Despite the unprecedented circumstances of the past few months, as seen in the snapshot below, JA of Georgia finished the 2019-2020 academic year strong. As we look to the coming year, we are working hard to package our education portfolio to help meet students where they are—whether that's in-person, virtual, or a hybrid model. We are excited to continue expansion of our footprint across Georgia as construction is well underway for the new JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton and planning has commenced for our fifth JA Discovery Center which will serve students in the Savannah region.
Junior Achievement and Georgia Southern University Developing Historic Partnership in Savannah
Fifth JA Discovery Center Planned for Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus
Savannah, GA – Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA) is collaborating with Georgia Southern University to plan the construction and launch of a JA Discovery Center on the Armstrong campus in Savannah.
“We are so excited to be deepening our impact in the Savannah area and are looking forward to growing our relationship with Georgia Southern University,” said Camille Russo, Vice President, Marketing, JA of Georgia. “We are grateful to the local Savannah community for decades of support and are thrilled with the possibility of bringing this innovative and engaging experience to the students of the region.”
Retrofitting construction of the Student Recreation Center is anticipated to begin as soon as Fall 2020. Space can be made available for the JA Discovery Center in Savannah to serve 15,000 middle school students annually in the coastal region of the state.
Outfitting the space to become a Discovery Center will require financial support of approximately $4 million, funded from an up-and-coming campaign. The project will also require approval by the University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents.
The facility will provide students continued exposure to their future possibilities through two innovative programs:
JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where 6th grade students can interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Here, students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also realize the abundance of opportunities available within their city.
JA Finance Park provides 7th grade students the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.
“We are excited about the potential collaboration with Junior Achievement and the concept of a Discovery Center on Georgia Southern's Armstrong Campus in Savannah,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “This project aligns with our mission, values, and strategic plan. It will also provide experiential and employment opportunities for our Armstrong students and help make the Armstrong Campus a destination for the region. This is exactly the type of impactful relationship that evidences the value added of a collaborative approach to educational attainment and talent development."
Currently JA Discovery Centers serve more than 88,000 students a year across three locations - the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Altanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming. The fourth facility, in Dalton, is under construction and will open in 2021, bringing the total impact to more than a third of middle school students in Georgia.
To find out more about getting involved, please contact Robert Grant at 912-856-1700 or rgrant@georgia.ja.org.
About Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
A fantastic 2018-2019!
This school year marked unprecedented growth and success for JA of Georgia. From opening a third JA Discovery Center, to celebrating our centennial as a broader organization, we continued empowering and inspiring our students to get them ready for their futures. To our partners, volunteers, educators and advocates - thank you! Our continued impact would be impossible without your support.
