A Celebration of Purpose, Possibility, and the Power of Community
There are moments when a community shows up so fully, so wholeheartedly, that you can feel the impact long before you see the outcomes. Illuminating Futures, Junior Achievement of Central Texas’ inaugural celebration, was one of those moments.
We were deeply moved seeing our community, from all walks of life, come together to celebrate purpose, possibility, and the young people we serve. Honoring our Visionaries Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Geronimo Rodriguez, and Jayma Vaughan was a meaningful reminder that leadership rooted in service and courage truly lights the way forward.
In her powerful reflection, Dr. Pierce Burnette shared:
“Thank you, Junior Achievement for pouring into me when I was in junior high school and now full circle blessing me with the Visionary Award—and MOST importantly thank you for the wonderful work you do empowering the next generation to dream big, lead boldly, and build their own futures.”
Thank you, Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, and thank you to every single person who made our first-ever Illuminating Futures Celebration possible.
And together, thanks to your generosity and belief in this mission, we reached our goal of raising $150,000 to support Junior Achievement programs across Central Texas. This milestone is more than a number—it’s an investment in thousands of young people charting their path toward financial confidence, career readiness, and long-term economic mobility.
With Deep Gratitude
🌟 Our incomparable emcees, CBS Austin Morning News anchors Allison Miller & John-Carlos Estrada, for bringing humor, heart, and genuine community pride to the stage.
🌟 JA Events Committee: Lisa Kottler, Melissa Thomas, Ira Mercado-Dixon, Tamra Jones, Aidan Loggenberg, P.E., Alison Wittich, Kassandra Hahn-Tipton, Christina Scott, Andrea Richardson—and our unofficial committee members, EY’s Christopher Burns and MarTecha’s Jasmine Aurelio.
🌟 Our Partners: Delta Air Lines, EY, KPMG US, Latham & Watkins, Charles Schwab, Austin Subaru, Marsh McLennan, H-E-B, Sunflower Bank, N.A., and CNA Insurance.
🌟 Our In-Kind Sponsors: Delta Vacations, MarTecha, Butler Pitch & Putt, FireSong Resort Village, Board Member Yoobin Choi, Tito's Handmade Vodka, LALO Tequila, Visit Austin, The Texas Tribune, and many more.
This collective effort- on stage, behind the scenes, and throughout the community—made this milestone possible.
Why JA? Why Now?
For more than 100 years, Junior Achievement has illuminated the future and a championed economic mobility for young people here in Central Texas and around the world through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness experiences.
JA empowers young people with:
Confidence
Critical skills and knowledge
Access to mentors and career pathways
A foundation for long-term economic mobility
In a region growing as rapidly and dynamically as Central Texas, preparing young people to lead, innovate, and thrive is not only important but essential. This celebration helps to support the future of JA and was a testament to what’s possible when a community rallies together to lift up its next generation of leaders.
Thank You
To everyone who attended, volunteered, partnered, sponsored, or championed JA in any capacity- thank you! You made this night and our mission shine brighter.
Together, we are illuminating futures for students, educators, and the future workforce of Central Texas.
And this is only the beginning.
