15 Volunteers Teach 115 Students Real-World Business Skills

One hundred fifteen sixth graders walked into the JA Discovery Center in Dalton, Georgia, as students and walked out as business professionals who had just managed their first companies.

On April 14, volunteers from Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union and Elan Financial Services brought Junior Achievement's JA BizTown program to life for Dalton Public Schools students. The program transforms learning about money and careers into something kids can touch, try, and actually do.

Students stepped into real roles at simulated versions of actual companies like Georgia Power, Mohawk Industries, and Chick-fil-A. Some became CEOs making big decisions. Others took on jobs as CFOs managing budgets, sales associates pitching products, or safety officers keeping everyone protected.

The day ran like real business hours. Students opened their own bank accounts, applied for loans to fund their companies, and marketed their products and services to classmates. They paid taxes, tracked expenses, and worked to turn profits while repaying what they borrowed.

Between running their businesses, students also practiced being good citizens. They voted on community issues and donated to charitable causes, learning that success means more than just making money.

The Ripple Effect

Aaron Melnarik, director of client relationships at Elan, watched students discover skills they didn't know they had. The confidence and teamwork they built won't disappear when the simulation ends.

Tammy Zumbrun from TVFCU explained that connecting careers, businesses, and financial decisions in one experience shows students how the real world actually works. Reading about managing money in a textbook feels abstract. Actually doing it makes it stick.

The fifteen volunteers didn't just supervise. They answered questions, offered guidance when students hit challenges, and celebrated wins when businesses succeeded. Their time investment created a foundation these sixth graders will build on for years.

Junior Achievement programs like this one reach students at the perfect age. Sixth graders are old enough to understand complex concepts but young enough to be excited about trying new things without fear of failure.

These 115 students now know what a CFO does, why budgets matter, and how loans work because they've actually done it themselves.