Programs - Program Spotlight

JA Be Entrepreneurial

In 2009, Junior Achievement launched its newest program designed for high school students, JA Be Entrepreneurial. This program is designed to assist students in creating a viable business plan and challenges students to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school.

During the last two years, JA has held the JA Be Entrepreneurial Business Challenge event and given away $4,000 in college scholarships. The Business Challenge event gives high school students in SE Michigan an opportunity to present their business plan to a panel of judges.

This school year, JA will present the JA Be Entrepreneurial Business Challenge! in May 2012.

Take a look at Sajeda Ahmed’s winning presentation from the Business Challenge! Sajeda was a junior at Hamtramck High School and won a $1,000 scholarship to continue her education.

The JA Be Entrepreneurial Program encourages young people to develop an idea for a product or service and then teaches them to create the essential components of a business plan.

Following participation in the program, students will:

• Recognize characteristics and practices of successful entrepreneurs.


• Evaluate an entrepreneurial idea based on product, customer, and competitive-advantage criteria.


• Demonstrate business-planning skills for venture start-up, marketing, financing, management, and ethical decision-making.

Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2012 JA Be Entrepreneurial Business Challenge! are available. Contact Blythe Spitsbergen at 313.962.5685 or bspitsbergen@jamichigan.org.