Awards
2025 Charles R. Hook Award
This award is designed to recognize the Junior Achievement USA Area President who best represents Junior Achievement USA professionalism. Basic criteria for the award are:
- JA Area President must have completed seven years of service in JA by the end of the fiscal year being judged.
- JA Area President must have served a minimum of five years as a President in current JA Area.
- JA Area that the President has led for the past fiscal year must have earned a JA USA 4 or 5 Star Award.
- JA Area Presidents are eligible to receive the Hook Award more than once in the same JA Area. However, there will be a five year period prior to their next year of eligibility.
An awards committee will assemble prior to the National Leadership Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado to determine the recipient of this year's Charles R. Hook Award.
Charles R. Hook
The founders of Junior Achievement are the only group that has contributed more to JA's growth and development than Charles R. Hook.
Hook was introduced to Junior Achievement when, as a president of the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers, he spoke to Achievers in New York in 1938. This led him to host a breakfast meeting of 750 top business people at the Waldorf-Astoria in December of 1941, which launched the original JA Company Program on a national scale in the U.S.A.
Beginning as an office boy in a small steel mill plant in 1898, Hook moved rapidly through the ranks, becoming president of Armco Steel of Middletown, Ohio, in 1930. He was elected chairman of the board of directors of Armco in 1948.
During his long association with Junior Achievement, Hook was personally responsible for the establishment of many new JA Areas. It was his vision and foresight that led the organization to become an international force for free enterprises.
For more than a quarter-century, Hook served on the U.S. Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Junior Achievement Inc. He also provided leadership to the organization as U.S. national board chair for many years.
The Charles R. Hook Award was established to recognize a JA Area President whose outstanding performance contributed to the growth and development of the organization.
The Charles R. Hook Award, and engraved sterling silver bowl, is presented annually at the Junior Achievement USA National Leadership conference.
2025 Recipient
JA of Greater New Orleans
2025 Nominees
JA of Central Iowa
JA of Eastern Iowa
JA of Memphis and the Mid-South
JA of Middle Tennessee
JA North
Past Recipients
2024
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
1967
1966
2025 Flemke Achievement Award
The Flemke Achievement Award is named in honor of Karl Flemke, who served as the national president and CEO of JA from 1982 until his death in 1994. This award recognizes significant achievements and contributions of a first time area president with no less than two and no more than four years of service in his or her current position. Additionally, candidates must pre-certify for the Star Award.
This award was developed and is presented by the JA Staff Alumni Network and consists of a crystal triangle and $1,000. The recipient is selected by a group comprised of JA Area presidents, JA USA staff, and members of the JA Staff Alumni Network.
2025 Recipient
JA of Kentuckiana
2025 Nominees
JA of OKI Partners
JA of Southeastern Pennsylvania
JA of Western Pennsylvania
JA of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Past Recipients
2024
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2011
2010
2009
2007
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
2025 Hall of Fame Inductee - James R. Hemak
Following service in Vietnam, where he received a Bronze Star, Jim began working for JA in 1971, serving as Executive Director for JA in Richmond, Indiana. In 1973, he was promoted to Assistant Regional Vice President for the Midwest Region at Junior Achievement National in St. Louis.
Jim married his wife Pat the day after Christmas in 1975. That same year, he became Executive Director of JA of Greater Puget Sound in Seattle. Over six years, he was the youngest JA professional to be recognized as one of Junior Achievement’s top field managers.
In 1981, Jim was promoted to National Vice President of JA’s western operations, where he supported JA Areas in 22 western states. Under his leadership, the western region of JA led the nation in growth, finances, and innovation.
In 1987, Jim left his role at Junior Achievement to devote his full time as a franchise owner with Great Clips. Like his tenure at JA, Jim demonstrated his leadership abilities and in time owned 39 locations serving more than 1 million customers annually. After decades of success at Great Clips, Jim was recognized as a charter member of the Great Clips Hall of Fame.
In the years since, Jim and Pat have actively supported philanthropic endeavors. This included providing the $4 million lead gift to Junior Achievement North toward the building of the $20 million James R. and Patricia Hemak Experiential Learning Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jim and his wife also endowed the Hemak Leadership Academy, supporting the development of strategic leaders and emerging leaders in Junior Achievement. Jim and Pat’s generosity has extended to the St. Louis University School of Nursing, one of Pat’s passions, as well as many other well-deserving causes.
Currently, Jim serves on the JA North Foundation board, is secretary and a founder of the JA USA Foundation board, and chairman of the Achievement Foundation.
For his commitment to JA and the young people it serves, Jim has been recognized with several awards, including the JA Gold Leadership Award, the JA National Centennial Leadership Award, and now, induction into the JA Professional Staff Hall of Fame.
