In partnership with the Colorado Golf Association (CGA), more than 90 high school students from the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy put down the golf bags, stepped away from the course, and traveled from across Colorado to spend the final day of June experiencing JA programming at the JA Free Enterprise Center in Greenwood Village.
Run by the CGA, the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy was founded in 2012 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora to provide opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills and enhance their character through a foundation built around caddying.
While these caddies are used to “looping” 18 holes around the golf course throughout the summer, on this day, their loop was around the JA Free Enterprise Center, experiencing three different JA programs, each aligning with the Academy’s mission.
“At the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, we use caddying as a platform to build character, leadership, and real-world readiness,” said Tim Wimsatt, Director of Education & Grants for the CGA. “This Junior Achievement experience brought those values to life in a powerful way, helping our caddies see how the lessons they learn on the course can shape their futures off it. From financial literacy to career planning, this field trip was a perfect extension of our mission to put caddies on a pathway to post-secondary success.”
Beginning with JA Career Speaker Series, caddies listened to volunteers in a panel-style event where they shared information about their jobs, the life experiences that led them to their career choices, and had the chance to ask questions.
“I had the chance to meet some wonderful individuals who taught me life-changing lessons in my career,” said Demetrius Santistevan, who caddies at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
Next up was JA Personal Success. The program prepares students for the job market by helping them develop the personal skills that will help them land and keep a job. Participants learned how to network, create a personal profile and resume, and gain interview skills.
“I learned that speaking skills are vital in life, and your brand and the way you carry yourself show peers the type of person you are,” said Alyra Flores, a caddie at CommonGround.
“It helped me think about my future more,” said Jakob Jensen, a Meridian Golf Course caddie.
Finally, caddies explored the Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator simulation. An interactive and responsive career exploration experience that inspires students to develop a plan to pursue a meaningful career and future, the program helps students realize their strengths and interests and how they align with a variety of careers.
“(The Picture Your Strengths) station helped me outline who I am as an individual,” said Broadmoor caddie Matthew Harfert.
In the JA Dream Accelerator, caddies went through the Reality Check station, which showed them how much they need to earn to live the life they want. As the station describes it, it gave caddies a dose of reality.
“This program showed me life costs a lot of money,” said Yawaka Mhango, a caddie at Lakewood Country Club. “I realize that I need to make a savings account.”
The lessons learned at JA will not only help the caddies on the golf course. The experience equipped them with the tools and skills needed for future success as they prepare to enter the real world.
“I came into JA knowing nothing, and now, after joining this program, it has changed how I see myself as a person. I really liked this program,” said Joseph Alula, who caddies at Meridian.
“JA was so much more than I thought,” added CommonGround caddie Noah Badeg. I learned new things about my money and what I can do with my life.”
