The Jackson Kelly Education Elevators Program (JKEEP) which recently commemorated its fourth anniversary, is celebrating again. This time, it’s because there is an upcoming dedication of brand new space within Piedmont Elementary called the “Elevator Innovation Zone”. Among Jackson Kelly personnel and other community leaders, Gayle Manchin (the wife of United States Senator Joe Manchin) and West Virginia Senators Dan Foster and Brooks McCabe are scheduled to attend the dedication on June 20, 2012 at 6 p.m
Acting on his belief that businesses must take a leadership role in fostering local education, Jackson Kelly attorney Thomas McJunkin founded the JKEEP mentoring program in 2008 in partnership with Piedmont Elementary. McJunkin, a former partner at Jackson Kelly, passed away late last year but was known for his continual involvement in the community and for advocating the importance of education. He has been fondly dubbed the JKEEP Flight Commander.
Erin Stankewicz, an attorney at Jackson Kelly who worked closely with McJunkin on the development of JKEEP said, “Tom had the vision of ‘elevating’ the abilities and aspirations of the students at Piedmont, and to further Tom’s outstanding vision for this program, we have created a unique space at Piedmont for Elevators to meet with their students.”
The program’s overall theme is to match mentors (known as “Elevators”) with students at Piedmont Elementary School. Once per week, Elevators visit a student that he or she was paired with based on common interests. The time is spent doing anything from playing soccer to building robots or planting a garden – while incorporating academics and self-esteem. While the program was initially designed for Jackson Kelly staff and attorneys to be the Elevators, JKEEP has recently incorporated as a not-for-profit organization (the Education Elevators Foundation) and opened its doors to allow others from the community who have an interest to get involved.
McJunkin’s daughter, Allison McJunkin, who has recently stepped into the program to uphold her father’s legacy, said the space will be outfitted with a couch, coffee table, chairs, a project table, a computer desk and a variety of books and supplies. A plaque honoring Tom McJunkin will hang on the walls in the new Elevator space.
Piedmont is one of West Virginia’s most culturally diverse public schools. Nearly 90 percent of Piedmont students qualify for free or reduced lunch assistance.
Jackson Kelly PLLC is a national law firm representing leading global corporations, national companies, entrepreneurs and individuals in areas of law such as environmental, business, labor and employment, federal and state workers’ compensation, civil litigation and occupational safety and health. The firm has offices in Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
