JA USA Holds First Regional Company of the Year Competition of 2021
June 22–24, 2021
Junior Achievement USA kicked off its National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) today, the first regional Company of the Year competition of 2021. Among the day’s events, the fifteen student company teams from nine U.S. locations participated in the FedEx Global Possibilities Seminar and the EY Innovation Seminar, prerequisites for the signature awards of the same names.
In 2007, FedEx became the founding sponsor with JA Worldwide to expand regional JA Company of the Year competitions around the world. FedEx has continued its support annually through sponsorship of the signature FedEx Global Possibilities Award, which honors the JA student businesses that best exhibit the principles of global connectivity—driven by innovation, connecting to new markets, fueling community development, and sustainable and social responsibility. Each year this award incentivizes young JA entrepreneurs to seek higher achievement and recognition at regional JA competitions around the world by creating products and services that improve lives.
Day 1: Meet the Teams
13 Visionaries (JA of Central Upstate New York) offers the Stay Refreshed Bundle, which contains two 2 oz. bottles of refresher spray and a bonus lanyard that allows for an easy way to store a face mask.
Baba Blankets (JA of Greater Washington) sells 50" x 60" throw blankets that provide warmth and comfort to those who cannot be with their loved ones in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ClippedNotes (JA of South Florida) is a whiteboard attachment for laptops that seamlessly slides on beside the trackpad.
Complete Comfort (JA of Greater Washington) created the Comfort Wrap, a cotton wrap that promotes stress reduction by soothing tense muscles and promoting better sleep.
Dulicious Co.’s (JA of Southeast Texas) Hexawrap is a reusable, biodegradable, and compostable food-grade beeswax wrap that helps combat plastic pollution and raise awareness about the declining bee population.
finlit’s (JA of North Central Ohio) “Budget or Bust” is a fun, interactive, and engaging board game for kids designed to teach financial literacy.
Fulfilled (JA of North Central Ohio) is on a mission to spread positivity through self-expression with its one-of-a-kind handcrafted leather journals, created in partnership with a local developmental disability organization.
Inventor’s Adventure (JA of Southeastern Pennsylvania) developed “Science Adventures,” a STEM kit with an interactive story and science experiments for children ages 6–14, to support underserved children’s education.
Know Me Know You (JA of Northern New England) is an interactive and enticing card game that consists of 80 cards, each accompanied by thought-provoking questions or challenges. The game also has a digital component.
RainDrop (JA of Northern New England) created a time capsule kit for the COVID era containing an assortment of interactive activities that allow users to reflect upon their experiences in a tangible and engaging way.
Reloved Apparel (JA of San Diego County) sells style bundles of thrifted clothing and accessories. Promoting the use of thrifted clothing helps customers find an eco-friendly way to shop and reduce waste.
Sani-Kit (JA of Northern California) is a sanitation company that focuses on keeping its community safe through compact, portable, and high-quality safety kits that protect people when going outside.
Simply Co. (JA of Southeast Texas) strives to reduce food waste in pantries with the SimplySealed Clip, a convenient and sustainable food clip made from 100% recycled plastic and packaged in a biodegradable, cotton canvas tote bag.
Smile Senders (JA of South Florida) spreads smiles without spreading COVID through its line of care packages designed to send a loved one a reminder they are being thought of and cared for.
TÜB (JA of Northern New England) is a customizable aluminum container that attaches to keychains or loops through a split ring that holds objects such as lip balms and face masks.
Tune in to Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the NSLS events and catch the student company presentations and the awards ceremony live at the links below.
JA Student Company Presentations: Wednesday, June 23, 9:30am CDT
NSLS Awards Celebration: Thursday, June 24, 1pm CDT
Day 2: Presentations
Each student company presented their companies to the panel of judges, followed by a question-and-answer session. This session of the NSLS was made available to the public via livestream on Facebook.
Watch the presentations:
Following the public presentations, each team participated in in-depth and private one-on-one interviews with the judges. Judges score teams on their Company Reports, commercial video, live presentation, and interviews. Student companies are evaluated in all categories on elements such as company financial performance, innovation, marketing and sales strategies and methods, leadership and organization, and learning experiences and future application.
Day 3: Awards Ceremony
JA USA broadcast the awards ceremony live on Facebook, so supporters all over the world could watch. Here are this year’s winners:
Jim Sweeny Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence recognizes and encourages the entrepreneurial education and activities of one JA student.
EY Innovation Award recognizes the JA student company that best exhibits an innovative solution to an existing problem
Delta Social Impact Award recognizes the JA student company that provides the best solution to a local, national, or global social issue.
Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, recognizes the JA student company that best exhibits the principles of global connectivity.
ICE NYSE Best Financial Performance Award recognizes the JA student company that best encompasses several aspects of financial responsibility.
Second & Third Place
First Place – Junior Achievement USA Company of the Year
As the first-place winner, finlit will be automatically entered to compete in 2022 for The de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award, the global Company of the Year competition for the winners from all six JA regions.