Alumni Spotlight: Checking in with Junior Achievement success stories.

• Position: JUNIOR ACHIEVMENT SPECIAL SECTION

Junior Achievement (JA) helps students develop successful financial management habits, empowers them to explore the idea of becoming an entrepreneur, and provides them with the skills necessary to succeed in a global workforce.

In addition, external evaluations have found that, overall, elementary students who participate in JA think about how the things learned in JA will be important later in life.

A significant number of middle school students develop or improve their entrepreneurial, leadership, and decision-making skills by participating in JA activities designed to give them financial literacy skills, prepare them to enter the workforce, and teach them about the pros and cons of entrepreneurship.

High school students who participate in JA agree that what they learn in the classroom is important to the success of their future. And research indicates that students engaged in JA are able to connect classroom lessons with real life experiences.

Overall, students at all grade levels report that JA fosters an attitude and provides knowledge that helps them set goals, seek out important information, and, ultimately, find success.

Here we recognize and celebrate Alaskan entrepreneurs who have been involved with JA either in the past or the present. In these Q&As, JA asks: Why it is important that this type of education continues to be taught in Alaska's schools?

Megan Militello

Founder/CEO, Elevated Oats JA: What inspired you to start your company?

Megan Militello: Elevated Oats was inspired by many aspects of my life. I had been working a government job and saw what food was being consumed and what was not. It was shocking to hear local Hawaiians say they had never heard of popular local fruits or vegetables. I recognized an opportunity in the marketplace. One recipe and a failed relationship opened the flood gates of ideas for a food manufacturing business that provided healthier breakfast/snack options. And thus. Elevated Oats was born. JA: Why does Alaska need entrepreneurs?

Militello: I believe Alaska needs entrepreneurs to innovate and contribute to the growth of our economic future. For such a large state, Alaska is very small. Entrepreneurs of all sorts are in Alaska, hoping to make Alaska an even better place. Our local entrepreneurs are motivated differently than the large companies that already control the majority of business in the United States. I feel the business owners here care more about providing the best options for our...