INDIANAPOLIS — Junior Achievement of Central Indiana (JA) announced that Sarah Hempstead has been chosen from among tens of thousands of U.S. volunteers as one of ten recipients of the organization’s most prestigious national award for volunteerism, the Gold Leadership Award.

Junior Achievement’s Gold Leadership Award honors volunteer excellence, presented in recognition of leadership in supporting and expanding JA’s student impact, resources, operational excellence and sustainability. The Gold Leadership Awards honor the recipients’ JA volunteer service during the 2020-21 school year.

“Our local business community’s support of JA is critical to achieving our mission, to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy,” said Jennifer Burk, president of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. “Sarah Hempstead, CEO and Principal at Schmidt Associates, is a remarkable example of that spirit of dedication and service to others. In a very real way, she helps Indianapolis area JA students get the knowledge and skills they need to own their future success and make smart academic and economic choices.”

Junior Achievement’s entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness programs are delivered nationwide—typically in classrooms during the school day, by volunteer role models from the local business community.