On March 3rd, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union (MCCFCU) staff had the opportunity to volunteer at Junior Achievement (JA) of Western PA’s experiential learning lab JA BizTown®. JA Board of Directors members and MCCFCU employees, Sandi Carangi and Elaine Patton, were joined by fellow JA board members Brad Mantzell and Jake Rickert. Additional volunteers included Abby Postlewaite, Tammy Calderwood, and Tessica Campbell of MCCFCU, as well as Ligaya Kurelko of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation.
Designed for fourth through sixth-grade students, the JA program begins with an in-class curriculum that encompasses financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. After completing the coursework, students are invited to spend a full day at JA BizTown®, located in South Fayette Township, PA.
JA BizTown® is a fully interactive mock town that simulates the daily operations of a thriving community. Students assume professional roles within their businesses, designed to expose them to real-world scenarios through hands-on experience. Some activities include holding company meetings, processing payroll, setting up a storefront, and doing business at a credit union, all while working to repay a startup business loan.
“JA BizTown is a wonderful experience designed to foster financial literacy and entrepreneurship,” said Sandi Carangi, CEO of MCCFCU and JA board member. “I’ve seen students leave the simulation with more confidence than they came in with after discovering a new role they enjoy. We are honored to be a part of this unique program.”
More than 50 students from West Hill and CM Musser Elementary Schools in Sharon, PA, participated in the simulation. Later in March, 150 students from Ionta Elementary in Hermitage, PA, will travel to BizTown® to experience their own version of the mock town. Earlier this year, MCCFCU donated $1,000 to Junior Achievement of Western PA, which the credit union received through Visa’s Community Investment Program. This contribution supports JA’s financial literacy initiatives and helps expand educational opportunities for students throughout the community.
