A Junior Achievement Legacy: Three Generations, One Mission

Image caption: Kristi teaching JA Excellence Through Ethics®

For Kristi Wagner, serving as a Junior Achievement volunteer wasn't just about teaching a curriculum. It was about passing down values she and her husband, Kip, taught their kids at home.

Growing up in a farming and auctioneer family, Kristi learned the importance of hard work, entrepreneurship, and giving back from an early age. When her own children, Kevin and Katie, started school, JA became a natural extension of those lessons.

"Teaching JA in my own children's classrooms was one of the greatest joys of being a parent," Kristi said. "JA gave me the opportunity to reinforce those lessons while helping students connect classroom learning to real life."

What began as volunteer service in her children's elementary classrooms would eventually grow into something much bigger: a family tradition.

Bringing Learning to Life

For Kevin Wagner, volunteering with Junior Achievement felt like a natural next step.

"Growing up with Junior Achievement gave me a strong understanding of the JA curriculum and helped me appreciate the impact it has on students," Kevin said. "Having experienced the program myself, volunteering felt like a natural way to give back."

Today, Kevin enjoys helping students make the same real-world connections that inspired him as a child.

"It's been rewarding to experience JA from both sides of the classroom," he said. "I remember being the student, and now I have the opportunity to help students make those same connections to the real world."

But perhaps the most rewarding part of volunteering is sharing the experience with family.

"Being able to volunteer alongside my mom and sister makes it even more meaningful," Kevin said. "We've shared ideas, compared experiences, and helped each other become better volunteers over the years. It's pretty special to have JA become a family tradition."

Image caption: Katie teaching JA Our City®

From Student to Volunteer

For Katie Wagner Washnok, Junior Achievement has always been special.

"As a student, I enjoyed learning practical life skills and real-world lessons that weren't always taught elsewhere," Katie said. "Just as importantly, I remember how meaningful it was to have local business and community leaders take time out of their day to invest in us."

That impression never faded.

"Now, getting to be on the other side of that experience as a JA classroom volunteer is incredibly rewarding. Even after teaching JA for 15 years, it still feels like an honor every time I walk into a classroom."

As an internationally award-winning custom motorcycle builder, Katie brings a unique perspective to her lessons. Years later, she still encounters former students who remember specific JA lessons or her career story from their time together.

"One of my favorite parts has been watching my “JA kids” grow up. Many of them have now graduated, and I run into them all over the community," she said. "Those moments remind me that you never know what lesson or interaction will inspire a young person."

A Family Tradition—and a Little Friendly Competition

The Wagner family's commitment to Junior Achievement has even inspired a bit of friendly rivalry.

"Every year we're trying to outdo each other," Katie laughed. "Adding creative touches to our lessons, guest speakers, and memorable experiences for our students."

Kristi set a high standard by inviting mayors, entrepreneurs, city officials, and community leaders into her classrooms.

"Watching those young students interact with their community leader makes the lessons come alive," Kristi said. "It shows them that leadership and service begin right in their own community."

With school permission, Kevin goes above and beyond the classroom by taking his third-grade students on a field trip to City Hall after completing JA Our Community®.

"After spending the week learning how a community functions, they get to see where those decisions are actually made,” Kevin said. “Watching them connect what they've learned to the real world and hearing the questions they ask the mayor is always entertaining and reminds me why JA is so impactful."

Not to be outdone, Katie raised the stakes even further. "I had members of the United States Congress record personalized congratulations for my son's third-grade class when they completed the JA curriculum."

While the competition is playful, it speaks to something deeper.

"Our whole family believes in JA's mission," Katie said. "We genuinely enjoy investing in kids, and we want every class to walk away inspired."

Image caption: The Wagner Family

Looking Ahead

What began years ago in Kristi's children's classrooms has become a multi-generational family tradition centered on service, leadership, and helping students build brighter futures.

"When I first volunteered in my children's classrooms, I never imagined it would become a multi-generational family tradition," Kristi said. "Today, I couldn't be more proud of the adults our children have become."

As she looks ahead, Kristi hopes the family's JA story will continue for years to come.

"As we watch our grandchildren grow, I look forward to the day they experience Junior Achievement themselves," she said. "There is no greater legacy than seeing those values passed from one generation to the next."

That belief is also why the Wagner family encourages others to get involved with Junior Achievement.

"I'd encourage any family to get involved because it's one of the few opportunities where you can make a lasting impact on a child's future with just a few hours of your time," Katie said.

Kristi agrees that making a difference doesn't require special expertise.

"You don't have to be an expert," she said. "You simply need a willingness to share your experiences and encourage young people to believe in themselves and their future."

For the Wagner family, Junior Achievement has never been just a classroom program. It has been an opportunity to invest in students, strengthen family values, and create a legacy of service that continues to grow from one generation to the next.

What Junior Achievement Means to the Wagner Family

Kristi Wagner: "Junior Achievement empowers young people with the confidence, character, and skills to lead successful, meaningful lives."

Kevin Wagner: "Junior Achievement bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world by connecting students with business professionals who help prepare them for life beyond school."

Katie Wagner Washnok: "Junior Achievement is one of the greatest investments we can make in the next generation—equipping young people with the confidence, life skills, and inspiration to succeed long before they enter real life."