In partnership with the Columbia County School District and the Richmond County School System, the Junior Achievement of Georgia hosted a grand opening of the CSRA’s new JA Discovery Center on Thursday evening, Jan. 11, in Evans.
Aiming to educate children about life choices and the importance of thinking ahead, the JA Discovery Center aims to blend key components of education to a state-of-the-art facility where students may apply concepts learned in the classroom to an immersive experience.
“Junior Achievement’s purpose is to give young people a window on their futures through authentic, real-world experiences that fuel their fascination, make their worlds collide and become bigger than before they were with us, and to make clear – because for some it’s not – that there is indeed a place for them in the future,” said Junior Achievement of Georgia President and Chief Executive Officer John Hancock.
As parents and community members toured the center with smiling faces, Columbia County Superintendent Steven Flynt and Richmond County Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw said they could not be more excited for middle schoolers to experience discovering possible future passions as a result of the entire community banding together to create the educational facility.
“It’s really fantastic. What I love is that everybody that we see here tonight, plus so many others, really had a part in creating this,” said Flynt, who was credited by Hancock and Bradshaw for initiating the project. “Everybody here has a sense of pride because there’s such a reflection on our community of the whole CSRA right here in this building, and all of our students are going to be able to participate in that and engage in it.”
Along with the area’s two largest school districts, more than 30 businesses and organizations are represented inside the center to teach students about various career and education options following high school.
Businesses involved include: ADP, the Augusta-Richmond County government, Augusta Technical College, Augusta University, Bank of America, Chick-fil-A, the Columbia County government, the Community Foundation for the CSRA, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, Georgia United Credit Union, Graphic Packaging, the CSRA’s Habitat for Humanity, Jim Hudson Lexus, Augusta National Golf Club, Piedmont Augusta, the Home Builders Association for the Greater Augusta-Aiken area, Premier Networx, Publix, Realtors of Greater Augusta, Regions Bank, SouthState Bank, the SRP Federal Credit Union, Textron, Truist Bank, United Way of the CSRA, Wells Fargo and the YMCA of Greater Augusta.
Costing a rough total of $7.5 million to build and finish the project, Hancock said it will take an estimated $700,000 to $800,000 to keep the center running each year.
“The sponsorships will help us run it every year … they typically run on three to five year terms,” said Hancock.
With a capacity to engage up to 15,000 students per year in different learning activities and simulations, the center will allow middle schoolers to explore future possibilities through two innovative programs – JA BizTown and JA Finance Park.
JA BizTown, presented by Piedmont Augusta, will give sixth graders the ability to interact within a simulated economy and take on a real-world challenge of fueling a business. In the town, students will not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of their community, but will also realize the many opportunities available to them in the CSRA.
In an effort to meet community wants and needs, Flynt said both programs would allow the counties to educate middle school students on the importance of financial literacy.
“We’ve heard for years that this is an area that’s missing in education, and this is not the only place we’re adding that. We’ve got a K-12 curriculum that also helps to infuse this in all areas, but with BizTown this brings it alive for them,” he said. “They not only learn the lessons in schools but they actually get to participate and engage in it with their fellow students.”
Still open for sponsorship, the JA Finance Park will provide seventh grade students the chance to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ volunteers will show students how to participate in an immersive simulation, which aims to develop foundational skills for successfully navigating complex economic environments and how decisions can impact one’s life.
With Augusta University and Augusta Technical College teaching students the cost of higher education, Bradshaw said he believes the JA Finance Park program will make seventh graders more aware of education’s value, which can set them up for a better career and financial position in the long run.
“Because Augusta University and Augusta Tech are partners, students have an opportunity to understand how to pay tuition, see how much it costs, and how to work that in the family budget,” he said. “I just think that our role as educators is to expose them to all facets of society and going to college is one opportunity they may have – whether they receive a scholarship or have to pay out of pocket – they just need to understand the cost. It’s about getting them to understand the value of an education.”
With even a town hall area that will teach students how to register to vote, as well as the importance of voting for a mayor and sheriff, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson showed great enthusiasm for the finished center.
“It is unbelievable that this project has finally come to fruition,” he said. “We had a discussion on the Augusta-Richmond County Commission about how we could support this endeavor … when you come in, it almost brings tears to the eyes to see all these great local partners and sponsors.”
To Garnett, the center is a beautiful blend of community between Columbia and Richmond County schools and governments.
“It shows that not only can we collaborate, but it’s about the students that we serve,” he said. “Teaching them financial literacy, stewardship and how to do daily transactions that so many adults take for granted. I think it’s going to be a great addition to this region and I’m really excited.”
By showing students their many options and the consequences of possible future actions, Richmond County District Attorney Jared Williams said he believed it would encourage middle schoolers to make better choices to have a successful future.
“This is where our investment should be. This allows our kids to never have to worry about seeing a courtroom and all the trauma that comes with it,” he said. “It’s about helping them to see what they can be … it’s showing them that there are endless possibilities for them.”
Thrilled with the difference it could have in students’ lives, Williams said he fully intends to send prosecutors to help volunteer some days to help educate attending sixth and seventh graders.
To keep the center continually running, Hancock said many volunteers will be needed throughout the year to help run simulations, and that anyone with the heart for educating children could participate whenever they have available time.
To find out more about volunteer or sponsorship opportunities, contact Ashley Whitaker at awhitaker@georgia.ja.org or Shanee White at swhite@georgia.ja.org. The Junior Achievement Discovery Center is located in the Columbia County School District Support Complex.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
