The 2025 Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Business Luncheon was one of the most successful in the organization’s history, raising more than $329,000 for financial literacy education and work readiness training for more than 8,500 students in central Arkansas.
The JA Scholarship Award recipients were Claire Person, who received $15,000; Ashly Hernandez, who received $10,000; and Nishka Gandu, who received $5,000. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin received the Legacy Award, denoting his induction into the hall of fame, and Relyance Bank was honored with the Nelson Summit Award, which is given annually to a company that has shown a deep commitment to educating Arkansas’ youth.
The organization released a newsletter expressing gratitude to those who helped make the event possible, including: emcee Heather Baker, president and publisher of AY Media Group, which was media sponsor of the event; MHP.si, which sponsored the videos and provided public relations support; Griffin, who gifted $100,000 to Junior Achievement of Arkansas; Experian, which sponsored the awards; photography sponsor Encore Bank and photographer Lauren Goins; event coordinator DYV Events; and JA staff members Jackie Worley and Harper Hammer.
Members of the public are invited to support JA’s Workforce Pathways Initiative by becoming a workforce coach, hosting a summer internship at a company or joining the JA Talent Marketplace to post job opportunities for youth. For coaching opportunities, contact Valerie Danzy at vdanzy@jaark.org. To host an internship or join the Talent Marketplace, contact Marcia Thompson at mthompson@jaark.org.
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