San Diego Teen Entrepreneurs Secure Coveted 2023 Global Possibilities Award, Presented By FedEx

[San Diego, CA] — During the esteemed Junior Achievement (JA) National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held from June 11-15 in Washington D.C., the exceptional student-run company, CocoLoco, emerged as the proud winner of the prestigious 2023 Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx. Evaluated by a distinguished FedEx jury, the student company presented an outstanding business plan with the potential to foster job growth and champion environmental sustainability. 

To qualify for the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, a Junior Achievement student company needed to be among the finalist teams competing at Junior Achievement’s NSLS. These talented teen entrepreneurs participated in additional sessions focused on the concept and impact of global access, a program developed by FedEx that complements the JA Company Program®. The award recognized the JA student company that devised a marketing plan for a product or service showcasing a comprehensive understanding of global access. 

“FedEx was founded with one essential purpose: to connect people and possibilities around the world. We believe a connected world is a better world. With the strength of our global network and logistics expertise, we help our customers – from small business owners to Fortune 500 companies – compete more effectively in the global marketplace,” said Adrian Edmonds, Director of Global Citizenship at FedEx. “The FedEx Global Possibilities platform celebrates the power of global connectivity and the next generation of innovators. The Global Possibilities Award recognizes a student-run business that best exhibits the four principles of global connectivity: Driven by Innovation, Connecting to New Markets, Fueling Community Development and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.”  

CocoLoco provides high-quality, eco-friendly coconut products and gifts. Committed to a sustainable business model, CocoLoco repurposes coconut shells to create soy candles and succulent arrangements. CocoLoco believes in the value of giving back to the community and has partnered with Cancer for College, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to cancer survivors, to donate 10% of their profits to the organization.  

“CocoLoco takes great care in prioritizing social responsibility within our business practices. We source all our coconut shells from Vietnam and the Philippines where there is a surplus of shells polluting those areas. We take pride in supporting local economies by sourcing both our succulents and soil from a local nursery in San Diego,” said Daniella Addeo-Cortes, CEO at CocoLoco. “Our dedication to global connectivity, ecological awareness, community development, sustainability, and social responsibility has allowed our business to thrive. We are honored to receive the FedEx Global Possibilities Award which recognizes and celebrates the positive impact our business has made in these areas.” 

Founded by talented students from San Diego, CA, CocoLoco emerged as a result of their participation in the highly regarded JA Company Program®. This immersive program empowers high school students to establish and operate authentic business enterprises under the guidance of dedicated mentors from the local business community. The passionate teen entrepreneurs identified an unmet consumer need, successfully recruited investors for their company, and skillfully produced and marketed their innovative product or service. 

“CocoLoco embraced the concept of global access by having the power to transform industries, connect diverse markets, and drive sustainable growth,” said Sidd Vivek, JA San Diego President & CEO. “By leveraging the opportunities presented by global connectivity, these young entrepreneurs can create innovative solutions that transcend borders, foster inclusive economic development, and make a positive impact on a global scale.” 

 Junior Achievement’s National Student Leadership Summit serves as a platform to recognize the remarkable business acumen, creativity, and innovation displayed by U.S. JA Company Program students aged 15-18 throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. The JA Company Program grants teens the invaluable opportunity to launch and manage their own businesses under the mentorship of local business volunteers. 

During the three-day event, the student-run companies competed for various accolades, participated in engaging seminars led by national experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business, and presented their companies to a distinguished panel of judges comprising esteemed business leaders. 

About Junior Achievement of San Diego 

Junior Achievement of San Diego (JA San Diego) has been inspiring and equipping local youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs, JA also reaches more than 20,000 students annually through programs such as the McGrath Family JA BizTown, Mission Fed JA Finance Park, and JA Company Program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 3,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts. 

About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)  

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 3.3 million students per year in 102 markets across the United States as part of 12.5 million students served by operations in more than 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org. 

About the Global Possibilities Award 

FedEx serves as the global sponsor of the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx for JA Worldwide.  To be eligible for the Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx, a student company must be one of the finalists selected to compete at the JA National Student Leadership Summit in the USA or one of the JA Company of the Year Competitions worldwide. Student company members must complete a seminar conducted by FedEx on the idea and impact of global access.  The Global Possibilities Award, presented by FedEx is given to the JA student company which best demonstrates their understanding and application of global access, leveraging international trade to create jobs, grow small businesses, expand global development and improve the environment.   

About FedEx Corp. 

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $93 90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 530,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about. 

Media Contact
Catherine Van Weele, JA San Diego
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
619-906-4909