MILWAUKEE, Wis.— Three winning high school teams from Dane, La Crosse, and Milwaukee Counties are profiting from their business know-how having earned the chance to advance to a national competition June 7 in Boston. Each of the three top finishing teams in the Junior Achievement of Wisconsin JA Titan® business challenge held May 7 in Sheboygan hope to be the one to repeat Wisconsin’s string of three winning performances at nationals since 2022.
Brayden Reagan and Chase O’Brien from McFarland High School are the first-place winners and will each receive an all-expense paid trip to the national event. Second and third-place runners-up include Michael Jones and Aaron Vruwink from Aquinas High School in La Crosse and Sam Kabb, Robert Kovacic and Ashton Stonecypher from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis. One team of runners-up will be selected for nationals based on availability and will receive lodging expenses as part of their win. The national competition is part of “Future Bound” a 3-day event attended by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business.
The state championship event in Sheboygan was the culmination of local and regional competitions throughout the school year and pitted 42 students from 15 high schools across Wisconsin against one another in a high-intensity, simulated business marketplace game in which teams work together in the role of “CEO” in the cell-phone industry. Acuity Insurance in Sheboygan hosted and sponsored the statewide competition.
The JA Titan national championship is one of four nation-wide JA competitions to be held at Future Bound June 7 in Boston. The 3-day event brings together students, educators, and industry leaders to explore hands-on learning experiences and new skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing economy. In addition to participating in their national competition, students can participate in workshops led by national experts to gain real-world insights and critical skills around finances, entrepreneurship, and career pathways.
About JA Titan®
JA Titan is part of Junior Achievement’s Financial Literacy Pathway recommended for high school students in grades 9-12. The competition teaches students how to navigate the decisions needed to develop a successful company and provides the opportunity to practice life skills including critical thinking, strategic development, and teamwork. The JA Titan business challenge provides an understanding of how management decisions affect a company’s success. JA programs support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness.
About Junior Achievement
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 learning experiences are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on lessons that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Junior Achievement is expanding its reach to 18-to-25-year-olds to provide young adults with critical life skills. Since 2021, more than 14,000 Junior Achievement volunteers have taught JA life skills to 340,000 Wisconsin students. For more information, visit Wisconsin.ja.org.
