NSU Horizons Spring 2010

Welcome to Junior Achievement World—where more than 50,000 children in South Florida will get hands-on experiences with the challenges of adulthood and workforce responsibilities. Fifth-grade students practice attending Nova Southeastern University and studying toward a speci c career. Others want to be reporters for a day, putting out a newspaper on their day’s activities, while still others choose to work at a hospital, manage a store, or be employed by a bank. Eighth graders receive a “salary” of up to $60,000, from which they have to budget all their “living expenses” in life situations such as being “married with two children” or “single.” The Junior Achievement World Huizenga Center is the largest such facility in the world. This premier nancial and employment children’s education center has been made possible largely by donations from NSU Board of Trustees member H. Wayne Huizenga as well as a number of other private donations and corporate sponsors. Huizenga became involved after he and his wife, Marti, toured the Gus Stavros facility in St. Petersburg. Marti worked diligently with the school system at that time and pledged the rst gift to replicate the programs here; later, after Junior Achievement (JA) acquired the rights to replicate the programs, the Huizengas pledged to support with the lead gift. JA World, located on the Broward College campus in Coconut Creek, is broken into two areas: JA Biztown (for fth graders) and JA Finance Park (for eighth graders). In both, small cities feature various storefronts where children “work,” learning the ins and outs of free enterprise. As part of their curriculum, all fth and eighth graders of Broward County public schools will visit JA World. The JA storefronts are sponsored by real local businesses to provide partial funding for JA’s operations. NSU is supporting JA by sponsoring two storefronts. At NSU’s storefronts, students can learn about ve careers—career counselor, bookstore manager, accounts of cer, chief nancial of cer (CFO), and university president—in a mini-university student experience. Students take on the responsibilities of these careers to make the storefronts run smoothly. In addition, they participate in the Biztown community at large. For example, the CFO buys supplies from other storefronts to stimulate their businesses. “Working at NSU was amazing and fun. The best part was learning to make checks,” said Daniel Italico of Coconut Creek Elementary, who acted as CFO for NSU’s storefront. But, this experience goes beyond learning about a speci c career. “The students learn that going to school is a life option that can make a difference in what their career choices may be,” says Larry Calderon, vice president of community and government affairs at NSU. According to Calderon, NSU’s involvement with JA will expose thousands of students to the opportunities higher education offers. “NSU believes that the earlier students and their families see higher education as a viable option, the quicker they will decide to pursue a formal education,” Calderon added. “NSU has served as a vital part [of JA World] by showing kids that there is a next step with higher education,” said Anna Parker, director of community and special events at JA World. “It allows them to do great things.” For more information on Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit http://jasouth orida.org . Q YOUNGER STUDENTS GET A TASTE OF THE WORKPLACE Junior Achievement 36 HORIZONS BY MICHAEL J. BERGBAUER