Junior Achievement Expands Inspire Program to Include in Person Events to Connect High School Students Employers

To help guide and enlighten Ohio students as they consider their future careers, Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio (JA) is proud to present JA Inspire to Hire. A career exploration experience unlike any other, JA Inspire to Hire is a collaborative effort of local educators and industry leaders to educate and empower students on the possible paths their careers can take.

This year’s JA Inspire programming, which is made possible by generous sponsors including title sponsor, FirstEnergy. Inspire program events feature a series of both in-person and virtual opportunities.

●      December 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023: JA Virtual Inspire, JA’s third annual virtual event for 7th to 12th grade students

●      March 8, 2023: JA Inspire to Hire presented by local presenting sponsor, Schaeffler, for juniors and seniors in Wayne County

“By engaging with our future workforce through programs like Inspire to Hire, we can help students envision opportunities to establish a successful career in any industry,” said Christine Walker, FirstEnergy’s senior vice president, chief human resources officer and corporate services. “FirstEnergy’s support of this program reflects our commitment to making our customers’ lives brighter and the communities stronger by creating opportunities where our local youth can grow along with us or other North Central Ohio companies.”

The goal of JA Inspire is to help students see the relationship between their high school choices and the educational requirements they’re expected to meet for their most desired careers.

When schools participate in JA Inspire, students from across Ohio are equipped with the knowledge that there is a wide array of job opportunities right in their home state. With 60% of JA alumni affirming they are in their dream career (compared to 25% of average Americans), JA Inspire shows students how to start on a path to success at a young age and work towards a goal that benefits them as well as their communities in Ohio.

As part of the events, nearly 100 area businesses will show students what a day in their life is like, how students can follow in their footsteps, and what students should do during the duration of their school career to be successful first-time employees.

Lisa Armstrong, Director of Corporate Management & Strategy for Wooster’s Inspire to Hire local presenting sponsor Schaeffler said, “It is so important to connect students with businesses, so that students can begin formulating ideas about their careers at the same time businesses can showcase the many opportunities they have available. JA Inspire is an invaluable tool that helps make this connection, fostering a learning environment for our employees of the future!”

For educators, the programming makes it easy for teachers to excel in their career-readiness efforts, as students can start building a professional network and forge real-world connections with adults who have jobs in fields that interest them.

Melissa Carathers, School Counselor at Dalton Schools said, “I used JA Inspire Virtual last year with all of our 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. It was a fun and engaging way to bring many local businesses and future career opportunities into the classroom. The interest inventory helped students navigate career clusters more efficiently, and gave them insights to the many different jobs available within each cluster based on their interests and skills. Students were also able to link their career interests with level of education/training, personality traits, soft skills, projected job openings, salary and work environment. By the end of the program students had a better understanding of their local economy, education/training options and individual strengths.”

All educators are encouraged to register for JA Inspire Virtual, which is offered at no cost and will open students’ eyes to the importance of career planning. Consisting of seven, 45-minute sessions, JA Inspire Virtual mimics the dynamics of a live event, including a virtual lobby, information booth, auditorium for presentations, and halls with booths and sponsors. Within the virtual experience, students can attend webinars and presentations, explore career booths, and interact with career speakers.

For the program to be successful, Junior Achievement invites any interested businesses to register for the JA Inspire events. Through a unique combination of classroom content and event experience, companies can increase awareness across Ohio counties, bolster their hiring pipelines, and empower students to pursue in-demand careers. To become a partner for any of the upcoming events, visit the link: bit.ly/InspirePartner.

For teachers interested in the JA Virtual Inspire event for 7th to 12th grade students, which will kick off in December and run through June of 2023, contact JA’s Denice Schafer to learn more at denice.schafer@ja.org or by calling 330-433-0063 x117.

To learn more about Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, visit https://jaofnco.ja.org.