Junior Achievement Announces Team Winners for Business Week

Today in Denver Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain, Inc. (JA) announced the three winning student teams from its annual JA Business Week, a one-of-a-kind summer camp that lets high school students experience the business world, develop leadership skills and focus on the future. Alongside some of Denver’s most dynamic and accomplished business leaders, students spent the week immersed in “Apprentice”-style projects of entrepreneurship and leadership concepts. This unique camp, underwritten by OppenheimerFunds, is the first and only one in the country where participants are granted the opportunity to work with real companies and real products — and are rewarded for results! Students attending JA Business Week for the first time were challenged to create a new smoothie flavor for Jamba Juice and the supporting marketing campaign; students attending for the second year were tasked to design a conference and contest for high school students; and students attending for the third year developed a market research and street marketing plan for Good Times Burgers and Frozen Custard on the 16th Street Mall, offering product samples, coupons and conducting customer opinion surveys.

The Panel of Judges

A panel of local businessmen and women judged the team presentations on the creativity and practicality of their strategies. The three winning teams and their inspiring ideas are as follows:

First Year Team Members Courtesy of McBoat Photography

The first-year student winner

The winning team of first year-students presented a "Tropical Study Buddy" smoothie for Jamba Juice, made with strawberries, mangoes, peach juice, and lime and pineapple sherbet. Back-to-school marketing campaign for the month of September includes "Get Motivated Mondays" and "A = 10% off" promotions. The team will have the “Tropical Study Buddy” flavor featured at all 13 Colorado locations in September, and will share in the profits from its sales.

First-year team members and advisor

The first-year team members, supervised by advisor Melissa Gattis, were: Myranda Bergman, Mountain Range HS; Rachel Carnes, Rangeview HS; Kody Esparza, Pinnacle Charter School; Irie Johnson, East HS; Shu Lee, Niwot HS; Diana Morales, Aurora Central HS; Liam O'Neill, Denver School of Science and Technology; Karina Rodriguez, Centaurus HS; Bobbi Rucker, Manual HS; and Roland Torres, Smoky Hill HS..

Second-year student winner

The winning team of second-year students created a "Mile-High Business Summit" conference for high school students, including a contest for schools that bring the most students, and entertainment by the Flobots and Dance2Live. Each student from the winning team received a $75 cash prize.

Second Year Team Members Courtesy of McBoat Photography

The second-year team members and advisor

The second-year team members, supervised by Alonzo Martinez of Your Castle Real Estate, were: Kara Delgado, Lakewood HS; Devon Gamino, Denver Venture; Josh Jaeger, ThunderRidge HS; Jennifer Khat, Rangeview HS; Chau Le, Littleton HS; Stephanie Leonard, Highlands Ranch HS; Armando Nava, North HS; Metztli Ruiz-Jaquez, Denver School of Science and Technology; and Adam Wise, George Washington HS.

Third Year Team Members Courtesy of McBoat Photography

The third-year winner

The winning team of third-year students came up with a viral marketing campaign for Good Times lemonade entitled, "Share your good time with Good Times!", which included Facebook and YouTube initiatives, and marketing at the Mile High Music Festival. Each student from the winning team received a $75 gift card from Good Times Burgers and Frozen Custard and a $100 cash prize.

The third year-team members and advisor

The team members, supervised by by Alan Asher of TIAA-CREF, were: Giovanna Bradshaw, Rangeview HS; Xavier Harris, Grandview HS; Oliver Horn, Lutheran High School of Parker; Ashley Hudson, Rangeview HS; Sydney Jackson-Clockston, CEC Middle College of Denver; Javier Mancha, Welby New Technology; Kevin Nguyen, Grandview HS; Hendrik Orlowski, Smoky Hill HS; Erick Pena, Centaurus HS; Moriah Scott, Englewood HS; and Chelsea Willman, Smoky Hill HS.

About Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc. (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Celebrating its 60^th anniversary, Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc. provided programs to 99,400 students in 525 schools throughout Metro Denver, Northern Colorado and Wyoming during the 2009/2010 school year.

These programs are always free to schools thanks to 3,400 volunteers and the generous support of donors.

A special thanks to June Nery, Peri Marketing and Public Relations, Inc., McBoat Photography and Junior Achievement for this news release and photos.

For more info visit: www.jacolorado.org.