URS Newsletter Features Employees Serving as JA Volunteers

Jim Wall and a Student at Orchard Park Elementary School

Jim Wall and Mark May are serving as Junior Achievement volunteers at local elementary schools this Spring. Jim is teaching for his 3rd year at Orchard Park Elementary School in Baxter Village. Jim states “This year as well as last, I’m working in Mrs. Lisa Kasko’s 4th grade class. The Jr. Achievement Program is a graded learning program from 1st grade thru Jr. High teaching the various aspects of how businesses operate. The 4th grade topic is “Regions.” The students learn what a “region” is and how it relates to “resources.” They learn that resources can be natural, human or capital. They learn how a business will utilize a combination of resources to produce a product or service that meets a need. They learn about “entrepreneurship” and decide on a business they want run someday. Using what they have learned about regions and resources helps them decide where would be the best location to set up their business. They also learn the basics about profit and loss and how a business operates to provide a product or service.”

Jim says that he really enjoys doing this and encourages anyone interested in children to participate as they are always looking for more volunteers. Mark May is currently teaching a second grade class at Indian Land Elementary School and their focus is on what makes up a community.

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We thank URS for making these wonderful employees available to JA for a short time each year, and thank all our volunteers for caring enough to make this difference in our schools and in our children!  If you would like to learn more about being a Junior Achievement volunteer, please contact Ann Elliott, 803.980.6363 or send an email.