WILKES-BARRE, PA – Junior Achievement (JA) of Northeast Pennsylvania announced today a new pilot program, called JA Company Insight, in collaboration with Wilkes-Barre Area School District and Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies (“GUARD”), Wilkes-Barre, to provide students in Wilkes-Barre Area’s Business Academy a better understanding of the types of jobs available in the insurance industry and the requirements for various positions at GUARD.  The program launches on Thursday, October 26^th.

 

“Such collaborations between high schools and local companies not only enable students to learn about different career opportunities, but also benefit the companies looking to fill essential positions with local applicants,” said Susan Magnotta, President of Junior Achievement of NEPA. “It’s a win-win situation for the students and the companies to connect and learn about what each can offer the other. We are excited to pilot JA Company Insight and look forward to collaborating with additional schools and companies.”

 

The program includes an in-class career assessment to help students identify areas of interest, and on October 26^th students will tour GUARD offices to get an overview of various departments and careers available to high school graduates and college graduates. GUARD staff members will also assist in a seven-week Junior Achievement classroom experience to help students navigate career options and polish interview skills.  The program will wrap up with a day in February where students will job shadow GUARD employees in a department in their area of interest. 

 

“Students participating in the program will shadow employees in various GUARD departments to obtain a feel for the day-to-day operations of a potential future career,” said Hal Gabriel, Administrator of the Business Academy and Special Programs at Wilkes-Barre Area. “They will also learn about some of the incentive programs GUARD offers, including internships, hiring and training opportunities, and tuition reimbursement benefits,” added Carl Witkowski, Chief Operating Officer at GUARD.

 

The mission of the Wilkes-Barre Area Business Academy is to provide students with an integrated program of academic subjects and competitive business practices, preparing them for post secondary education or entering the workforce with competitive business skills. This immersive program includes hands-on learning experiences focused on community engagement and building business relationships.

 

Junior Achievement provides classroom programs on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship; a middle-school Yes! (Your Economic Success) program; and a JA Inspire Career Discovery event in the spring for high school students to explore numerous career options. JA continues to expand its programs to further inspire students toward a pathway for future success.

 

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer that offers a collaborative company culture with outstanding benefits and competitive compensation. The organization is always seeking talented and diverse individuals to join its team and establish a rewarding career.

 

Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s programs in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and reality of work and life in the 21^st century. Nationally, Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.8 million students per year.