The competition is sponsored by Vickie Anne Palmer in honor of her parents.
The Drs. David & Agnes Palmer JA Titan Competition is a business strategy tournament in which high school students compete as business CEOs in the cell phone industry, experiencing firsthand how an organization evaluates alternatives, makes decisions, analyzes the outcomes of those decisions, and then strategizes what to do next. With a focus on financial literacy and insights into the workforce, JA Titan® brings business economics to life. As students work in teams to make financial decisions about production, marketing, research and development (R&D), and corporate social responsibility (CSR), they begin to see how every choice made in an organization relates to its future success. The success or failure of the student-led companies will depend on how well the students manage key decisions.
At the end of the competition, the top two performing teams will emerge as the “Titans of Business” and go on to compete in the Scholarship Round at Palmer College in Davenport, IA on Wednesday, March 4th. The top three winners of the scholarship round will be awarded scholarship dollars for post-secondary education.
The Drs. David & Agnes Palmer JA Titan Competition is one example of how Junior Achievement is teaching entrepreneurship to students. The competition allows students a hands-on opportunity to act as CEO of a company. As a team, the students work to turn a new product into a profitable business. Student survey results indicate 89% of the students participating agree the JA Titan Competition is an exciting way to learn about business, and 66% agree the competition made them think about their potential in starting their own business.
Over 30 students from four high schools participated, including Kewanee High School, LaSalle Peru High School, Mendota High School, and Rock Falls High School. Teams from La Salle Peru and Mendota High School won the competition and will compete in the scholarship round on March 4th.
“I loved playing the game, and it helped me learn that you’re not always going to have a good day, but you have to remember to always get back up on your feet,” JA Titan Student Competitor.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Vickie Anne Palmer, Arconic, I.H. Mississippi Valley Credit Union, Cottingham & Butler, Central Bank Illinois, and Martin Engineering.
About Junior Achievement of the Heartland
Junior Achievement is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.
Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Visit heartland.ja.org for more information.
