THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504200164
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 165 lines
CHRISTOPHER PIERCE SAT in the back of Niecy Goodwin's applied economics class listening intently and taking notes. Aside from his dress shirt and tie, Pierce looked every bit like the Princess Anne High School students around him.
Mistaken for a student, Pierce grinned a little and said, ``I've already graduated. From college.
``I am a little bit nervous, though. This is only the second time I've done this.''
A few minutes later the 24-year-old volunteer ``consultant'' moved to the head of the class to deliver his message about the financial facts of life.
It's all part of his volunteer role with Junior Achievement, which seeks to instill in students from kindergarten through high school lessons about everything from managing their allowance money to operating a profitable business.
Pierce is walking testimony to Junior Achievement's success. A member of ``JA'' during his days as a student at Kempsville High School, Pierce paid his way through Old Dominion University by creating and selling his own products. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in management.
Today, Pierce is sales manager of National Service Corp. in Virginia Beach.
Pierce went before the class to ask them some questions and offer advice on starting a business.
The 17 students sat in circular groups, each cluster representing some phase of the company - production, marketing, human resources, finance. They were deciding which business they wanted to start: selling T-shirts at Waterside or running a concession at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.
``What are some of the pros and cons of each product, each location?'' he asked. ``What kind of inventory will you need for each? What about supply and demand?''
The class eventually decided on operating the concession Memorial Day weekend at the military base. They will sell fresh fruit and a libation they have named ``Tropical Breeze.'' They already have started selling stock at $2 a share to raise capital for their venture.
The Princess Anne students are among 6,800 Hampton Roads students taking part in the varied programs of Junior Achievement.
Founded in 1919, Junior Achievement started with an evening program for high school students called the Company Program. It remained the sole program for Junior Achievement for almost 50 years, stressing hands-on learning outside the classroom. Students elected company officers, chose a product, learned the rudiments of raising capital, manufacturing and marketing their product.
Junior Achievement remains a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching students the value of free enterprise, helping them understand business and economics, and preparing them for the work force. But it has expanded its scope by offering varied classroom programs and starting them at a much earlier age.
Chuck Lovelace became local president of Junior Achievement in 1991, and has invigorated and expanded JA's role, bringing efficiency and enthusiasm to his job.
He began by refurbishing the organization's aging office in Norfolk Industrial Park and rebuilding a network of staff, business volunteers and financial contributors. In 1991, the local Junior Achievement administration had a cost-per-student of $60; in 1994, that dropped to $35.
``One of our goals - a big goal - is to reach 20,000 students by 2000,'' Lovelace said.
The Virginia Beach resident believes firmly in his organization's mission.
``I think what Junior Achievement offers is a real-life view of the world and business, and how they work together,'' he explained. ``It's a practical, rather than academic approach, because we're there to complement what they learn academically, rather than replace it.''
Basically, the program involves getting volunteers from the business community to donate several hours of their time to lead classroom lessons on a variety of prescribed topics. Junior Achievement also must convince individual principals and teachers about the value of incorporating the program into their curriculums.
Junior Achievement currently has 217 volunteers working in 64 schools in South Hampton Roads.
John Eason, a service manager for Bell Atlantic in Norfolk, volunteers as a consultant for an hour a week, 10 weeks a year, in Libby Newswanger's seventh-grade class at Kempsville Middle School.
He's been involved with Junior Achievement since 1983, the past four working with middle school students.
One of the topics they tackle is household budgeting.
Eason asks the students about making choices. He discusses scarcity of resources and the impact that has on consumers.
``This is the only place they can get exposure and experience in economic knowledge and hands-on examples,'' Eason said.
Charles Broach, a paid staff member, works with high school students in one of the more advanced programs. His students meet three nights each week from November through mid-February. This year 625 students were involved in creating and running 23 companies. About 65 consultants volunteered their time to assist Broach.
``We ran about four different companies a night,'' said Broach. ``The students learn business, finance, what a break-even point means.
``They earn actual wages, salaries and pay rent for space used.''
Debbie Lovelace, wife of the local president, works as Junior Achievement's educational services manager, with primary responsibility for developing the elementary school program.
``We strive to teach them the basics of economics through examples such as buying a loaf of bread, how it's paid for, how that creates jobs and money,'' said Lovelace, a former high school teacher.
Economics is a subject that many find dry or intimidating - until they can see how it impacts their lives in a practical way, she explained.
``No matter what you do in life, what career or job you're in, you're in business, in the sense that you work to make money, to make a living,'' Debbie Lovelace said.
``With our little kids, of course, we try to use examples to give them a very basic understanding of how money circulates and how one segment of the community is dependent upon others.''
It's information all students can benefit from, regardless of their future occupation.
``We realize that not all our students are going to study for a business degree, but we try to teach them that every person in the world is involved in economics,'' she said.
Pierce is one former Junior Achievement student who did go on to pursue a degree in business. He views Junior Achievement as essential to success, but stressed that it can provide even a broader role:
``The younger we can get to the kids, to begin to instill in them good values, goals and beliefs, the better,'' he said. ``You can't start too soon to try to lead them in the right direction.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
LEARNING TO SUCCEED
ON THE COVER
Junior Achievement students at Princess Anne High form sub groups to
discuss their projects for raising money in a staff photograph by
Mort Fryman.
WANT TO HELP?
For more information about Junior Achievement, call 858-3800.
Christopher Pierce, a Junior Achievement consultant, was a member of
``JA'' at Kempsville High, paid his way through ODU, and now is
sales manager of National Service Corp. in Virginia Beach.
At Kempsville Middle School, Eric Jenkins, who cuts lawns, listens
as a consultant gives advice on the lawn-mowing business.
Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
John Eason, a service manager for Bell Atlantic in Norfolk,
volunteers as a consultant for an hour a week, 10 weeks a year, at
Kempsville Middle School.
ON JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
During business management class, Lisa Snellings, president of
Junior Achievement at Princess Anne High, and Tyson Beale, her vice
president in charge of human resources, report to the class.
Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
Patrick Owens, a first-grader at Bayside Elementary, is laid back as
his teacher Terri Cash speaks about the class's Junior Achievement
project on family values. Says consultant Debbie Lovelace: ``We
strive to teach them the basics of economics through examples such
as buying a loaf of bread, how it's paid for, how that creates jobs
and money.''
KEYWORDS: JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT by CNB