Junior Achievement of Southwest New England

10/16/2026

Torches, welding, and steel beams – all part of a day exploring careers in ironworking!

This week, our JA Maritime program brought 13 juniors and seniors from Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology (MET) Academy to Ironworkers Local 15 .

Students explored union training programs and career opportunities, then rotated through hands-on activities in oxy-fuel torch cutting, welding, rebar tying, beam hoisting, and steel beam bolting.

Thank you to the Ironworkers Local 15 mentors for sharing your expertise and making the day so engaging and memorable. You helped students see where their skills and interests could take them!

10/01/2026

An evening of celebration and community! 🏆✨
Yesterday, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England was proud to be recognized as a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Honoree in the nonprofit organization category by Hartford Business Journal

This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, board, volunteers, educators, and partners who help us inspire and prepare young people for success. Together, we’re opening doors to career possibilities, building financial confidence, and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.

Thank you to Hartford Business Journal for this honor, and congratulations to all of this year’s honorees! 💚

08/26/2026

We’re proud and honored to be recognized as a 2026 Connecticut Business Excellence Honoree in the nonprofit organization category by the Hartford Business Journal!

This recognition reflects the dedication of our incredible staff, board members, volunteers, educators, partners, and supporters who help bring Junior Achievement’s mission to life each day.

Together, we are creating meaningful learning experiences that equip young people across Connecticut with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to build successful futures.

Thank you to the Hartford Business Journal for recognizing our work and impact. We’re excited to celebrate alongside this year’s outstanding honorees!

Learn more about this recognition through the link here: https://hartfordbusiness.com/award/2026-connecticut-business-excellence-honorees/

08/17/2026

Big things are happening at Junior Achievement of Southwest New England!

We're excited to be bringing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park to State House Square in downtown Hartford, creating a dynamic learning environment that will serve up to 10,000 students from across Connecticut each year. Through immersive experiences in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship, students will gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the future economy.

This investment represents more than a new home for JA. It's an investment in Connecticut's future workforce, economic mobility, and the next generation of leaders.

A special thank you to the Hartford Business Journal for spotlighting this exciting next chapter for Junior Achievement and helping us share the vision for what’s ahead. We’re grateful for the opportunity to highlight how this new space will expand our impact for students, educators, and communities across Connecticut.

The future of JA is taking shape in Hartford and we can’t wait for what’s ahead!

https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/with-new-downtown-hq-junior-achievement-plans-18m-hartford-learning-center-for-10000-students/?bypass=6a7600e2c9c7f

Junior Achievement's Hartford learning center will bring 10,000 students annually to a simulated town backed by major Connecticut employers.

07/30/2026

Happy National Intern Day to our incredible 2026 summer intern, Jai Verman! 👏

This summer, Jai joined Junior Achievement of Southwest New England for a six-week internship, rotating through our Education, Maritime, and Development teams to gain hands-on experience while supporting projects across the organization.

Jai is no stranger to JA. As an Avon High School student, he previously participated in our Entrepreneurial Academy with Pratt & Whitney and our Innovation Challenge at the University of Hartford. Now, he's getting a behind-the-scenes look at how our programs come to life and making an impact along the way.

We're so grateful to have Jai on our team this summer and can't wait to see all he accomplishes. Thank you for your hard work, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Happy National Intern Day, Jai! 🎉

07/30/2026

What if your first introduction to welding wasn't in a shop—but through a hands-on simulation that challenged you to think like a skilled trades professional?

This month, JA Maritime proudly launched our new 9–12 Maritime curriculum with the Junior Leaders at Hartford's Camp Courant, marking the first implementation of the curriculum anywhere in the country.

Students stepped into the world of welding through an interactive simulation, experiencing the precision, focus, and technical skill needed for one of the most critical careers supporting Connecticut's submarine industrial base. More than just learning about a career, they gained firsthand insight into how skilled trades professionals help build the submarines that support our nation's defense.

At JA Maritime, we're not just introducing students to careers, we're creating experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and help young people discover opportunities they may have never imagined, right here in Connecticut.

Interested in bringing JA Maritime to your school or partnering with us to inspire the next generation of maritime talent? Visit www.jamaritime.org to learn more.

