DeSales Seniors Earn Kentucky’s First JA Essential Work Skills Credentials

This spring marked an exciting milestone for Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana (JAKY) in Louisville, Kentucky. Two DeSales High School seniors, Tye and Ethan, became the first students in the state to earn the JA Essential Work Skills Credential. Their achievement highlights both their dedication and the impact of this innovative new program. 

Tye and Ethan participated in the inaugural Kentucky pilot of JA Essential Skills for Work, a 10-session program designed to equip students with critical workplace competencies. Facilitated by Lori Hadorn-Disselkamp, Community Outreach Program Manager, the program provides students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences that prepare them for future careers.

Throughout the course, students stepped into the role of interns at a fictitious company, JA Orbit Boom, where they tackled business challenges, collaborated with peers, and developed creative solutions. This immersive, scenario-based approach allows students to build practical skills in a simulated professional environment while gaining confidence in their abilities. 

The program emphasizes essential competencies that employers value most. After completing the sessions, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning by earning micro-credentials through scenario-based assessments. These competencies include: 

• Creativity and Innovation 

• Cultural Agility 

• Engaging Communication 

• Effective Collaboration 

• Critical and Analytical Thinking 

• Self-Direction 

Students who successfully earn all required micro-credentials are awarded the full JA Essential Work Skills Credential, a distinction they can showcase on resumes, college applications, and social media profiles to highlight their readiness for the workforce. 

Tye and Ethan not only completed the program; they excelled. By earning all six micro-credentials, they became the first students in Kentucky to achieve the full credential, setting a new standard for future participants. Their success demonstrates what is possible when students are allowed to apply classroom learning to real-world scenarios. 

This accomplishment is also a proud moment for DeSales High School, which now holds the distinction of being the first school in Kentucky to have students complete the full JA credential. Their leadership and participation in the pilot program demonstrate a strong commitment to preparing students for success beyond graduation. 

The impact of the JA Essential Work Skills Credential program is already evident nationwide. During its pilot phase, hundreds of students earned micro-credentials, and nearly 300 achieved the full credential, showcasing the program’s effectiveness in building career-ready skills. 

Kentucky is one of ten states selected to pilot this innovative initiative, placing DeSales and its students at the forefront of a growing movement to prepare young people for the workforce better. As the program continues to expand, more students across the state will have access to these transformative learning experiences. 

Congratulations to Tye and Ethan on this remarkable achievement, and to DeSales High School for leading the way. Their success is not only a personal milestone but also an inspiring example of what students can accomplish when given the tools to succeed.