harryburritt

SW Michigan Volunteer Wins Golden Achievement Award from JA

harryburritt

Hey class, what’s your big idea? That’s the number one question that Junior Achievement volunteer Harry Burritt of Berrien County likes to pose to the students in his business education classes. He loves to ask them “What’s your big idea?” as he talks with them about the great American dream. At any rate, his unbridled enthusiasm has earned him notoriety and one of four annual BEL Awards for Business and Education Leadership at Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana.

Burritt was presented with his award on May 24th when the JA team saluted community leaders, educators, and volunteers in Fort Wayne. Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana is the parent affiliate for Michiana counties, serving more than 135,000 students annually across 30 counties.  Out of more than 7,100 volunteers, just 4 were awarded Golden Achievement Awards:

  • Harry Burritt (Berrien County, MI)
  • Phil Dwire (Allen County, IN)
  • Tony Fifer (Steuben County, IN)
  • George Hicks (Allen County, IN)

Golden Achievement Awards are given in recognition of superior dedication to JA and its  partnership of business and education.

Jenny Zimmerman is the Regional Manager for JA serving our area. She says, “Harry leads JA with an enthusiasm and energy that is contagious—for his fellow board members, JA staff and every student he teaches.  Harry’s career and enthusiasm for JA embodies the question Harry LOVES to ask his JA classes:  What’s YOUR big idea?”

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For his part, Burritt says, “JA means sharing of the American Dream with kids. The American Dream is all about the opportunities to succeed in a free market enterprise economy that are available to all who seek it. Inspiration provided by JA and its volunteers can change the life trajectory of those who catch the fire.” Harry has been teaching JA in southwest Michigan for more than 25 years.  He has also served on the local Board of Directors for more than two decades and was instrumental in the local merger with the larger JANI office in 2013.  Since that merger, the students served in the Michiana region have grown from 6,500 to more than 20,000.

Lena Yarian is President of Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana. She says, “Junior Achievement is proud to honor the educators, volunteers, and business leaders who partner with JA to help today’s students believe in themselves and build the skills they need to lead us into tomorrow.”

It is one of the top JA offices in the nation, ranked 3rd in percentage of students served and 4th in service hours donated in 2015-16.

Serving more than 135,000 kindergarten through high school students in 30 northern Indiana and Michiana counties and into 1 county in Ohio each year, Junior Achievement is dedicated to educating and inspiring young people to succeed in a global economy. Partnering with more than 5,000 educators and 7,100 positive adult role models who volunteer their time, JA’s in-school, JA BizTown, and JA Finance Park economic education programs focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. These experiences empower young people to own their future economic success.