Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA) is proud to announce Alondra Fabela Sanchez as the recipient of the 2025 Robin Wise Scholarship. A Boulder native, Alondra graduated from Boulder High School in May of this year and is now in her freshman year at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Alondra remembers having volunteers come into her class in elementary school to teach JA programs, but she really got introduced to the organization during her junior year of high school. As part of the AVID class she was in, she had to partake in a certain number of community service hours, and her teacher thought JA High School Heroes was a great way to get the whole class involved.
“I love hanging out with kids, and I’ve had thoughts about becoming a teacher, so the idea of being the head of the classroom for a day really excited me,” said Alondra. “When our teacher described the JA High School Heroes program, I thought it was the perfect opportunity.”
Alondra participated in the JA High School Heroes program in her junior and senior years, teaching financial skills such as budgeting and saving to 2nd and 5th graders at University Hill Elementary in Boulder. University Hill is a bilingual school, which can sometimes cause communication gaps, but Alondra stepped up, using her Spanish-speaking skills to ensure every student had an equal and engaging experience.
“This program gave me a sense of responsibility and purpose,” said Alondra. “It felt amazing to give back to my community by making sure that every child had the chance to learn important financial concepts in a fun and accessible way.”
Students who participate in JA High School Heroes as volunteers can sometimes feel a little out of their comfort zone and nervous about standing in front of a classroom, and Alondra had similar thoughts. After seeing the impact she had on the younger kids, those feelings transformed into ones of empowerment and reward.
“I had an experience my senior year with a 2nd grader who was having problems with the lesson and wasn’t feeling good about herself,” remembers Alondra. “I sat there with her and talked it out, and after class was over, she came back inside and gave me the biggest hug. I couldn’t believe I had made that much of an impact, and it reminded me of the power of education and mentorship.”
Alondra has decided to major in finance at CU Boulder, partially because of her experience with JA High School Heroes and partially because her sister has a degree in finance from the university. Her story is a testament to the power of community involvement, leadership, and the lasting impact of JA programs, and why she is a deserving recipient of this year’s Robin Wise Scholarship.
“It’s encouraging to see people believe in me, and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said Alondra. “Receiving this scholarship encourages me to keep going and keep putting in that effort, because someone believed in me enough to support me.”
The Robin Wise Scholarship was endowed by a group of JA board members and identifies a standout high school senior who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit.
