Tom Durkin first became involved with Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain after a trip to his home state of Wisconsin more than 10 years ago. While talking to his nieces, who were in high school at the time, it became apparent to Tom that there wasn’t enough being done in schools to help students plan for the future.
“I was shocked at how little they knew about the American economy and the opportunities you can have in this great country,” said Tom. “I knew I had to do something. That led me to Junior Achievement.
When he arrived back in Denver, Tom reached out to JA and got connected to some elementary school teachers who wanted to implement programs in the classroom. Ever since then, Tom has really enjoyed working with the younger kids. “They’re a real kick,” he says. “They’re wonderful.” Since getting involved, he has mainly worked with second through fourth grades.
Before retiring, Tom worked at FirstData, a company that he describes as “a place that moves money and moves data.” That, along with what he learned during that conversation with his nieces in the Midwest, made Tom feel that JA was the best place to volunteer so he could have a maximum impact on students.
“There was a lot of economics and accounting involved in my work, and I enjoyed that,” said Tom. “Bringing that information into the classroom, that was the perfect blend for me.”
Tom feels as if he’s gotten just as much out of volunteering, if not more, than the students have gotten from him coming into their classroom. He loves working with the teachers as well, and the interactions he’s had with both parties, along with parents, have made him realize just how much of an impact he has made.
“I feel like I’ve contributed to the students’ growth and knowledge,” said Tom. “I have a great time with these kids. They are just wonderful.”
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain named Tom Durkin as its 2023 Volunteer of the Year.
