Partners for What's Next: F&G Helping Students Discover What's Possible

Image caption: F&G leaders joined the winning student teams following the 3DE Case Challenge, celebrating innovative solutions to a real-world business challenge.

A classroom becomes something different when students are tasked to solve real business challenges. The conversation shifts. Ideas become solutions. Confidence grows. And suddenly, the connection between what they are learning today and the careers they’ll pursue tomorrow becomes clearer.

That transformation is happening for hundreds of students in Central Iowa thanks to F&G’s partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Iowa.

Preparing students for success in today’s rapidly changing world begins in the classroom. It requires experiences that help young people discover their strengths, build durable skills and see new possibilities for their futures. Through their partnership with JA, F&G is expanding access to career-connected learning that equips students with the knowledge, confidence and real-world experiences they need to thrive after graduation.

One of the most significant outcomes of F&G’s partnership is its support of 3DE by Junior Achievement, an innovative instructional model that transforms high school education through project-based, case-study learning. Thanks to F&G’s investment, 3DE has launched at Marshalltown High School and will expand to Van Meter and Ballard High Schools, bringing authentic, business-connected learning experiences to 450 students.

" 3DE is reimaging what high schools can be by giving students the opportunity to solve real business challenges that matter," said Drea Bocook, Senior Director of 3DE. "Partners like F&G are essential to making that vision a reality. Their investment brings innovative learning into classrooms and helps students see what's possible for their futures while building the skills, confidence and connections they'll carry into college, careers and life."

As a 3DE Case Partner, F&G brings learning to life by introducing students to a real business challenge. During five weeks of the second semester, Students tackled a real-world case centered on a key business question. Working collaboratively, students conducted research and applied strategic communication and messaging frameworks to develop innovative recommendations. To conclude the case challenge, the top teams presented their solutions directly to F&G leaders, gaining firsthand insights. Through these experiences, students not only strengthen academic skills but also build confidence, enhance their communication and critical thinking skills, all while discovering how their talents can translate into future careers.

“It was so powerful to see the 3DE program in action – watching students grasp the concepts and apply their learnings in real time demonstrated the impact of this program. We are proud to support 3DE and Junior Achievement to shape the future of financial literacy,” Said Amanda Wuest, SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer at F&G and Vice Chair of the JA Board of Directors.

Image caption: F&G volunteers pose together at JA Finance Park, where they helped students navigate real-world financial decisions and explore future career pathways. By sharing their time and expertise, these volunteers are inspiring the next generation to build confidence, make informed choices and prepare for lifelong success.

Beyond its investment in 3DE, F&G is helping students build financial capability and career awareness through its support of JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. These immersive experiential learning centers allow students to step into real-world roles, manage personal finances, make informed financial decisions, and explore career pathways in an engaging, hands-on environment. Along the way, students develop confidence, responsibility, and decision-making skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

“I learned a lot about career clusters and about the things that I will have to do at some point in my life,” said one JA Finance Park student. “It was very informational; JA Finance Park helps prepare you for financial decisions in the future,” echoed another student.

Together, these investments have reached more than 15,000 students across Central Iowa, creating opportunities that extend well beyond a single lesson. Each student’s experience helps them envision brighter futures, discover new possibilities and develop the skills needed to navigate an increasingly dynamic economy.

Image caption: Students take on real-world roles at the F&G storefront in JA BizTown. Through hands-on experiences like these, students gain confidence, explore career possibilities and discover how the decisions they make today can shape their futures.

Above F&G’s Philanthropic relationship with JA. Their commitment is reflected in their leadership and active engagement with Junior Achievement. Through Amanda Wuest’s service on the JA Board of Directors, F&G demonstrates its belief that preparing the next generation is a shared responsibility between education and business. This leadership helps strengthen partnerships that bring innovative programming to more schools and more students across Iowa.

When businesses invest in students, they invest in the future of their communities. F&G’s partnership with Junior Achievement is helping create a stronger talent pipeline, expanding opportunities for young people and ensuring Iowa students are equipped with the workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurial mindset needed for lifelong success.

Together, F&G and Junior Achievement are doing more than preparing students for What’s Next, they are helping shape what’s possible for the future of Iowa.