FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington
Angie Crews, Vice President of Communications
301-351-3197
angie.crews@ja.org
Local Junior Achievement alum selected as one of 12 Global Youth Advocates
Robinson Secondary School graduate will represent JA at upcoming Alumni Summit in Portugal
WASHINGTON, DC, August 21, 2024 – Kurien Thomas, a local alumnus of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington (JA), has been selected as a Global Youth Advocate by Junior Achievement Worldwide. Thomas is one of 12 students to be accepted to the program.
The Junior Achievement Global Youth Advocates program offers a transformative 12-month journey for JA alumni who are passionate about global change. Global Youth Advocates engage in a comprehensive curriculum to cultivate advocacy skills, amplify voices, and create communities. Program participants earn a certification from JA Worldwide, Cortico, and the MIT Center for Constructive Communication in Elevating Global Youth Voices, Community Building and Leadership. Advocates also receive a full-ride scholarship to the 2024 JA Global Alumni Summit, taking place in Porto, Portugal from August 21 - 25.
“It’s truly remarkable to have one of our Greater Washington JA alumni be selected for this prestigious honor,” said Lynne Ford, interim President and CEO of JA of Greater Washington. “We’re proud of Kurien and can’t wait to see what he does next.”
Kurien and his JA Company Program team outside the U.S. Capitol.
Thomas began his JA career as the president of his JA Company Program® enterprise: Pick-Me-Up, a mental health gift box service designed to supplement and elevate mental health resources for teens. His successful run earned him a spot as a student speaker at the 2016 Washington Business Hall of Fame. After graduating from Robison Secondary School in Fairfax, VA, Thomas went on to study leadership and public policy at the University of Virginia. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service and is an intern at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs.
“Being selected as a JA Youth Advocate is an honor,” said Thomas. “It reflects the culmination of my commitment to entrepreneurship and social impact through Junior Achievement. I am eager to connect with like-minded individuals at the Alumni Summit, share experiences, and learn from global perspectives to further my mission to promote culturally inclusive mental health programs and social innovation.”
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About Junior Achievement of Greater Washington
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington is on a mission to prepare students to be future ready. We partner with schools and business to deliver hands-on, practical experiences in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to more than 38,000 students in our region. We envision a world in which all young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.