07/01/2026

What an incredible day at JA Office Warriors 2026! 🎉💼

Last week, teams put their teamwork, creativity, and competitive spirit to the test in a series of office-themed challenges. From stacking K-Cup towers and White Board Pictionary to Water Cooler Bowling, every laugh, cheer, and challenge helped support Junior Achievement of Southwest New England's mission to inspire and prepare young people for success.

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Champions!
🥇 Gold Medal Winner: Voya
🥈 Silver Medal Winner: HSB-Hartford Steam Boiler
🥉 Bronze Medal Winner: ARI Accounting & Human Resources
🎉 Team Spirit Award: Hartford Hospital

A special thank-you to our amazing medal sponsors for helping make this event possible:
🥇 Gold Medal Sponsor: Stanley Black & Decker
🥈 Silver Medal Sponsor: Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
🥉 Bronze Medal Sponsor: Voya

To every team that participated, thank you for bringing your energy, enthusiasm, and team spirit while helping create brighter futures for the students we serve. We can't wait to see you all again next year! 🙌

05/22/2026

Innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven problem solving were on full display this past Friday at the conclusion of our 3rd annual Tech4Positive Futures Challenge in partnership with Capgemini and The Hartford

Over the past 9 weeks, 39 incredible scholars from Connecticut River Academy worked in 8 teams to develop innovative business solutions focused on mitigating climate change or creating meaningful solutions for individuals living with disabilities.

Throughout the program, students collaborated closely with mentors from The Hartford and Capgemini to strengthen their ideas, build business plans, and develop professional pitch presentations. On Friday, teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges during our finale pitch event, showcasing not only their creativity and innovation, but also their teamwork, professionalism, and passion for creating a more positive future for all.

We are especially excited that our top placing team will advance to compete at the national level against teams from New York and Chicago!

A huge thank you to our partners at The Hartford, Capgemini, and Connecticut River Academy for an incredible third year of partnership, mentorship, and innovation. Programs like this continue to show the power of connecting students with real-world experiences and industry professionals to inspire the next generation of leaders and changemakers.

If you know any students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation, learn more about our programs here: https://swne.ja.org/programs/index?gradeLevel=high&pillar=entrepreneurship

05/21/2026

One of the most powerful moments in career awareness is when students realize opportunity exists right in their own backyard. ⚓️

JA Maritime, part of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, recently partnered with Enfield High School’s Buzz Robotics Team to provide a job shadow experience at TTM Technologies in Stafford Springs. As both a sponsor of the team and a leader in advanced manufacturing supporting the maritime industry, TTM gave students a firsthand look at career pathways directly connected to the skills they are already building through robotics, STEM, and teamwork.

For many students, this was their first time learning that a company like TTM existed within their own region. They left inspired, energized, and with a new understanding of what their future could look like. TTM staff shared that the students were an exceptional group, with one tour guide even calling them “the best group” she had hosted.

This is the power of Junior Achievement partnerships. It is more than career awareness, it is about connecting students to real opportunities, building confidence, and helping young people envision themselves in industries shaping Connecticut and beyond.

Interested in learning more about JA Maritime and how we are helping prepare the future workforce? Click here: https://jamaritime.org/

05/08/2026

From floor plans to final presentations, students got a hands on look at the world of commercial real estate through Blueprint For the Future at CT State Capital! 🏙️

Students from Capital Prep and Coginchaug Regional High School spent the day learning directly from industry professionals across architecture, construction, interior design, and commercial real estate. Working in teams, students became the clients by selecting locations, designing floor plans, collaborating with contractors, furnishing their spaces, and presenting their final concepts to the group.

This incredible experience was made possible through the partnership and support of People Places & Spaces, at work collaborative, CT State Capital, CCR Sales, Centerbrook Architects, NOMA Connecticut, Leading Edge Construction, Integrated At Work, Silver Petrucelli & Associates, and TLB Architecture.

A special thank you to JASWNE Board Member Mark Nisbett for helping bring this premier program to life and creating meaningful career exploration opportunities for students across our region.

At Junior Achievement, experiences like these help students connect classroom learning to real world careers and future economic success. 💡