Junior Achievement of Arizona is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Acuña and Stella Rodriguez to the Southern Arizona District Board of Directors, providing guidance and leadership for the Tucson-based branch of programming aimed at empowering Arizona’s youth through career readiness and financial literacy.
“We are excited to welcome Melissa and Stella to the Junior Achievement Board of Directors team,” said Paloma Santiago, Southern District Director of Junior Achievement. “Both of these talented women have served as Junior Achievement volunteers and are bringing their individuals expertise to shaping the future of our organization.”
Melissa Acuña is a dedicated JA volunteer who has taken on projects like JA Days and served as a volunteer at the programs held at Valencia Middle School. Earlier this year, she received the Community Service Recognition from JA and the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association for her dedication to empowering and educating students in and around Tucson. Melissa has been with Cox Communications for 20 years, serving as the senior community relations coordinator.
Stella Rodriguez has spent the last 15 years volunteering with Junior Achievement. Most recently, she has worked with teenagers at Pueblo High School to prepare them for life beyond graduation, including equipping them with the skills they need to prepare their resumes, ace job interviews, and more. Stella has worked for Intuit for 25 years as a finance and business analyst and project organizer.
Melissa and Stella will work alongside the rest of the Southern Arizona District board to further the development of the JA mission, bringing financial literacy, career development, and life skills to Arizona’s youth.
About Junior Achievement of Arizona
Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that equips Arizona students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future, and make smart academic, career, and economic choices. Since 1957, JA has taught kids, kindergarten through high school, about financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. The organization’s hands-on, age-appropriate programs are delivered by more than 8,000 corporate and community volunteers. Despite educational obstacles during the pandemic, JA reached approximately 190,000 students in the 2023-2024 school year. Follow @JAArizona on social media or visit jaaz.org/resources for more free online educational tools.
