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Team Scott members volunteer in the classroom

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kiana Brothers
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Recently 24 Team Scott volunteers served as role models to 379 students at Gordon D. Bush Elementary School in East St. Louis as part of the Junior Achievement Program.

The purpose of Junior Achievement is to educate and inspire young students by teaching lessons about work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, and can be found in elementary schools throughout the country.

Lessons that provide this comprehension for the students are 45 minutes long and include various scenarios. For example, students learn the role of an entrepreneur by exploring the process involved in starting one type of business.

The partnership between Scott AFB and Junior Achievement started in the fall of 2004. Since then more than 650 Airmen have volunteered in 650 classrooms, reaching a total of 14,616 students throughout the last 11 years.

"They [the students] appreciate us volunteering to facilitate their programs to the schools," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Adams, 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron. "The program has evolved to where most school districts in the bi-state area have at least one JA event a year. Most volunteers choose to assist at local schools around the base area unless they live in Missouri."

Scott's volunteers embody the heart of Junior Achievement, said Carol Bouche, Junior Achievement Southwestern Illinois District Manager.

"We are so grateful for all our volunteers who are veterans and current active service personnel," said Bouche. "They take a message of opportunity and boundless potential into classrooms in their community, no matter what their profession. This is JA in action. The experiences and mentorship that they share with the students helps them gain a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in the world of work."

Adams said, "It's important to me that we give back to the kids and educate them to become productive, proficient, and professional adults."
For more information, visit www.jastl.org.