As the fall semester was wrapping up in schools across Henderson County, Rugby Middle School invited Chris Angel and Tara Garrett of Mountain Credit union to speak with their eighth grade class about financial education. A wide range of topics were introduced to the 80 students of Mrs. Millicent Sinclair’s marketing class, including how to write a check, balancing a transaction register, and how to protect their information against identity theft.
To break the ice the class was polled on how many of them knew what the recession was, how it had affected their families, and if they were involved in discussing their families finances. It was discovered that most students were only vaguely aware of the current economic climate but they knew it was affecting them somehow. At that time the importance of setting aside an emergency savings fund and effective budgeting was discussed.
Mountain Credit Union also provided samples of rate sheets and explained how to shop for financial services by comparing fees and services much like you would shop for any other significant purchase. Students were then engaged in a question and answer session. Questions ranged from how to enter the financial services industry to how ATM’s work.
“The students seemed genuinely interested in the subject and Mountain Credit Union is pleased to have established this relationship with Rugby Middle,” said Chris Angel, who is Mountain Credit Union’s Branch Manager in Fletcher, NC. “It is our hope to continue to expand our efforts and provide a fun and informative program to students who might otherwise have very little exposure to financial education.”