Junior Achievement of Central Iowa is adding a new career awareness twist this year to its annual Stock Market Challenge for students on April 3. Before about 240 Central Iowa high school students begin a day of trading their fictitious $500,000 stock portfolios, they’ll get some brief one-on-one time with representatives from 30 Greater Des Moines companies and colleges during a “Career Exploration Hour.” 
       
“It’s going to be a little bit like speed dating,” said Ryan Osborn, president of JA-Central Iowa. “They’ll switch stations every seven or eight minutes, and they can learn about the company, potential internships, career paths and education level needed.
           
“So in addition to participating in the Stock Market Challenge they’ll get that experience where they can grow their awareness of the John Deeres, the Merediths and Principals, a lot of the great companies that are right here in town,” Osborn said. “We thought it would be a value-add for the students.”