PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Junior Achievement of Maine will host its 19th Annual JA Titan Challenge for high school students on Thursday, April 3, with the University of Maine at Presque Isle serving as the northernmost location. This immersive business competition introduces students to business, entrepreneurship, and leadership development by providing a real-world simulation that puts students in the CEO seat to run a cell phone company.
The challenge is part of the JA Titan Experience, a five-week program taught in the classroom by JA volunteers. It culminates in a single-day, statewide challenge hosted at businesses and universities throughout the state. UMPI is one of eight host sites, uniting schools, students and companies within Maine. As a tool to develop Maine’s workforce, the JA Titan Experience introduces students to career pathways and career clusters within specific industries in Maine.
On April 3, teams of students will compete against one another as they each make decisions for their cell phone company based on profit equation, predicting business outcomes, budgeting, research and development, corporate social responsibility and more. Mentors from the community and UMPI support students by sharing their own work and life experience, networking with students and providing guidance during several rounds of competition.
“The Junior Achievement Titan Challenge provides a unique learning opportunity for students to bridge the gap between education and the business world,” Stacey Emery, UMPI chair of business, accounting and the master of arts in organizational leadership, said. “The faculty in UMPI’s Business program recognize the critical role experiential learning plays in shaping students’ understanding of entrepreneurship, leadership, and the real-world dynamics of business. This competition allows students to step into the shoes of a CEO while fostering connections between local businesses, universities, and schools. Ultimately, it prepares the next generation of Maine’s workforce. We are excited to partner once again with the excellent team from Junior Achievement of Maine!”
“The JA Titan Experience is an incredible tool to unite our education and business communities and showcase to our students the career opportunities that exist within Maine,” JA Maine President and CEO Michelle Anderson said. “We know workforce development is paramount to our state, and we’re proud to bring this opportunity to both our education and business partners.”
The 2025 Challenge is the biggest to date and will match nearly 300 high school students with over 100 mentors from businesses and organizations across the state. There will be a regional winning team at each location and a first- and second-place winning team. Members of the top two teams will receive scholarships for post-secondary education donated by Machias Savings Bank.
The event is hosted at eight locations from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on April 3: Tyler Technologies, Yarmouth; Dead River Company, South Portland; Systems Engineering, Portland ; IDEXX, Westbrook; Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor; Thomas College, Waterville; Machias Savings Bank, Machias; and the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
With Maine’s workforce of tomorrow sitting in classrooms today, Junior Achievement is working to ensure students have the skill sets and mind sets to meet the opportunities that await them when they graduate. The JA Titan Experience is a key touchpoint for students, helping them bridge the gap between in-class learning and real-world experience. To learn more, visit https://maine.ja.org/events/titan-challenge.
