Princeton NJ Schools Press Releases

Trenton, NJ - As part of the Junior Achievement of New Jersey (JANJ) Youth Investment Raffle, four outstanding New Jersey High School students will each be awarded $250 for their community efforts. These students serve as community leaders through the JA High School Heroes program, for which they “pay it forward” by team-teaching JA’s fun, activity-based financial literacy and workforce readiness programs to local elementary school children. These volunteers are powerful, civic-minded role models for younger children in their own neighborhoods and exemplify the importance of staying in school. By delivering lessons in money management, the JA High School Heroes make a valuable investment in the future economic well-being of their communities while developing their personal leadership, presentation, and team-building skills.

In addition to the four students who have been selected to receive this award, one lucky winner will also be the recipient of $4,000!  Only 300 Youth Investment Raffles are being sold to raise funds to sustain and expand JA’s programs that focus on education, economic and youth development (and are provided at no cost to NJ schools).

Shamour Thomas, a senior at Trenton Central High School, is one of four students receiving this award. He began serving as a JA High School Hero as a middle school student with the Building Our Youth's Development Program.  Shamour is also a leader in the media ministry at his church, a participant in the Princeton University Prep Program, and serves as a mentor in B.O.Y.D.'s Upperclassmen and Drumming To A Different Beat programs.

The following student role models are being honored as well for their community service:

Julian Hollinger, Franklin High School, Somerset

Allison Petruzzelli, Washington Township High School, Washington Township

Arianne Wade, University High School, Newark

For more information on Junior Achievement please visit www.janj.org and to purchase a raffle ticket to support this program (and a chance to win the $4,000 jackpot), go towww.janjevents.org.