Announcing the 2025 JA Student Ambassador Scholarship Winners!

How Financial and Career Education is Supporting Future Leaders in Central VA

Author: Kay Morgan
Work Readiness
Published: Thursday, 13 Nov 2025

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We are thrilled to announce the three incredible winners of the 2025 JA Student Ambassador Scholarship! These students, who have each participated in a Junior Achievement program, have demonstrated commitment to their personal development and a deep understanding of the role that financial responsibility and career readiness will play in their success.

The winners, representing Henrico and New Kent counties, will receive a $2,500 scholarship towards continuing education expenses, and they will also be invited to share their inspiring stories at JA’s annual fundraising gala: the 2026 JA Greater Richmond Hall of Fame at The Jefferson Hotel, where they will speak before hundreds of local professionals and community leaders.

This scholarship, made possible by M&T Bank, not only provides financial support but also connects students with a vast network of local employers, furthering JA’s mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

2025’s JA Student Ambassador Scholarship Winners:

Adam Ayala, 11th Grade, New Kent High School
Talayah Wilson, 12th Grade, New Kent High School
Davin Bernstein, 11th Grade, Henrico High School

Adam, a junior at New Kent High School, explored the costs of young adulthood through JA Finance Park, where budgeting, investing, and goal-setting started to feel relevant to him. “Realizing what I didn’t know pushed me to learn more on my own after the program,” Adam said. “I started noticing my own spending habits and began thinking about how everyday choices affect long-term goals like college and home ownership.”

Talayah, a senior also from New Kent High School, reflected on her experience at JA Finance Park, which opened her eyes to the complexities of adult decision-making. “A fear that I've always had was not being able to budget money wisely because I was never taught how to. This program made me prepared for what the world will bring and understand how to navigate it.”

Davin, a junior at Henrico High School and participant in the Partnership for the Future collegiate preparatory program, experienced a day of work at the downtown Richmond office of Davenport & Co through JA Job Shadow. He glanced into the world of finance and practiced his networking and communication skills. Davin shared, “I gained valuable lessons through my many interactions with the facilitators and fellow students throughout the program: the one that stands out is the ability to always stay professional as well as knowing my audience since it is key in communication.”

We couldn’t be prouder of these students and the incredible journeys they’ve embarked upon with the help of Junior Achievement programs. Their stories are a testament to the power of financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship education in preparing young people for success in the working world.

A huge thank you to our partners, volunteers, and educators who help make JA programs possible. We are excited to see all that these young leaders will accomplish in the years to come!

Learn more about the JA Student Ambassador Scholarship (or to apply if you’re a high school student who has participated in a JA program!), please visit https://centralva.ja.org/scholarship/ja-scholarship.