Editor's Note: John "J.J." Starkey is a 2003 graduate of Bridgeport High School.

 

BY TAMARA MARINO

From University of Nevada Las Vegas News Center

 

When John Starkey attended an open house offered by Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada in 2018, he had no idea it would lead to a partnership that has become a prime example of reciprocity with the community.

 

The partnership also has resulted in Starkey’s selection as the Office of Community Engagement 2021 Faculty/Staff Outreach Award recipient. 

 

“Junior Achievement was looking for a community partner when they first approached me in 2018. Ideas of how our college could assist them in reaching their goals were readily apparent to me after learning more about their programming and populations served,” said Starkey, an advisor with UNLV’s Lee Business School. “Our 2018 encounter opened the doors to a great partnership with them.”

 

The local Junior Achievement (JA) chapter works with various schools in the greater Las Vegas area to teach K-12 populations about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy.

 

Community connections

 

In keeping with the “see it, be it” philosophy, JA connects college students representing diverse communities, backgrounds, and identities with K-12 students who otherwise might not consider college. The goal is for college students to inspire K-12 students by sharing their experiences. 

 

The goals and values presented by JA aligned well with Starkey’s personal passions, as well as Lee Business School goals. And, Starkey’s role at UNLV – teaching first-year students civic responsibility, business principles, and self-awareness through volunteerism and service-learning projects – made him a perfect fit for this partnership.

 

In fall of 2018, Starkey began piloting various ideas in his first-year seminar course, and Lee Business School students, faculty, and staff began volunteering in groups at JA events. MBA students also engaged with the project, spending an entire semester evaluating the business operations of JA before creating a research-based business plan designed to provide a sustainable revenue stream for the organization. 

 

Soon after, the Public Education Foundation joined the partnership and worked with Lee Business School students to create a scholarship for a local high school JA student to attend an NSHE institution. The creation of the scholarship provided UNLV students with the opportunity to gain experience creating an awareness campaign for JA that included fundraising, social media, and direct marketing components.

 

Additionally, Lee Business School students enrolled in service-learning and milestone experience classes were able to participate in the “JA in a Day” program. Through this program, college students visit classrooms and teach basic business principles to K-12 students in underserved areas of our community.

 

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Editor's Note II: Photo by Josh Hawkins, UNLV Photo Services.