1 Million Students Ready for What’s Next

Before there was one million, there were 350.

In 1955, 350 high school students across New Orleans stepped into offices across the city—not as observers, but as entrepreneurs. With guidance from local business leaders, they launched companies, sold products, and discovered what they were capable of achieving.

One of those students, 17-year-old Jim Kincaid, led a Junior Achievement company sponsored by Jax Brewery. His team developed and marketed a product, built a sales strategy, and competed alongside peers across the region. By the end of the year, Jim was named New Orleans’ first “Best Salesman” and went on to win at JA’s national level, an extraordinary accomplishment in Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans’ very first year.

That first class of students set something in motion. A city came together to invest in its young people, and the impact has carried forward for 70 years. Today, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans is approaching a milestone that began with those 350 students: one million students served. In the coming weeks, we will announce the student who represents this moment. But today, we are asking you to help ensure that this work continues.

Your support provides young people across our region with access to experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunity, helping them build the skills, confidence, and vision they need for what comes next.

As we prepare to reach our one millionth student, your gift will help us reach the next one—and the next.