The most recent news from Junior Achievement of WNY is right here!
For more information, please contact Diane Gardner at 716-853-1381 x13
or Shannon Bloomquist x16.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT’S BIZ KID$

COMES TO BUFFALO

January, 2008 (Buffalo, NY) – Cool kids, fun graphics, and solid content from the creators of Bill Nye the Science Guy are the foundation for Junior Achievement’s Biz Kid$ public television series. The show, which will air for the first time this Sunday on ThinkBright (WNED – Channel 21) at 8:00pm, is aimed at school-aged children, and focuses on financial responsibility for the younger crowd. The show is hip, fun, and funny, and drives home the importance of starting good financial habits early on. The program focuses on saving, budgeting, investing, and giving back to the community. The series will continue to air on ThinkBright at 5:30pm on Fridays and 8:00 pm on Sundays.

Biz Kid$ is just one part of a widespread initiative by Junior Achievement to teach kids about finances and entrepreneurship, with the hope of keeping students in school. JA has created supportive classroom curricula and, through its volunteer network, JA of WNY will integrate the content into classrooms throughout Buffalo. Parents and students can also access this curricula on the Biz Kid$ website at http://www.bizkids.com.

The Biz Kid$ initiative is a cooperative creation of Junior Achievement, America’s Credit Union, and Biz Kid$ LLP. JA and America’s Credit Unions share a similar mission that includes volunteerism and financial literacy to help build stronger communities. JA of WNY president Lisa Scherer said, “It’s never too early to start addressing the need for financial literacy with the next generation. Biz Kid$ will be one of the most effective tools for engaging kids to care about their financial futures, and the future of business in Buffalo.”

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS NINE SCHOLARSHIPS

FOR DALE CARNEGIE LEADERSHIP COURSE

January, 2008 (Buffalo, NY) – Through the generosity of Andrew Terranova & Associates, Inc., Junior Achievement of WNY recently awarded scholarships to nine students from Cardinal O’Hara High School, Orchard Park High School and Williamsville East High School to attend the Dale Carnegie Youth Training Course. The course, led by Andrew Terranova, teaches students about public speaking, communication, etiquette and other important business and interpersonal skills.

The program began Saturday, January 5, in the Conference room at the Ramada Inn in Getzville, where the training class is held every year. The students were quiet at first, but eager to learn as they flipped through the provided texts before meeting the instructor.

As soon as Terranova began the class, promptly at 9am, the students didn’t stay quiet for long! The Dale Carnegie course focuses on communication. “You can’t not communicate,” Terranova told his pupils, and then explained the appropriate way to introduce oneself. The method is called Pause Part Punch. “My name is [Pause] Matthew [Part your two names] McDermott [Punch the last name],” announced one of the Junior Achievement Scholarship winners from Cardinal O’Hara High School.

The following students are the 2008 Junior Achievement Dale Carnegie Scholarship Winners:

Cardinal O’Hara High School

Lauren Heary

Jessica Limina

Matthew McDermott

Orchard Park High School

Tiffany Marble

John Holder

Elaina Anderson

Heather Ross

Williamsville East High School

Lisa Chen

Samuel Wie

The program will continue for 12 weeks, focusing on communication skills such as eye contact, voice inflection and the ever-important handshake. Junior Achievement of WNY opens the scholarship contest annually in the fall to all Western New York high school students who have participated in a Junior Achievement program. To get involved, contact Alycia Ivancie at 716-853-1381 x15 or aivancie@jawny.org.