and audience. Pictured (from left) are Kevin Esteban, Emanuel Macia, Daniella Olguin-Ramos, Giselle Salgado and Hanna Castaneda, all fifth graders from Fay Herron Elementary School.
— Josh Line Photography
LAS VEGAS — Fifth grade students from Fay Herron Elementary School charmed and impressed judges and more than 600 local business professionals during a Shark Tank-style competition and luncheon for UNLV scholarships. Presented by PNC Bank, the recent event was Swimming With The Big Fish from Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada (JASN) that was hosted by the Las Vegas Raiders and held at Allegiant Stadium.
The first prize was awarded to the Feel At Home Tent team of Emanuel Macia, Daniella Olguin-Ramos, Giselle Salgado, Hanna Castaneda Diaz and Kevin Esteban, who will split the winner’s $9,000 UNLV scholarship. The product was developed to make camping easier and more comfortable for families and was based on the team’s camping experience. The tent comes with poles that automatically assemble, pillows, blankets, and air/heat. Extra compartments, such as a designated kids’ space, can be purchased to add to the main tent.
The Heavenly Detangler team placed second for its combination hairbrush and comb that helps detangle hair. Rosario Rodriguez, Naomi Rivadeneyra, Yailyn Cruz Gomez and Brittany Gutierrez Diaz will split the $4,000 UNLV scholarship award.
Third place went to the Sip and Chew, a leakproof sippy cup that is safe for youngsters to chew and comes in five colorful designs. Teammates Severiano Patron, Juan Perez, Jorge Alvarez, Chanelle Diaz Garcia and Zoey Macias developed the cup because they all have younger siblings and noticed they’re always chewing on things. They will split the $2,000 UNLV scholarship prize.
Junior Achievement staff, Fay Herron teachers and volunteers from the business community guided nearly 100 fifth graders through the six-week Junior Achievement “It’s My Business” entrepreneurial program to create a business from the ground up. Students were separated into 26 teams based on interest areas and developed their ideas for a business beneficial to the community and companion business and marketing plans. Three finalist teams presented at Swimming With The Big Fish.
Judges for the competition finals were Sandra Douglass Morgan, Las Vegas Raiders president; Terry Shiery, Nevada State Bank president; and Dr. Keith E. Whitfield, UNLV president. Following the presentations, they asked the teams questions about their products’ marketing, distribution, promotion and design, and lauded the efforts of the students and merits of each product and plan.
UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D., said, “I was blown away by the incredible talent, innovation, and poise shown by the competition winners, and of all of the students who participated. At UNLV, experiential learning is central to our student success mission, and these scholarship winners will no doubt contribute to that mission as future UNLV Rebels.”
“At Junior Achievement, we’re all about providing financial literacy, workforce development and entrepreneurship skills, skills our kids need to grow up as successful young adults,” said Michelle Jackson, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada. “Swimming With The Big Fish helps us showcase to the business community how we’re helping students develop critical thinking skills, and our It’s My Business program and what these Fay Herron fifth graders demonstrated was a great representation of this.”
Jackson added the event has become JASN’s biggest fundraiser with $275,262 raised for the nonprofit organization. “Swimming with the Big Fish” has truly experienced incredible growth in what we’ve achieved over the past three years, increasing our fundraising results by an astounding 979% from coming out of 2020 to this year. This accomplishment is all due to the incredible and unwavering support of our community and their commitment to our youth,” she said.
The event also recognized Michael Crome, Las Vegas Raiders chief financial officer and a former JA alum. He is receiving Junior Achievement USA’s prestigious Gold Leadership Award for his outstanding volunteer, advocacy and fundraising efforts for JASN. Crome is one of 11 honorees from more than 151,000 volunteers at JA chapters across the country. He will be honored with the other Gold Leadership recipients at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June.
Jan Jones Blackhurst, UNLV Black Fire Leadership Initiative executive director, Caesars Entertainment board of directors, and UNLV International Gaming Institute chief executive in residence, delivered the keynote speech. She shared how learning the value of money and hard work helped her achieve goals and succeed in her career.
Jack Kosakowski, Junior Achievement USA president and chief executive officer, spoke about examples of the organization’s national and global impact on youth and communities, including JA Worldwide being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for a second consecutive year and how well the local chapter is doing. “Michelle Jackson is doing a remarkable job leading Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada to become one of the top JA chapters in the country.”
Za’Korey Christian, a 2020 high school graduate and former JASN alum, shared how Junior Achievement changes lives. “Junior Achievement does change the trajectory of students’ lives and helps put them on the right path to make better decisions about money. Junior Achievement taught me in a language I could understand, starting with the basics about the differences between needs and wants.” He said the lessons are helping him launch his own fashion business.
Swimming With The Big Fish was created as a meaningful and entertaining way to engage the business community with JASN, as business professionals are vital to the success of its financial literacy programs by sharing their experience, volunteerism, partnership and sponsorship. JASN works with schools to provide K-12 students with needed curriculum covering financial education, entrepreneurship and workforce development that schools don’t always have the resources to offer and many students do not learn at home. Lessons help many students become financially secure adults, breaking the cycle of generational and situational poverty.
“The Swimming With The Big Fish luncheon is just one way Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada empowers the students of our community, “ said Denette Suddeth, PNC regional president for Nevada. “We are impressed and inspired by these innovative young entrepreneurs. At PNC, our ongoing support of Junior Achievement’s programming aligns with our values as a national main street bank. We are committed to the success of Nevada and to helping all move forward financially.”
Junior Achievement also hopes to boost graduation rates by giving students a business idea and pathway to look forward to after high school. According to research, 91% of students who attended a JA program reported it “motivated them to learn”. This indicates that once students experience Junior Achievement, they more clearly understand how learning and doing well in the classroom has a direct impact on “real life” and real money.
Swimming With The Big Fish sponsors included the Gene Haas Foundation, Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium, PNC Bank, Findlay Automotive Group, RSM, Penta Cares Foundation, City National Bank, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Lexus of Las Vegas, Southwest Airlines, The Venetian Las Vegas, CSAA, DC Building Group, Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School and Dennis and Carol Troesh. UNLV was the Student Scholarship Sponsor.
About Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, Inc. was founded locally in 1996. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing financial education to K-12 students, with a curriculum that spans from budget management to economic principals, workforce skills and credit. Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada reaches more than 20,000 students annually in the Las Vegas area with the help of 285 businesses and 6,800 business role models. For more information visithttps://jasnv.org/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook.
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