Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds to Recognize Students for Financial Literacy Achievement
State of Iowa Seal
First students certified through the Iowa Financial Literacy Program honored in ceremony
(DES MOINES) – Students at CAL Community High School in Latimer will become the first in the state to receive financial literacy certification after successfully completing the Iowa Financial Literacy Program. A ceremony recognizing the students’ achievement will be held at the school on March 15, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to speak at the event and local media, community members, and families will be present to honor the students.
“I am very pleased to recognize the hard work students at CAL Community High School have taken to build a strong financial foundation,” said Lt. Governor Reynolds. “By becoming certified through the Iowa Financial Literacy Program, these students are better prepared to manage their money, make smart financial decisions and plan for their futures.”
CAL Community High School teamed with Hampton State Bank and the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) to incorporate the Iowa Financial Literacy Program, powered by EverFi, Inc., into existing curricula. The online program uses the latest in new media technologies –3-D gaming, social networking, online animations, video, and messaging tools – to bring complex financial concepts to life. Upon completion of the Iowa Financial Literacy Platform, students are certified in more than 600 core topics in personal finance.
“By participating in this program, CAL Community High School is taking the lead in a statewide financial literacy initiative,” said Karen Misjak, executive director of Iowa College Aid. “The students receiving certification through the Iowa Financial Literacy Program have mastered concepts such as budgeting, saving, using credit cards wisely, and making smart borrowing decisions that will help them as they go on to college or enter the workforce,” explained Misjak.
Free access and program support for CAL Community High School is made possible through the financial support of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) and Hampton State Bank. In an effort to grow and sustain the Iowa Financial Literacy Program statewide, opportunities remain for other local banks, credit unions, organizations and agencies to sponsor the Iowa Financial Literacy Program at schools in their communities.
For more information on the Iowa Financial Literacy Program and local sponsorship opportunities, please contact Iowa College Aid at 877-272-4456 or visit Iowa College Aid’s website at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.
About the Iowa College Student Aid Commission
Iowa College Aid provides college access, financial literacy, and outreach services to Iowa’s students and families as they prepare, plan and pay for college. Iowa College Aid also administers state scholarship, grant, work study, and loan forgiveness programs totaling nearly $60.0 million annually, administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)program, provides borrowers with assistance to avoid the serious consequences of default, conducts research and distributes higher education data, and offers Iowans assistance in obtaining student financial aid and college-related information. Through its role, Iowa College Aid also serves as the state-designated administrator of the U.S. Department of Education’s College Access Challenge Grant, which is designed to increase the college-going culture in Iowa. Additionally, Iowa College Aid is the administrator of the Federal GEARUP Grant, a multi-year, state-wide grant which is being utilized to provide early awareness programming and outreach initiatives to thousands of Iowa’s students and families. More information is available at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.
