Welcome, Trade & Teamwork

Those were the topics covered on the first two days of the 2015 JA Global Connection program. After a welcome dinner at the JA Education Center on Sunday, the students checked into their hotel and rested up for the official start.

On Monday morning, the students headed to Hartford's State Capitol to hear from some very special speakers. These individuals included Lou Golden, President & CEO, JA of Southwest New England; Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill; Raymond Sprague, Executive Vice President, The Hartford; Jill Albertelli, Vice President, Pratt & Whitney; Dr. Salvatore Menzo, Superintendent, Wallingford Public Schools; Anne Evans, District Director, U.S. Department of Commerce; Alice Chou, JA China Board Member; and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. The speakers shared their hopes for the students and stressed that the relationships they form during JA Global Connection will hopefully last for many years.

After the welcome ceremony and reception, the students began brainstorming products for the companies that they will create and operate over the next year. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration also gave the students a primer on trade relations between the U.S. and China.

In the afternoon, students headed to Riverfront Adventure to work on their teamwork skills.

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