Sixth grade students at McKinley STEAM Academy in the Cedar Rapids Community School District recently participated in Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa’s JA Company Program Pop-Up, applying business fundamentals in a real-world setting.
Under the guidance of teacher Corbin Bundy and with support from volunteer Paige Grimm of Shive-Hattery, students Daliyah, Minnie, and Lucy planned and operated a lemonade stand outside Bruegger’s Bagels in Cedar Rapids, a release stated. The pop-up generated $134, which the students donated to Last Hope Animal Rescue.
The students chose Last Hope as the recipient after researching local nonprofits. During a visit to the shelter, they delivered the donation and met Amanda Rushton from the organization, along with a rescue dog currently in care.
“This experience was such a blast,” said Ms. Grimm. “Usually when I go into a classroom, there are a few students who aren’t engaged. But with this activity, every single student got involved in some way. I left each day feeling more energized by what the students were doing — they all did such a great job.”
The JA Company Program Pop-Up introduces middle school students to entrepreneurship and business planning. Participants develop and market a small business, manage operations, and make decisions about revenue and community reinvestment.
Kimberly Abrams, the district’s Future Ready Learning and School Counseling Lead, said the program encourages students to explore entrepreneurial thinking and its relevance to future opportunities.
“Students have an opportunity to consider entrepreneurial experiences, how they exist now, and then where it can take them later on in life,” she said.
