Avnet Provides 20,000 Arizona Students with Real World, Hands-On Technology Experience
Avnet donates $40,000 to Junior Achievement to Further STEM-Education
PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avnet,
Inc. (NYSE:AVT),
a global technology distributor and the largest publicly-held company
headquartered in Arizona, today announced its participation in Junior
Achievement of Arizona’s signature program – JA
BizTown®. Through this unique education program, fourth
through sixth grade students in Arizona have the opportunity to operate
simulated businesses in a student-sized town, built just for them. Avnet
is providing both financial and volunteer support for the program to
help students connect the dots between what they learn in the classroom
to the technology industry.
Approximately 20,000 students from 225 Arizona schools will be exposed
to real-world business circumstances through JA BizTown this school
year. In-classroom lessons are combined with applications that enhance a
student’s understanding of work ethic, economics, leadership and team
work. Participating students will work diligently to apply their new
skills to operate simulated businesses, pay back business loans and
serve as contributing members of society for the day.
In the JA BizTown, Avnet is hosting two technology stores to excite
students about career opportunities available related to the science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) realm. The technology stores
provide students with hands-on experiences including learning how to
replace a faulty hard drive and assembling a computer. In addition,
Avnet employees are volunteering throughout the year to guide and mentor
students through the experience.
When students arrive at JA BizTown, they explore career options,
interview for jobs, create business plans, calculate operating costs,
and design a marketing plan. Students have the opportunity to apply for
six different jobs at the Avnet stores: CEO, CTO, sales manager,
computer hardware engineer, computer repair engineer and computer
software engineer.
“The JA BizTown is a one of a kind experience that bridges classroom
teachings and real-world knowledge, involving the entire community in
preparing students for their future,” said Joal Redmond, vice president,
public relations, Avnet, Inc. “Avnet decided to build the technology
stores for JA BizTown to give students the opportunity to explore the
inner workings of technology that is a part of their everyday lives and
show how technology makes our world a better place to live, work and
play. We hope the participating students will be as inspired and excited
as we are by technology, ultimately providing them with the foundation
to explore STEM-related careers.”
Avnet has donated more than $41,000 in funds and equipment to Junior
Achievement of Arizona to build the two stores including laptops,
furniture and a videogame experience. In addition, Avnet has created an
exposed wall-mounted computer equipped with interactive lights to teach
students how components work when the keys on a computer are pressed.
“Avnet has fulfilled our vision at Junior Achievement to open a
technology shop in BizTown and enhance the STEM-related aspects of the
program,” said Katherine Cecala, president of Junior Achievement of
Arizona. “We are excited to welcome Avnet to the program to help young
people explore career paths in a growing and high-demand industry in
need of a future talented individuals.”
Avnet has a long-standing tradition of supporting nonprofit
organizations, especially related to children’s education. Throughout
the month of October, employees rolled up their sleeves in support of
Avnet’s Global Month of Service, fixing up schools, feeding the homeless
and raising funds for organizations that serve their local communities.
Photos of the Avnet JA BizTown can be viewed here.
Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet
Connect
with Avnet on Facebook or LinkedIn: http://www.facebook.com/AvnetInc
or http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet
Read
more about Avnet on its blogs: http://blogging.avnet.com/
About Junior Achievement of Arizona
Junior Achievement is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that
teaches children, kindergarten through high school, about financial
literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship to prepare them for
success in a global economy. Serving Arizona’s youth since 1957, JA
prepares young people for the real world by showing them how to become
self-sufficient, how to create jobs which make their communities robust,
and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Junior
Achievement of Arizona reached more than 97,000 students during the
2014-2015 school year. Follow JA on Twitter @JAArizona
and like the organization on Facebook (facebook.com/JAArizona).
For more information, visit jaaz.org.
About Avnet, Inc.
From components to cloud and design to disposal, Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT)
accelerates the success of customers who build, sell and use technology
globally by providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative
products, services and solutions. Avnet is a Fortune 500 company with
revenues of $27.9 billion for the fiscal year 2015. For more
information, visit www.avnet.com.
Contacts
Brodeur Partners for Avnet, Inc.
Marcia Chapman, 480-308-0284
mchapman@brodeur.com
