JA Volunteer Spotlight - Grant Gonsoulin

Author: Becky Neely
Community Involvement
Published: Tuesday, 01 Dec 2020

Sharing

It's no secret that volunteers are a core part of the JA experience. Their continued dedication to the students in our communities is the main reason we want them to receive recognition and let our readers know who these amazing individuals are.

For this next volunteer spotlight, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas would like to recognize Grant Gonsoulin, Branch Manager with Woodforest Bank. Grant is a dedicated and passionate volunteer that contributes to the organization’s overall mission of “inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.” His first experience with JA was when a coworker recruited him to volunteer in a classroom, which he found very rewarding. Grant has been an enthusiastic JA volunteer for seven years and is proactive in recruiting volunteers to serve as role models to several English and bilingual classes within Conroe ISD.

Spending most days at the branch, he welcomes the opportunity to step out of the bank on occasion and see financial education working directly in the community. His zealous personality pours into the classroom as he helps the students learn new things vital to their future success.

When asked what drives his passion for JA, Grant said, “being able to share personal stories about my education, my day-to-day job duties, life experience, and making that connection with students is uplifting.”

Being able to see first-hand the direct impact of what you do in the community is an incredible feeling,” said Grant. Volunteers such as Grant are invaluable to an organization such as Junior Achievement by sharing his personal knowledge of Financial Literacy. Grant is teaching students lessons that will last a lifetime.

When asked what he would like to share with someone who may be reluctant about becoming a JA volunteer due to classroom shyness, he replied, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing first-hand the effect you can have by being in the classroom. The energy and excitement coming from the students is an amazing experience.

Thank you, Grant, for your dedication to Junior Achievement and the students’ lives you have touched through volunteering and the recruitment of volunteers.