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Hope for the
Future A Volunteer Story
 Many of today’s
youth are faced with circumstantial issues that
prevent them from realizing their potential and
gaining an adequate sense of purpose and
direction. One of our JA volunteers, Steven
Moody, Lending Officer for American Bank in
Corpus Christi, has witnessed the challenges
faced today by our area youth, through teaching
an eighth grade class at Driscoll Middle School,
“It has been quite an eye-opening
experience... we have five parents who are ‘in’
our class – yes, these are eighth graders... it
is so heartbreaking for me to see what these
children are up against in their lives... I am
so much more enlightened about the challenges
facing the youth today than I ever imagined
possible.”
To overcome these
challenges, children need positive role models,
practical tools, and inspiration. Mr. Moody has
partnered with the class of a Driscoll educator,
Mr. Joe Gonzales, and believes that Mr. Gonzales
demonstrates the qualities of being a
“[truly] outstanding teacher with strong
disciplinary skills and a very soft
heart.”
Through his experience as a
JA volunteer and adjunct professor at Del Mar
College, Mr. Moody has witnessed the importance
of reaching students with the skills and
attitudes necessary to excel in life. In just
one JA experience, Mr. Moody realized the
opportunity as a volunteer to build a positive
relationship with the students, share his life
experiences, and provide hope for all of our
youth, “JA is such an outstanding
program...if we get through to [even] 4 or 5
students, we will be making a
difference.”
Thank you to Mr. Moody
and Mr. Gonzales for partnering through JA and
sharing a passion to positively impact the
students in the Coastal Bend region!
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Supporter Spotlight
UTSA
Through a
partnership with UTSA and the other area
colleges, such as Northwest Vista, Our Lady of
the Lake University, Del Mar College in Corpus
Christi, and TAMIU in Laredo, JA has been able
to provide a significant number of elementary
and secondary students with positive role
models, who offer insights into each student’s
potential and create awareness of the
possibilities of attaining a post-secondary
education.
Every year, along with serving
on the JA Board of Directors, Dr. Bennie Wilson,
Assistant Dean for the College of Business at
UTSA, provides the JA area office with numerous
student volunteers, “My course on business
communication and professional development is
designed to prepare College of Business
graduates to ‘hit the ground running’ in the
real world of professional work. Part of this
preparation includes providing them practical
opportunities for exhibiting their business
presentation skills, and for relating in very
direct and business-like ways with other working
professionals. Giving them the opportunity to
volunteer for the Junior Achievement programs
provides just such a service learning
experience. In addition, it’s a way for my
students to ‘give back’ to the community by
sharing what they’ve learned about the business
world with elementary, middle, and high school
students.”
Last year alone, the UTSA
College of Business provided JA of South Texas
with 599 volunteers, who served in 609
classrooms! It is only with such strong
supporters in our community that we are able to
impact a greater number of students each year
and prepare our youth for life after school.
Thank you to UTSA and Dr. Wilson for all of our
college partners and for your dedication to the
future of our students!
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