WOWs | Sharing Our Success

Developer of Smart Keyboard Wins 2024 Statewide Young Entrepreneur Competition Shamit Surana, a high school student from Franklin, Wisconsin is the owner of HaloKeys and creator of a computer keyboard called the Elemental 75. The keyboard uses customizable hardware and AI research that will predict users’ needs to increase typing efficiencies. In 2023, he launched the HaloKeys Enrich Design Thinking Course for underprivileged students.  The YE Live event, which aired online March 6th, allowed four young Wisconsin entrepreneurs to present their business plans to a panel of celebrity judges in a Shark Tank-style competition. Other competitors included Kaylee Lamers from Brillion, WI, owner of Stitches and Sweets; Truman McNitt from Kohler, WI who owns Sugar Twist Trinkets; and John Vail from Trempeauleau, WI, owner of Only Limits. Surana was the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship and the other finalists each took home $1,500 scholarships. Watch the Recording

This year’s judges included Jennifer Abele, Founder and Managing Partner of venture capital firm VC414; Al Araque, Senior Vice President and Director of Consumer, Private, and Business Banking at Johnson Financial Group; Greg Marcus, President and CEO of Marcus Corporation; and Denise Thomas, President & Owner of The Effective Communication Coach. We'd like to thank the sponsors of this year’s competition, including: Baker Tilly, BMO, Crescent Grove Advisors, Douglas Dynamics, Educators Credit Union, EY, Heartland Advisors, Johnson Controls, Johnson Financial Group, M&M Interiors, PS Capital Partners, Rockwell Automation and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. A special thank you also goes to Media Partner, FOX6 Milwaukee, as well as our Public Relations Partner, Boelter + Lincoln. Learn More

JA Recognizes Extraordinary Volunteers JA USA is honoring 69 national companies with the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Awards. Two dozen of those companies provide volunteers for Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and impacted nearly 10,000 students across the state during the 2022-23 school year. Learn More If you work for one of these honorees, we thank you for your dedicated service to JA of Wisconsin!

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NOWs | Seeking Your Support

Mark Your Calendars for the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame Established in 1990, the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony serves to recognize and honor the professional and civic accomplishments of individuals. These leaders also serve as role models for our state’s young people.  Our Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame will be Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. Watch for future announcements about our 2024 Laureates and how to secure your tickets and sponsorship for the event. Learn More

Gen Z Workers Seek to Make a Difference through Volunteering Even though members of Gen Z, those born between 1996 and 2010, have faced life changing experiences including rapid advancements in the digital age, the COVID-19 pandemic, and massive changes in the workplace, a recent survey by IPSOS found that they are just as inclined to volunteer as other generations. The key is finding the right cause. While older generations have looked to social services, like food pantries or shelters, Gen Z leans toward volunteering for education, mentoring young people, or coaching. Sound familiar? Becoming a JA volunteer taps directly into the Gen Z desire to help young people by teaching JA programs in school classrooms. Learn More How Can You Help? If you want to get involved with JA in your community, we’ll connect you with the nearest JA classroom openings for K-12 student programs. You pick the grade level you want to teach, and we’ll provide the curriculum and training so you can make a difference in a student’s life this spring. We currently have 794 classrooms around Wisconsin that need a JA volunteer. To get involved, email us at info@ja.org.

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