Where a Dream Can Lead: Rayshon’s Junior Achievement Story

Image caption: Rayshon Baker - July 2026

Rayshon Baker still remembers his job at JA BizTown.

As a fifth grader, he served as the CFO of a Chick-fil-A storefront inside the simulated community, helping manage finances and make business decisions alongside his classmates.

"I was the CFO of Chick-fil-A," he says with a laugh. "Pretty big thing, but I don't mean to brag."

Rayshon sees JA BizTown as one of the first experiences that made him wonder: What if I really could be anything?

Today, Rayshon is a student leader at the University of Utah, serving as Chief of Staff for the Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU), while continuing to pursue opportunities that challenge him and expand his perspective.

"I was first introduced to JA when I was in the fifth grade through JA BizTown," Rayshon recalls. "I learned a lot through the BizTown experience, but most importantly, JA taught me that I could really be anything."

JA BizTown brings classroom learning to life through a simulated community where students become business leaders, employees, consumers, and citizens. As they collaborate, solve problems, and make real-world decisions, they gain hands-on experience with how businesses and communities work while building confidence in their own abilities.

For Rayshon, that's exactly what happened. "It taught me to aim high and believe that more was possible for my life," he says. "That ambition, coupled with the lessons I learned through JA, helped set me up for future success."

Over the years, that confidence opened doors to opportunities in leadership, public service, and professional sports. From serving in student government at the University of Utah to interning in Washington, D.C., studying abroad in Spain, and working with the Utah Jazz, Rayshon has continued to seek out experiences that challenge him and expand his perspective.

Thanks to Junior Achievement, I've had the opportunity to network with amazing professionals across various fields and industries," he says. "I dare say I wouldn't be in any of these positions today without Junior Achievement."

For Christy Tribe, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Utah and Idaho, Rayshon's story reflects the long-term impact she sees in students every day.

"Watching him grow into himself, there is nothing that he can't do," she says. "He really believes that, and it’s true."

Reflecting on his journey, Rayshon sees a direct connection between the opportunities he has today and the foundation that was built years ago through Junior Achievement.

"In a time when so many people give up and lose hope, Junior Achievement is in the business of creating dreams," he says. "I'm living proof that the foundation built early can change the course of a life."

Years after serving as a CFO in JA BizTown, Rayshon remains grateful for the experience that helped him see what was possible.

"To Junior Achievement,” he says, “thank you for helping me dream."