On Tuesday Sept. 19, 2023, Rowan College of South Jersey hosted Junior Achievement of New Jersey at the Gloucester Campus for a signing ceremony recognizing their new partnership. The event took place in the College Center Mezzanine at 1 p.m.
Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) is partnering with Junior Achievement of New Jersey (JANJ) on JANJ's new South Jersey initiative, opening a satellite office on RCSJ's Gloucester campus located at 1400 Tanyard Road in Sewell, NJ. This office is the first expansion site for JANJ and will serve as the headquarters for JANJ's Southern New Jersey based initiatives.
“Since joining JA in July 2022, it's really been instilled in me how important it is to regain and reestablish our relationship here in South Jersey," said James Horne, president, and CEO of JANJ. “As we think about JA, we have a lot of taglines . . .but the one I really like is, 'Boundless possibilities for young people' and through this partnership we're able to provide our young people opportunities to understand what those pathways can be and expose them to opportunities at RCSJ and beyond."
JANJ provides youth with programs that teach them about financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship through in-person and online programs. Because of the partnership between RCSJ and JANJ, these services are more accessible and readily available to the youth in South Jersey.
“Since starting high school, I've decided that because of Junior Achievement, I want to pursue business after high school. The whole purpose of Junior Achievement is to inspire kids to become successful and to inspire others . . .and with Junior Achievement I know I can accomplish these things," says Alexandria Hetzel, Washington Township High School JANJ student who was a speaker at the event.
Another Washington Township High School JANJ student speaker, Julian Miller, shared, “There's a speech that comes to mind when I think of Junior Achievement, given by, Matthew McConaughey, where he was asked, 'Who is your hero?' and he answered, 'My hero is me in 10 years,' and Junior Achievement offers us the opportunity to be our own heroes."
Together, RCSJ and JANJ will help youth in the region explore a variety of careers, make sound educational decisions, and prepare for the workforce. These experiences will serve the communities of South Jersey on both the Gloucester and Cumberland campuses.
“This truly is a great event, and it was not a hard decision for the College. In collaboration with JANJ, RCSJ will provide a pathway to business offering experiential learning opportunities to middle and high school students bringing the world of work to them. We are proud of this partnership and that RCSJ will serve as the anchor for Junior Achievement in southern New Jersey," stated Dr. Fred Keating, president of RCSJ.
Special guests who attended the signing ceremony included: Stephen Clark, South Jersey Industries (retired), JANJ South District Board; Thomas L. Earp, Esq., Earp Cohn P.C, JANJ State and District Board Member; James Horne, President, Junior Achievement of New Jersey; Dr. Frederick Keating, Rowan College of South Jersey President; Anthony Panto, Lincoln Investment, JANJ South District Board; Rob Quackenbush, OceanFirst Bank, JANJ South District Board; and Washington Township High School administrators and students.
For information on RCSJ academic pathways, visit RCSJ.edu/degrees and for more information on JANJ programs, visit JANJ.ja.org.
