Laurel Highlands students earn national recognition for financial literacy
To the victors go the spoils.
For 72 Laurel Highlands High School students, those spoils came in the form of live music, food trucks, and a mechanical bull. The fun recognized the students’ hard work in bringing home a first place win for middle-sized high schools across the U.S. in the Intuit Hour of Finance Challenge.
“I’d like to think it was because of my teaching,” their teacher Jeremy Bryson said with a smile. “But honestly this was a great group of students. They were dedicated, focused and just very determined to win.”
Bryson’s team of students, from grades 9 through 12, competed against 273 other schools in a series of interactive web-based games in which students earn points as they navigate and make choices to earn income, pay bills, take out loans, and manage savings and investments.
“I’m glad we got to learn something like this,” said 16-year-old sophomore Ella Hopkins. “This is something we’re going to need for the rest of our lives.”
Intuit, an American software company that specialized in finance software, hosted the competition as well as sponsored Thursday’s celebration.
Dave Zasada, vice president of corporate responsibility for Intuit, said he and his team developed this program to try to make financial literacy an engaging educational experience for students.
“Our approach as a technology company was really trying to make it interactive,” Zasada said. “We’re not just interested in kids becoming financially literate, we want them also to be capable and competent.”
The interactive experience takes students away from traditional lecture-based learning and allows students to apply concepts in real-world scenarios.
“Our content throughout our intuitive education platform has interactive activities (and) hundreds of videos that appeal to the Tik-tok generation,” Zasada said.
Arianna Bradly, a 15-year-old sophomore, said the interactive approach made the learning experience “engaging.”
“It gave us a different perspective on money,” she said. “It showed us real experience with accounting and finances.”
In addition to the afternoon of fun, students were also recognized by local and state leaders who heaped praise on the young people for being so attentive to financial literacy.
“By mastering these skills now, you’re positioning yourself to make more informed choices, avoid debt and take advantage of opportunities for a brighter future,” said state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, R-Smithfield. “You’re all ahead of the curve, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Krupa also praised the school district for offering financial literacy classes.
“You’re giving these students the tools they need to navigate the complexity of a modern economy,” she said. “Your commitment to their education and preparing them for real world challenges deserves to be recognized and celebrated.”
Students who participated in the program also received a gift bag from Intuit which contained a new laptop.
As for any advice for fellow Gen-Z’ers, Ava Cook, 15, said knowledge is power.
“Everyone should be learning this stuff,” the sophomore said. “If you have a financial course in your school you should take it. It’s important stuff to know.