Central Launches $500 Scholarship for Junior Achievement Students
Author: Junior Achievement of Southwest New England
Financial Literacy
Published:
Wednesday, 16 Apr 2025
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Image caption: Central Connecticut State University
Central Launches $500 Scholarship for Junior Achievement Students
Central Connecticut State University (Central) recently announced a new scholarship opportunity for students who complete a Junior Achievement of Southwest New England (JA) concurrent enrollment course and later attend Central as full-time students. This new initiative offers a $500 scholarship to the university, which can be renewed for up to four years. The scholarship is in addition to other merit and talent-based scholarships available at Central.
The Central & JA Partnership
This scholarship is part of an ongoing partnership between Central and JA, a nonprofit organization that teaches students the skills they need for success in the real world—financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship. Through this collaboration, high school students across Connecticut have the opportunity to take JA’s college-level courses and earn transferable college credits.
Participating in JA’s concurrent enrollment courses gives students a head start on their college education. The credits they earn are fully transferable to any institution, helping them get ahead on their academic journey. For those who decide to attend Central, the $500 scholarship is an added incentive, helping to offset some of the costs of a college education. (For more information about the Central/JA free college credit program, click here).
Dr. Beth Merenstein, Central’s Associate Vice President for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning, and Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research, shares, "At Central, we are committed to making higher education more accessible and rewarding for all students. The $500 scholarship supports the academic journeys of students who have already proven they are committed to their education and future success. This opportunity helps them build on the foundation they’ve established through their JA courses."
Jeremy Race, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, adds, "This scholarship is a game-changer. Now, thanks to Central’s generosity, our free college credit program is about more than just allowing JA students to earn college credits—it’s about literally investing in their potential. We’re excited to see how this scholarship will empower students to take the next step toward their academic and career goals."
The 2024-2025 Academic Year
For the 2024-2025 academic year, 445 high school students are eligible for free transferable college credit through the Central-JA partnership. These students will gain valuable college experience while still in high school, giving them a leg up on their academic careers and the chance to save on tuition.
This year, the JA courses offered for free college credits include:
- JA Business Communications: Equipping students to focus on the communication skills necessary to succeed in business.
- JA Economics: Connecting students to the economic principles that influence their daily lives as well as their futures.
- JA Entrepreneurial Mindset: Teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and fostering the skills needed to build and grow a business.
- JA Financial Capability 1 & 2: Examining financial capabilities from a business perspective, focusing on banking, economics, business planning, and risk management and then employee benefits, ethics, business investment, and international business operations.
- JA Financial Literacy: Equipping students with the knowledge to manage their personal finances.
- JA Introduction to Business and Technology 1 & 2: Introducing students to the basic skills necessary to succeed in business, focusing on teamwork, innovation, decision making, and ethics and then innovation, management functions, and accounting.
JA Marketing Principles 1 & 2: Covering basic marketing techniques and key marketing strategies, including advertising, branding, and market research.
Student Reach
The Central-JA partnership has grown this year to include three school districts: Manchester, New Britain, and CREC. Within the CREC system, five high schools are involved, ensuring that even more students have access to this valuable opportunity.
Accessible Higher Education
The partnership between Central and JA is a transformative effort to make higher education more accessible and affordable for students. By joining forces, they are opening doors to new opportunities and providing the support students need to succeed. This collaboration makes education more attainable, equips students with the tools to build successful futures and helps with financial barriers.
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