NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
June 24, 2020
For More Information, Contact:
Crystal Boutiette
Junior Achievement of Southern California
323-785-3557
cboutiette@jasocal.org
@JASoCalLA
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TEENS WIN THE 2020 EY INNOVATION AWARD
EY recognizes teen entrepreneurs for an innovative solution to an existing problem
LOS ANGELES, CA — At the 2020 Junior Achievement Virtual National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held June 16-18, student-run company Hero Up won the EY Innovation Award. The student company, as evaluated by a panel of EY representatives, best demonstrated how their product or service provided an innovative solution to an existing problem. Participating teen startups were scored against the criteria of creativity, impact, scalability, and lessons learned.
“EY has long recognized the value of entrepreneurs and we stand committed to working with tomorrow’s young leaders and life-long problem solvers who believe in redefining what’s possible,” said Marna Ricker, JA USA board member and EY Americas Vice Chair of Tax Services. “Innovation is a key driver in economic growth and I’m thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to [insert company name] for this prestigious award.”
Hero Up!, who represented Junior Achievement of Southern California, was created after a tragic shooting had taken place in Thousand Oaks, CA, shaking the community to its core. Hero Up! manufactures portable trauma kits with materials necessary to stop severe bleeding.
“The students of Hero Up! suffered a traumatic experience right in their own community. Channeling that devastation into creating a solution that will enable others to save lives is pretty extraordinary. We are all so proud of the work that they’ve continued to do, despite a global pandemic, to qualify for NSLS and be recognized for reimagining first aid and empowering everyday citizens to be prepared in an emergency.
The Hero Up! students founded Hero Up as part of their participation in JA Company Program®, in which high school students start and run a real business enterprise under the guidance of a volunteer from the local business community. The teens devise a product designed to fill an unmet consumer need, recruit investors for their company, and produce and market their product or service.
The Westlake Village High School team’s teacher Dr. Lauren Looker, said, “I would like to thank all of the JA of Southern CA employees and volunteers for their support of the Company Program. It is one of the most valuable programs for young entrepreneurs. The students from Westlake High School were honored to represent JASoCal at this year’s 2020 NSLS.”
Junior Achievement’s Virtual National Student Leadership Summit is a contest of business skills, ingenuity, and innovation that focuses on the accomplishments of U.S. JA Company Program students, ages 15-18, during the 2019-2020 academic year. Currently reaching more than 10,000 U.S. students annually, JA Company Program gives teens the opportunity to start and run their own businesses under the mentorship of a local business volunteer.
During the three-day event, the teen-run companies competed for several awards, engaged in several virtual seminars led by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business, and virtually pitched their companies to a panel of judges comprised of business leaders.
About Junior Achievement of Southern California
Junior Achievement (JA)of SoCal is the leader in inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. JASoCal brings our local education and business communities together to invest in the success of K-12 students- the majority of which are considered socio-economically at-risk. With the support of nearly 4,000 volunteers, JASoCal provides relevant, hands-on learning experiences that connect what students learn in the classroom to the real-world and demonstrates how learning correlates to earning — knowledge critical to empowering students to own their economic success. Through a variety of programs and initiatives we are shaping the college and career-readiness conversation and playing an important role in Southern California’s economic development. Currently serving Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more visit www.jasocal.org.
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches nearly 4.8 million students per year in 106 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of EY serving clients in the US.
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