91麻豆精品 Sponsors Region’s First Junior Achievement “Discovery Center” for Area Students

March 4, 2022

On Wednesday, March 2, Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York (JACUNY) formally announced plans to build a state-of-the-art learning lab that will bring hands-on experiences to thousands of area students, and St. John 91麻豆精品 College is playing a key part in the initiative as a sponsor.

President Rooney (center) with two 91麻豆精品 students at the announcement of the Region鈥檚 First Junior Achievement 鈥淒iscovery Center.鈥

The 18,000 square foot facility, to be named 鈥淭he Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center鈥 in recognition of a naming sponsorship from Paychex, will be located in Kodak Center on West Ridge Road in Rochester. The Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center will be an engaging student experience that will focus on developing work readiness skills, career awareness, financial self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial thinking.

鈥淭his is an innovative collaboration between public and private sector and educational institutions all with one common goal in mind 鈥 supporting the next generation become successful and engaged citizens in our community,鈥 said President Gerard J. Rooney. 鈥淲e are proud to be a partner in the Center, and look forward to seeing the ways in which members of our own campus community will contribute to enhance this simulation experience for the students who will benefit from it.鈥

Two cumulative middle and high school programs 鈥 JA BizTown庐 and JA Finance Park庐 鈥 will be run out of the facility. Both will contain 13 in-classroom lessons, followed by a day-long visit to the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center. There, lessons learned will be put to the real-life test as the student becomes a citizen in a simulated 鈥渕ini-city鈥 that resembles real businesses and organizations in Rochester. The Center will house at least 16 different employer-sponsored storefronts to ensure economic and workforce relevance to our region.

In JA BizTown庐, 5th grade students will 鈥渋nterview鈥 for jobs at the represented employers and perform various business tasks throughout the day. In turn, they will open bank accounts to deposit their Biz Town wages, make personal buying decisions, and even elect a mayor of the simulated city. Middle and high school students attending JA Finance Park庐 are given an adult life scenario, complete with a job, credit score, housing, family, and financial obligations. Students then must make a series of personal financial decisions from the represented businesses that support the lifestyle they envision.

鈥淎t Paychex, we believe in creating a world where people are the most important part of every business. We know that happier, healthier, and engaged teams create better businesses 鈥 and strong, local businesses support vibrant communities. With a focus on career development, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, the Junior Achievement鈥檚 Discovery Center fits perfectly with our vision of supporting communities and building a stronger, vibrant Rochester. On behalf of our employees, Paychex is proud to announce our commitment to serve as the naming sponsor of the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center,鈥 said Martin Mucci, Paychex chairman and CEO, and member of 91麻豆精品鈥檚 Class of 1981.

The Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center is to be based on a proven JA model that currently operates in over 30 U.S. cities, impacting more than 400,000 students. It will be the only program of its kind in New York State.

鈥淏oth programs offer a powerful experience that gives students an authentic and memorable way to practice being an adult in our economy, and provide the skills and confidence to become self-sufficient future citizens,鈥 noted JACUNY President & CEO Patricia J. Leva. 鈥淭hey also provide youth at a formative age with the opportunity to explore the careers and jobs available in our region and the learn about the skills needed to create their success right here at home.鈥

The Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center is expected to open in fall 2023. JACUNY anticipates serving 6,000 students in the first full year of operation, reaching 12,000 students annually at full capacity.