TERRE HAUTE —
New energy is booming for an old cause as Junior Achievement of the Wabash Valley has new energy.
Peggy Murdock, interim president, said the organization reached nearly 3,000 K-12 students in eight counties last year, a feat its hopes to top next academic term. Organizationally, the local program has undergone significant restructuring since 2010, and the future looks bright, she said.
“We’ve had some really good community support this last year and we need to get Junior Achievement back out there to say thank you,” Murdock said.
Founded in 1965, Junior Achievement of the Wabash Valley brings educational activities concerning business and economics into schools. Participation in these programs is free to students in counties including Vigo, Parke, Vermillion, Sullivan and Clay, as well as Edgar, Crawford and Clark in Illinois.
In addition to business and civics, the program fosters STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Murdock said the coming school year will see a number of advancements, including a move from its location in Southland Mall to an office suite in the Old National Bank building at 701 Wabash Ave.
“We’ll be moving there by the first of September,” she said, adding the bank has donated the space for the nonprofit’s use. In addition to fiscal savings, the downtown location will place the group closer to community activities.
Murdock first came aboard the organization as an administrative assistant in March 2010, maintaining that role as the group transitioned between executive directors and interim presidents. Businessman Jerry Hochstetler last served as interim president, coming out of retirement to assist, she explained.
“I still have him on speed dial,” she laughed, noting she took on her new role in June.
This year the group hopes to increase the number of classroom presentations and student participation percentages significantly, focusing on new schools in Marshall and Paris, Ill., as well as other under-served facilities in Clay, Parke and Sullivan counties.
Murdock said the group will host a free picnic for local school teachers in hopes of learning what kinds of programming they’d like to see. Meanwhile, the mother of four and grandmother of 16 said she hopes to steer the organization’s fundraising efforts back toward the family-friendly events of its past. This year’s main event, the Monster Bowl-A-Thon, will be at the Terre Haute Bowling Center around Halloween.
“We had a really good turnout last year,” she said of the nearly 90 teams that bowled to raise money for the group.
Junior Achievement of the Wabash Valley is a volunteer-driven organization, she said, adding it’s become a labor of love for some.
“We have board members who have been on our board for 25 years,” she said.
New ideas are always welcome, and Murdock said contact information is available on the group’s website, www.jawv.ja.org, or on its Facebook page. Emails can be directed to juniorachievementwv@gmail.com, and calls be made to (812) 232-6230 or Murdock’s cell phone, (812) 230-5281.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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