It was called a “takeover event.”
Chance Tharp and his Regions Bank teammates took the name to heart.
“When we show up 27 people deep to an event, it’s fun to watch,” said Tharp, a Commercial Banking relationship manager in Little Rock, Arkansas.
But Tharp did far more than watch Junior Achievement’s “JA in a Day” financial workshop at Williams Magnet Elementary School during Regions’ 2023 Evergreen Week. He was on the frontlines teaching and coaching fourth graders on the essentials of managing money.
“I grew up playing basketball from eighth grade through my senior year of high school,” he said. “I think my need to coach is just how I’m geared. If I weren’t a banker, I would probably be a coach.”
Financial education is so crucial, yet it’s something not every student is taught.Chance Tharp, a Commercial Banking relationship manager in Little Rock, Arkansas
But JA gives him a chance to do both. In fact, his introduction to JA happened during Regions’ Evergreen Week in 2010.
“I went to teach a group of juniors at McClellan High School,” he recalled. “From there, I just fell in love with it.”
Meaning he’s there every chance he gets – helping young people learn the crucial skills of budgeting, saving, spending, handling credit and more.
“Financial education is so crucial, yet it’s something not every student is taught,” he said. “We want to change that. No matter how old, or young, you are, the time to understand the basics of how money works – and how it can work for you – is now.”
That type of passion has won Tharp a lot of admiration, not only on the Junior Achievement of Central Arkansas’ board of directors, but also among teachers and students connected with JA in a Day.
“Chance has been a champion for JA in the community, as well as within our schools and after-school programs,” said Antwanette Smith, K-12 Central Arkansas Virtual Program manager for JA of Central Arkansas. “He was instrumental in making the connection that led to us working with the students of Williams Magnet.”
Rodney Abston, Commercial Banking leader and Central Arkansas market executive for Regions Bank – who is also Tharp’s manager – saw Tharp’s coaching abilities on full display at Williams Magnet.
“Chance has a very focused, thoughtful approach to everything he does,” said Abston. “He plans and executes well. He also helps guide our teammates to be more than what they think they can be. The Williams Magnet session was especially meaningful to him because he has a daughter that same age.”
During the past academic year, JA of Central Arkansas expanded by teaching 22,000-plus students, an increase of more than 7,000 from the year before. Tharp has his sights set on driving that number even higher with another coaching-based nonprofit, the National High School Basketball Association.
Chance has a very focused, thoughtful approach to everything he does. Rodney Abston, Commercial Banking leader and Central Arkansas market executive
“Each fall and spring, I teach a JA course to the youth the NHSBA serves for five to seven weeks,” he said. “This offers me another chance to combine my passion for basketball and JA’s programs.”
Visit with Tharp, and you’ll quickly discover just how deep that passion runs. While the JA sessions may just last one day, Tharp knows the impact can last far longer.
“You never know one or two students who you’re going to impact and what they may do in their lives because of a JA in a Day class,” he explained. “Knowledge is power; the more we can pass along, the better. Hopefully, they take those little snippets of knowledge we offer and just run with them. Maybe one day they will start a business or maybe they’ll want to be a banker.”
While Tharp always looks forward to organizing the next JA in a Day school takeover, there’s no worry about him quitting his banking job anytime soon.
“Teaching from eight to noon that day, let me tell you, I’m exhausted,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the teachers who do this day in and day out.”
Each year, JA USA reaches over 4.4 million students through its classroom and after-school programs. Regions and its associates have supported Junior Achievement affiliates across the bank’s footprint for many years, including in Birmingham, Alabama, Houston, Texas, and Dallas, Texas, among additional markets.
