WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company in South Bend, Indiana, has received the George Washington Honor Medal Award in the 1972 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge awards competition. The company, sponsored by WNDU-TV, the University of Notre Dame's NBC affiliate station, was competing in the Economic Education category, which includes programs or projects relating to the American free enterprise, risk-capital, profit and loss system.

Recipients for this year's awards were chosen in December, 1972, by a National Awards Jury of state supreme court jurists and representatives of national veterans, service, civic and patriotic organizations.

WJA-TV is currently in its twelfth season of telecasting on WNDU-TV, Channel 16, producing the weekly satirical revue, Beyond Our Control, which is directed by Mark Heller.

The project was created in 1960 by Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the WNDU stations, and the late Robert Riedel, Executive Director of Junior Achievement of South Bend-Mishawaka. More than 250 area high school students have participated in WJA-TV, which is designed to offer practical commercial broadcasting experience to high school students as part of the WNDU Stations' involvement in broadcasting education.

Currently, 31 high school students from 11 Indiana and Michigan high schools are participating in WJA-TV, operating as a complete model television corporation. The students administer the corporation, sold stock to raise operating capital, write original scripts for Beyond Our Control, participate in on-location filming, and produce the weekly half- hour program in the campus studios of WNDU-TV.

The project is sustained as public service programming by WNDU-TV, and financed through the support of area businesses which purchase commercial advertising in the program. This year's sponsors include the Ridge Company, Gilbert's Men's Clothing, Jefferson Manor Lanes, Indiana & Michigan Electric Company, Anderson-Hickey Realty, the Associates Corporation, AM General Corporation, South Bend Federal Savings and Loan Association, Beaudway Hardware, Mr. Quick Drive-In, Honda of Michiana, The First Bank and Trust Company, Indiana Bell Telephone, Coca-Cola, Inwoods, Alexanian Brothers Carpeting, Burger Chef, Lion's Den Clothing, Hook's Drug, and Frick's Driver Education SchooL,

Advisers to the project this year have been Joe Dundon, Kim Guidi (the individual nominee for the award) and Dave Williams.