Crowley Funds Puerto Rico Career Programs
Puerto Rico workforce development programs from Crowley will reach more than 350 students through Junior Achievement Americas.
By Academic Writing Club Newsroom
Crowley is providing $40,000 to expand workforce-readiness programs for more than 350 Puerto Rico students ages 15 to 19. The maritime and logistics company is working with Junior Achievement Americas and the Puerto Rico Department of Education on the initiative in public high schools offering career and technical education programs. Students will explore maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain careers through curriculum, mentoring and workplace experiences. Crowley employees will also take part in career panels, port tours and job-shadowing activities expected to engage 50 to 100 students each year.
Career Programs In Schools
The curriculum will cover self-awareness, networking, interview preparation and industry engagement. It is intended to help students strengthen workplace skills and consider careers aligned with Puerto Rico’s labor market.
Francheska Bensan, Vice President of HR and Talent Strategy at Crowley, said:
“This partnership is about connecting students with real possibilities while investing in Puerto Rico's future. By pairing Junior Achievement America's proven career-readiness curriculum with Crowley's maritime, transportation and logistics expertise, we can help students see a path to rewarding careers that contribute to the island's growth and prosperity. When young people can envision successful futures in Puerto Rico, they are more likely to build their lives and careers here, strengthening local communities, supporting economic development and helping ensure the long-term vitality of the region we have proudly served for generations.”
Port Visit Introduces Careers
Nearly 60 students visited Crowley’s Isla Grande terminal in San Juan on Sept. 18. They toured the terminal, met employees and explored the ConRo vessel, Taino.
Puerto Rico receives approximately 80% of its imports through its ports, according to the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. The port visit gave students exposure to the transportation and supply chain work supporting the island’s commerce and communities.
Noël Zemborain, President at Junior Achievement Americas, said:
“At Junior Achievement Americas, we believe that preparing young people for the future means providing them with the tools, experiences and opportunities they need to build their own paths. In Puerto Rico, we work with our partners to connect students with the world of work, helping them develop skills and explore career opportunities.”
Partnership Builds On Earlier Work
Since 2022, Crowley’s partnership with Junior Achievement has reached approximately 9,000 students through 418 experiential learning experiences and 174 classroom programs. More than 100 industry volunteers have contributed across nearly 60,000 instructional hours.
Crowley was named Junior Achievement of Northeast Florida’s Company of the Year in 2025. The partnership has supported career readiness and financial literacy programs in the United States mainland and Central America since 2022.
Eliezer Ramos Parés, Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico, said:
“This agreement represents a unique opportunity for our students to broaden their education and gain firsthand exposure to the professional opportunities available in sectors that are so important to Puerto Rico, such as maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain management. Education becomes even more valuable when we are able to combine the knowledge acquired in the classroom with real-world workplace experiences.”
