Junior Achievement of Northeastern PA

11/03/2026

Congratulations to Peoples Security Bank & Trust, our 2026 Volunteer Organization of the Year. Their team showed up for NEPA students all year, volunteering at 18 out of 31 schools and making a lasting impact on young people across our region.

Thank you to every Peoples Security Bank & Trust volunteer who gave their time, shared their professional story and inspired our students to dream big. We're grateful to have you as partners in empowering the next generation.

Want to bring your team into the classroom? Learn how to volunteer with JA NEPA at nepa.ja.org.

10/30/2026

Sometimes a Halloween costume is more than just a costume. 🎃

Kids often dress up as the heroes they admire or who they dream of becoming someday.

At JA, we’re all about helping young people explore those dreams and discover what’s possible for their futures.

What was your favorite costume when you were little? 👇

You never know where a childhood dream might lead! 💙

10/29/2026

What a morning at Wyoming Valley West High School. 🎉

About 97 students explored local careers yesterday at our JA Inspire to Hire event at Wyoming Valley West High School.

Over two sessions, students met in small groups with:
• Fidelity Bank
• Luzerne County Community College
• USHydrations
• Williams

They learned about jobs after graduation, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, site tours, college programs and dual enrollment.

This was the first of four Inspire to Hire events at WVW this school year. We'll be back in December, March and May.

Thank you to Dr. Charles Suppon, Tara Carey, Katie Finnegan and Matthew Mahalak, and to all of our exhibitors and JA staff.

Want to help students see what's possible close to home? Get involved at nepa.ja.org.

10/26/2026

Look who made the yearbook! 📸

Our YES! day made such an impact at Bear Creek Community Charter School that it earned a FULL PAGE in last year's yearbook.

Page 59 is filled with our amazing volunteers, holding up their YES! signs, leading classrooms, and helping students explore careers and plan for their economic success. Seeing our volunteers in print with the students they inspired made our whole week. Thank you, Bear Creek, for giving YES! a permanent spot in your school memories.

Want your own yearbook moment? Bear Creek's next YES! day is Thursday, February 11, 2027. Sign up to volunteer and you could be Bear Creek famous too.

Sign up here: https://nepa.ja.org/events/bear-creek-community-charter-school-yes-day-2027nepa.ja

10/23/2026

3 YES! days. 117 volunteer mentors. 1,212 middle school students.

Students explored careers, strengthen real-world skills, and discover what's possible for their futures.

Thu, Oct. 15 | Solomon/Plains Middle School
48 volunteers | 495 students

Thank you to United Way of Wyoming Valley for the generous support to the Luzerne County School Districts participating in YES!, and our guests Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, Dr. Dara Soljaga of King's College, Pennsylvania, and Gina Suydam of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry.

Tue, Oct. 20 | Valley Elementary/Middle School
14 volunteers | 173 students

Thank you to Fidelity Bank, our Presenting Sponsor and sponsor of the Keeping Your Balance activity.

Thu, Oct. 22 | Dallas Middle School
55 volunteers | 544 students

Thank you to M&T Bank, our Presenting Sponsor and sponsor of the Keeping Your Balance activity, and to our guests PA State Rep. Brenda Pugh, and Kim Scranta of the Back Mountain Chamber.

To every volunteer, educator, sponsor, and guest: thank you for showing these students what's possible for their future.

Next up: Benton (Nov. 3) and Tunkhannock (Nov. 5). Become a volunteer mentor? Sign up with the link in our bio.

10/21/2026

JA NEPA on PA Live! Celebrating Five Years of Impact!

Thank you to PaLive hosts Chris Bohinski and Taminique Blackwell for welcoming our President, Susan Magnotta, and Tammy Bonnice of Williams to share how JA NEPA is making a difference in the lives of students across our region.

Over the past five years, JA NEPA has been bringing learning to life for middle school students through YES! (Your Economic Success), while connecting thousands of high school students with career exploration and real-world opportunities through a variety of hands-on learning experiences.

As a dedicated corporate partner and JA advocate, Tammy has witnessed firsthand the impact these experiences have on students and the importance of introducing young minds to the many career pathways available right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

It's all about showing students what's possible for their futures!

Watch the interview!
https://www.2822news.com/.../pa-live-10-20-2026.../12287216/

10/19/2026

Thank you, Geisinger, for being the Presenting Sponsor of JA Inspire to Hire at Berwick Area Senior High School.

On October 14, nearly 400 juniors and seniors from Berwick Area High School and Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School spent the day exploring careers in our region. They talked with industry professionals about the possible career opportunities in Columbia County.

We're also grateful to the 30+ exhibitors who came out to show students their industries. You answered their questions and showed them what's possible after high school.

"Many of these people did not start in the career that they are in now, so that is important for these students to know because a lot of them don't know what they are doing, and that is perfectly normal. This is what they are supposed to be doing; they are supposed to be curious." — Susan Magnotta, President, JA NEPA

Thank you to 28/22 News for covering the event. Watch the story here: https://www.2822news.com/news/local-news/helping-kids-find-careers-in-columbia-county

Thank you also to Berwick Area School District for hosting us.

Hundreds of kids in Columbia County are getting the chance to explore different careers.

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss’s Day to Susan Magnotta, President of Junior Achievement of NEPA!

Susan stepped into her role with a vision, a passion, and a mission to show young minds what’s possible for their futures.

With one staff member, a reimagined approach to hands-on learning, and a whole lot of determination, Susan helped lay the foundation for something incredible!

Now entering our fifth year under Susan's leadership, JA NEPA has grown to offer YES!, Inspire Career Exploration Experience, Inspire to Hire, Company Insight, reaching more than 13,000 students across 36 schools in 9 counties, with the support of over 1,000 volunteer mentors!

This remarkable growth is a testament to Susan’s leadership, a dedicated and growing JA team, and the tremendous support of our corporate and community partners.

Happy Boss’s Day, Susan! Thank you for leading with passion, purpose, and a vision that continues to open doors for the next generation!

10/14/2026

Big futures start with discovering what’s possible! Today, JA Inspire to Hire at Berwick Area High School connected students with local employers to explore career opportunities right here in our region.

Thank you to the educators, employers, volunteers, and supporters who help make experiences like this possible. Together, we can inspire the next generation to dream big and take their next steps with confidence!

10/13/2026

We're half way through October and we've already made so many wonderful new memories this school year!

Last week, 70 volunteer mentors helped 789 middle school students explore careers, practice budgeting, and build the skills they'll need for their futures.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 | Valley View Middle School
45 volunteers | 580 students

Thank you to our special guests Amy Luyster from The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and Lindsay Shalata & Debbie Johnson with Wyoming County Healthcare Center.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 | BLUE RIDGE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
25 volunteers | 209 students

A huge thank you to Williams, our Presenting Sponsor and sponsor of The Trades activity.

Thank you also to our special guests Paige Cywinski from RHL Companies, Inc, Mike Marabell, with Congressman Dan Meuser's Office, & Tayler Diaz of Diaz Companies

To every volunteer, educator, sponsor, and guest who showed up for these students: THANK YOU! You showed them their future is full of opportunity.

AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET!

This week keeps going:

• Wednesday, October 14 | Inspire to Hire at Berwick Area Senior High School
• Thursday, October 15 | YES! day at Solomon/Plains Middle School

Want to mentor at an upcoming YES! day? Visit https://nepa.ja.org/programs/opportunity/yes-day-volunteer to learn more!