1.09.2007 - 09:00am ET

(CSRwire) COLORADO SPRINGS, CO., January 9, 2007. – JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) and Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte) announced the launch of their third annual “Excellence through Ethics” essay contest, in which high school seniors can apply their knowledge of ethical decision-making and share their views on the importance of ethics in business. To enter, high school seniors must compose an original essay of 500 words or less in response to an ethical dilemma posted on JA Worldwide’s Web site, located at www.ja.org. Entries must be submitted online and will be accepted until March 5.

The winning essay will be selected by members of the JA Worldwide Blue Ribbon Panel on Ethics, which comprises corporate ethics officers and noted academicians in the field. The essays will be judged on how well the student uses an ethical decision-making process in developing a response to the dilemma, and how well they understand the importance of good business ethics.

The contest is part of Deloitte’s $2 million commitment to Junior Achievement to promote ethical decision-making among young people. Results of the recent annual JA/Deloitte Teen Ethics Survey revealed that a considerable percentage of students (44 percent) feel significant pressure to succeed no matter the cost, and of those who feel a lot or overwhelming pressure, eight in 10 (81 percent) feel the pressure will remain the same or get worse when they join the workforce. Less than a third of teens surveyed said high school students, as a group, behave ethically. And, more than a quarter (29 percent) believe they are only somewhat or not at all prepared to make ethical decisions.

“We feel ethics education is a critical issue for young people,” said David S. Chernow, president and chief executive officer of JA Worldwide. “The results of our poll clearly demonstrate that our young people need training, guidance, and inspiring role models. The ‘Excellence through Ethics’ essay contest is a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of proper ethics and apply it in a real-life situation, while trying to earn money for college.”

Ainar D. Aijala, Jr., vice chairman and deputy chief executive officer of Deloitte Consulting LLP and chairman of the board of JA Worldwide, concurred. “One of the best ways to teach ethical decision-making is by applying its principles to real-life situations. This contest is an important exercise not only for the winner, but for every student who draws on the critical thinking necessary to compose an essay submission,” he said. Last year, the contest netted about 9,000 submissions.

JA Worldwide’s “Excellence through Ethics” is a Deloitte-sponsored business ethics curriculum. The goals of the curriculum, which can be downloaded free of charge at www.ja.org, include bringing the issue of business ethics to the forefront of students’ minds and providing them the tools and training they need to become ethical business leaders. It can be used in conjunction with all Junior Achievement programs for grades 4-12 in the United States. In order to enter the contest, students must have completed at least one Junior Achievement class, and preference will be given to those who have participated in the “Excellence through Ethics” program.

For more information on the “Excellence through Ethics” essay contest, including the complete contest rules, please visit www.ja.org/ethics.

About JA Worldwide™ (Junior Achievement)

JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today, 140 individual area operations reach approximately four million students in the United States, with more than 3.5 million students served by operations in 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 140 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of approximately 135,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas—audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services—and serves more than 80 percent of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. Services are not provided by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein, and, for regulatory and other reasons, certain member firms do not provide services in all four professional areas.

As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte,” “Deloitte & Touche,” “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,” or other related names.

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