State Farm Partners With Skyline High School To Mentor Fruitvale Elementary Students

Online, October 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - OAKLAND, California -State Farm and Junior Achievement of Northern California have announced an upcoming event which enables high school students exploring teaching careers to teach Junior Achievement financial literacy programs to younger students at Fruitvale Elementary School.
On October 12, 2010, students from the Education Academy at Skyline High School will visit Fruitvale Elementary classrooms to teach Junior Achievement curriculum. The program's goal is to have the high school students demonstrate the instructional skills they have acquired by participating in the Education Academy at Skyline High School. In addition, the students hope to inspire younger students to stay in school, learn about their role in an economics-based society, and to have fun while learning.
"I believe that it is critical that we link what high school students learn in class to real-world experiences--particularly if these experiences mirror students' long-term career aspirations," said Anya Gurholt, Skyline High School Education Academy Director. "Year after year, Education Academy students report that teaching Junior Achievement in their community was one of their most formative experiences throughout high school."
Local State Farm agents will also participate in the event by speaking to students about career pathways as well as funding the cost of the Junior Achievement programs. State Farm is committed to helping students understand occupational opportunities and to positively impacting the more than 500 students who attend Fruitvale Elementary. Over 87 percent of the student body qualifies for free-and-reduced meal plans, while 54 percent of the population is considered socioeconomically disadvantaged.
"State Farm is proud to support this wonderful event because students are never too young to start building their financial future," said State Farm Agency Field Executive Kris Chan. "Practical education programs, like those offered by Junior Achievement, help students learn grade-appropriate banking and business concepts that are essential life skills."
Junior Achievement of Northern California maintains collaborative partnerships with high school academies and local business to promote the integration of linked learning. In Oakland, Junior Achievement engages Skyline High School students to positively affect the lives of over 1,200 elementary school students each year. This support system inspires the high school students to give back to their community, while exploring career opportunities.

About Junior Achievement of Northern California (JA NorCal)
Junior Achievement of Northern California serves 23 counties throughout Northern California. From Mendocino to Fresno; San Francisco to Stockton; and throughout the Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay; JA NorCal served over 118,000 students in the 2009-2010 school year. Through a dedicated volunteer network of nearly 4,000 individuals, JA offers in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. Junior Achievement programs provide solutions to youth, education, and economic development issues. For more information, visit www.janorcal.org.

About State Farm Insurance
State Farm® is a mutual insurance company owned by policyholders. They have 67,000 employees and more than 17,000 Agents servicing 81 million policies and accounts throughout the U.S. and Canada. State Farm is recognized as the nation's corporate leader in learning, a hands-on approach to education that combines work in the community with classroom development. For more information, visit www.statefarm.com.