NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release       

June 3, 2025

For More Information Contact:

Laura Lutterbeck

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes

616-575-9080 ext. 7723

Laura.lutterbeck@ja.org

Junior Achievement Awards Scholarships to local students

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JAMGL) recently announced the recipients of five scholarships awarded by the organization.  Braden Riha received the Jim P. Dielman Junior Achievement Scholarship.  Anaka Armstrong, Rachael Hewitt, Ondreana Mather and Kiel Knapp each received a general Junior Achievement Scholarship. Seniors who have participated in a Junior Achievement program at any point during their K-12 education or have served as a JA volunteer in any year of their high school tenure are eligible to apply for the scholarship program.

Braden Riha, Jenison High School – Riha graduated from Jenison High School and is the son of Eric and Jenny Riha.  He plans to attend the University of Alabama to study Chemistry and Spanish. 

Anaka Armstrong, East Kentwood High School – Armstrong graduated from East Kentwood High School and is the daughter of Emmanuel and Aliya Armstrong.  She plans to attend Alabama State University to study Occupational Therapy.

Rachael Hewitt, Hastings High School – Hewitt graduated from Hastings High School and is the daughter of Mark and Jill Hewitt.  She plans to attend the University of Olivet to study Business. 

Ondreana Mather, Harper Creek High School – Mather graduated from Harper Creek High School and is the daughter of Eric and Victoria Mather.  She plans to attend Aquinas College to study Elementary Education.

Kiel Knapp, Traverse City Central High School – Knapp graduated from Traverse City Central High School and is the son of Deward and Jennifer Knapp.  He plans to attend Cedarville University to study Finance.

“Each year we provide scholarships to students from across our region who we believe not only demonstrated scholastic commitment and leadership skills, but also those we feel will be contributors to our communities in the future,” said Bill Coderre, President and CEO, JA of the Michigan Great Lakes.  “We are proud to honor these students and wish them well as they begin their journey into higher education.”

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy by providing work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs to K-12 students. If you would like to support Junior Achievement of The Michigan Great Lakes either financially or by volunteering, please call 616-575-9080.

About Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JAMGL)

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes is the nation’s 21st largest JA chapter and an area office of JA USA, the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. The organization offers programs to help prepare young people in Mid, West, and Northern Michigan for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and are empowered to own their economic success. Visit www.westmichigan.ja.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.6 million students per year in 112 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in 121 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

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