2025 Recipient
JA USA
2025 JA MVP Award
Purpose
In Junior Achievement the way we conduct our business is just as important as achieving our operational goals. The JA MVP Model of Values Professional Award was established to reinforce the importance of living our values. JA associates must exemplify values and behaviors that provide the model for the students we serve and assure JA a place as a business to be respected in every community where JA has a presence. The recipients of this award will serve as role models and examples of the best of Junior Achievement citizens, partners and colleagues.
Criteria
Recipients of the JA MVP Award will consistently demonstrate the following JA Values Based Behaviors which are the basis of the criteria for nominations.
- Passion for the Mission
- Values and Respects Others
- Honesty and Integrity
- Commitment to Excellence
- Team Orientation and Collaboration
- Customer Satisfaction and Delight
- Adaptability
- Results Orientation
2025 Recipients
JA of South Dakota
JA of Wisconsin
Past Recipients
2024
2022
2021
2019
2018
2016
2025 Rising Star Award
2025 Recipients
JA of Southeastern Pennsylvania
JA of Greater South Carolina
JA of Kentuckiana
JA of Eastern Iowa
JA of Arizona
JA of Memphis and the Mid-South
Past Recipients
2024
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2025 Service Awards
40 Years of Service
JA USA
JA of the Midlands
35 Years of Service
JA of Western New York
JA of Western Pennsylvania
JA of Central Upstate New York
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Tampa Bay
30 Years of Service
JA of Georgia
JA USA
25 Years of Service
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Greater Boston
JA of Alabama
JA USA
JA of Greater New Orleans
JA of Greater South Carolina
JA of Central Indiana
JA of OKI Partners
20 Years of Service
JA of Greater St. Louis
JA of Oklahoma
JA of Southeast Texas
JA of the Michigan Great Lakes
JA of Brazoria County
JA USA
JA of Chicago
JA of Northern Indiana
JA of Middle Tennessee
JA of Eastern Iowa
JA of Western Pennsylvania
JA of Georgia
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of OKI Partners
JA of Greater Fairfield County
JA of Central Upstate New York
JA of Chicago
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
15 Years of Service
JA of Maine
JA of Northern California
JA of Delaware
JA of Central Ohio
JA of Maine
JA of Georgia
JA of Eastern Iowa
JA of Greater New Orleans
JA of Northern Indiana
JA of Arkansas
10 Years of Service
JA of Southern Colorado
3DE
JA USA
JA North
JA of Northern Indiana
JA of Kentuckiana
JA of Arizona
JA of Greater New Orleans
JA of Southeast Texas
JA of Northern California
JA of Northern Indiana
JA USA
JA of Southwest Florida
JA of Greater St. Louis
JA of Ocoee Region
JA of Georgia
JA North
3DE
JA of Central Ohio
JA of Georgia
3DE
JA of Middletown Area
JA of North Central Ohio
JA USA
JA of Oklahoma
JA of the Heartland
JA of Central Ohio
JA of South Florida
JA of Greater St. Louis
JA of Chicago
JA of the Heartland
JA of Southeast Texas
JA of Arizona
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of Wisconsin
JA - Rocky Mountain
JA of Southeast Texas
JA of East Tennessee
JA of Southeast Texas
5 Years of Service
JA of Georgia
JA of the Michigan Great Lakes
JA of SW Indiana
3DE
JA North
JA of North Central Ohio
JA of the Michigan Great Lakes
3DE
JA USA
JA of South Florida
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of New York
JA of Greater Kansas City
JA North
JA of the Chisholm Trail
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Northern Indiana
JA of Georgia
JA of the Michigan Great Lakes
3DE
JA of South Florida
JA of Northeastern New York
JA of Mad River
JA of Western Pennsylvania
JA of Eastern Iowa
JA of Western New York
JA of North Florida
3DE
3DE
JA of Wisconsin
JA of the Heartland
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Wisconsin
JA of the Bluegrass
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of Greater Kansas City
JA of Western Pennsylvania
JA North
JA of Oklahoma
JA of Chicago
JA of Central Upstate New York
3DE
3DE
JA of the Desert Southwest
JA of Arizona
JA of Chicago
JA of Southern California
JA of Arizona
JA of South Central Pennsylvania
JA of Dallas
JA of Northwestern Ohio
JA of Middle Tennessee
JA of the Michigan Great Lakes
3DE
JA of Greater Fairfield County
JA of Greater Fairfield County
JA of OKI Partners
JA of Wisconsin
JA of Chicago
JA USA
JA of Central Illinois
JA of New York
JA of Southeast Texas
JA North
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