PEERS Network Members Help Judge Junior Achievement Company Program

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SAN DIEGO TEENS TAKE HOME 1ST, 2ND, 3RD PLACE FOR 2018 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT COMPANY PROGRAM COMPETITION

The top three teams chosen will have the opportunity to compete at the national JA competition this summer in Washington, D.C.
 
(San Diego, CA)  — San Diego's teen entrepreneurs are celebrating for scoring 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for creating the “best start-up company” at Junior Achievement’s Company Program High School Competition.  Sponsored by the OtterCares Foundation and PEERS Network, the event on Tuesday, May 1st allowed twelve student companies from local high schools to pitch their products and services to a panel of judges.

The young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to compete at the Junior Achievement national competition to be held this summer in Washington, D.C.  The annual JA Company of the Year Competition, presented by The Hartford,is a contest of business skills, ingenuity and innovation that focuses on the accomplishments of teen teams from U.S. JA Company Program with nearly 14,000 U.S. students, ages 15-19, participating in the program.   The students are judged on ingenuity, marketing and finance. 

Congratulations to the following winning teams:

1st place:  BLUME from Westview High School. The student team designed and created lightbulb terrariums consisting of sand, gravel, and succulents. The drought-friendly plants are designed to lower your water bill while serving as a beautiful home or office décor.  
 
2nd Place:   First Step for Immigrants from Grossmont High School. The student team created an app that features step-by-step guide for immigrant families moving to the United States.  The digital app allows users to apply for benefits, and find schools, jobs, and housing.
 
3rd Place:  Cor’well Towel from Westview High School.   The student team created a unique towel consisting of 100% nylon with soft absorbent microfiber that is water, wind, and dirt resistant.
 
Best Innovative Commercial: Intego Sportswear  from San Dieguito Academy.  The student team created a slip on guard for athletes to protect their cleats when walking off the field onto a hard surface.
 
The teen companies are a part of the JA Company Program®, in which high school students start and manage their own businesses from the ground-up.  Students must decide on a product or service, market it to their classmates, family and neighbors, and carry the responsibility of managing company finances under the guidance of a JA mentor. This program is a hallmark of JA that started back in 1919.

• Tim S. Callan, CFP®, CPWA® | Managing Partner Callan Capital & President PEERS Network "PEERS is honored to support the Junior Achievement Company Program.  The program fosters entrepreneurship and leadership among San Diego High School Students.  It was great to see the enthusiasm among the next generation of leaders.  We’re delighted to be part of this effort."
• Andrea Wang, student at Westview High and CEO of teen company, BLUME.  “We are very proud of winning 1st place during the Junior Achievement competition and excited about the possibility of introducing our team and winning profitable product to the judges for the national competition.   We hope our drought friendly succulents will bring some cheer to someone’s office or home. ”
• Marla Black, President & CEO at Junior Achievement of San Diego County said:  “This year’s landscape is incredibly diverse for our high school companies.  Products and services include terrariums with drought-friendly succulents, a digital app to help immigrants navigate through the complex process of becoming US citizens, a water and sand resistance towel perfect for the beach and apparel to positively promote the city of Oceanside.  The creativity of these teens is unlimited and we are very proud of their success. We also appreciate the commitment of the teachers and volunteers, who spend 13 weeks in the classroom to help these students create and manage their companies from the ground-up.”