendza and Stuckey, the gala will recognize Rafy and Hannah Bassali as 2024 Rising Stars. Hannah and Rafy Bassali own The Swank Company, Escape Outdoors, and Posh Tots, operating eight storefronts and three e-commerce sites. Rafy also leads RB Capital Investments and serves on multiple local boards, while Hannah is active on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Augusta Training Shop Board. As parents of three, they are committed to supporting their community through various charitable activities. 

The JA of Greater Augusta Business Hall of Fame will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner, and JA program. Proceeds from the event will benefit JA of Georgia and its efforts to empower the next generation to build a better future for themselves and their community.  

To learn more about the event or sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase tickets, visit HERE.

About Junior Achievement of Georgia 

Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is a business-integrated education partner with expertise in experiential learning that successfully develops key mindsets and skills for students to lead meaningful and successful lives. JA’s high-impact programs drive long-term outcomes in areas of financial literacy, career readiness, and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, and are they delivered by corporate and community volunteers. JA of Georgia offers multiple programs, with a focus on middle and high school students, including JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, and 3DE by Junior Achievement. JA of Georgia serves more than 110,000 students statewide in an average year. JA of Georgia has offices in Atlanta, Cumming, Dalton, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, and Savannah. For more information, visit georgia.ja.org 

From Designing Apps to Throwing Graduation Caps

Seniors from Northview High School are counting down the days to their high school graduation. For some, starting a new chapter seems daunting, but not for these three 3DE graduates. Ayaan Nabi, Baasin Nabi, and Abhinav Surapaneni have been ready for the real world since their Junior year.

During a student's third year of 3DE, they are challenged to create their own business from scratch. Some decide to share their heritage through food, while others help warm your home with candles and other goods. However, these three young men wanted to raise the bar. After a few focus groups with teachers, the trio decided to develop an app to help students find an extra-curricular activity. With Northview's plethora of offerings, decision fatigue and finding the right club can be difficult for a new student.

With the mission to aid their fellow Titans, Ayaan, Baasin, and Abhinav began to plan their app. The primary challenge they encountered was determining how to develop it. In the initial stages, the trio sketched out the interface designs. During their presentations to community members, they had the fortune of meeting Chris Kampf, CEO of Venuiti and an active volunteer for JA of Georgia. Chris was impressed by the app's purpose but noted the boys lacked the resources to bring it to fruition. Kampf offered his services. Thanks to his generosity, the app was on track to be available for download.

Kampf worked very closely with the students and as the school year began to draw to a close, Kampf saw an opportunity. Baasin Nabi was offered a summer internship with Chris Kampf's company. With a fresh app on their phones and their last year of 3DE and high school ahead of them, Ayaan, Baasin, and Abhinav had already begun to build their resumes. During a senior's 3DE year, they are paired with a company to complete a consultancy. Ayaan spent the year with New Horizon, where they tackled the food industry. While Baasim and Surapaneni both worked with Deloitte, they handled different solutions. Baasim tackled solutions for producers of medical and drug equipment, Abhinav worked on developing business growth with aid from smaller tech companies.

As graduation approaches, Ayaan Nabi will be delving into Biopsychology at Georgia State University, while Baasim Nabi sets his sights on a medical career, embarking on a pre-med biological engineering journey at the University of Georgia. Abhinav Surapaneni, on the other hand, aims to immerse himself in the realm of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Finally, their reflections extend to the impactful guidance provided by mentors and volunteers, with Chris Kampf standing out as a beacon of support and mentorship. Ayaan acknowledges the transformation from introversion to confidence, attributing it to the mentorship received, while Baasim and Abhinav express heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support and expertise that propelled their projects forward, shaping their journey within 3DE and beyond.