Vol. 1 No. 1 Financial Literacy Magazine est. 2014 Marshall Community CU is Dedicated to Financial Literacy Since 2002, Marshall Community Credit Union has been involved in their community schools and in the lives of their young members. After opening their first studentrun branch at then, Shearman Elementary School, MCCU knew how important providing youth with financial education would be. We knew that the earlier we were able to educate community youth, the more likely they would be to form good financial habits, reports Financial Education Coordinator, Andrea Tucker. As young people begin understanding how financial decisions impact their lives, they are exposed to key financial elements which aid them in making positive financial decisions, which can ultimately improve their overall future. 2013-14 Student Employees Lauren and Ashley Since that initial student-run branch opening, MCCU has opened seven more school branches, including its first high school branch in 2012, and has drastically grown its youth financial education program. Last year alone, MCCU spent over 250 hours in surrounding schools where their financial literacy programs have reached more than 2000 students. Of all their outreach efforts, the newest addition to the credit union s CU In School program, Marshall High School s Student-Run Branch (SRB), is the most unique and offers the most opportunities to the students. Marshall Community Credit Union opened its SRB location inside Marshall High School on September 14, 2012 to more than 500 students, teachers and school staff members. One aspect of the SRB that makes it unique is the inclusion of an Independent Study class. With the Independent Study class, student employees actually take and receive credit for a class as part of their employment opportunity through the SRB. The class meets every school day for one hour. Once each week the student employees spend their Independent Study class time at the SRB, which is open each Friday during lunch periods. For the student employees, the remaining class time is spent on several things including promotion and marketing creativity and implementation, financial education material, SRB related assignments and meetings with MCCU s Financial Education Coordinator and members of the Management Team. I help initiate and oversee the student employees marketing ideas, but it really is up to them to decide what they want to do, said Tucker. Through this process, student employees learn about the day to day operations, how marketing plays a role, the importance of ROI and on top of all of that, they are learning a lot about personal finance. Tucker uses many available resources including the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) and Family Economics and Financial Education (FEFE) to teach the students. From the evolution of the SRB, also came a few new youth programs at MCCU. The first was Dollar s for A s. With this program, MCCU deposits $1 into the student s savings account for every A earned on their report card. Students can earn up to $30 a year through the program! The SRB Rewards Club is also available for student members. By participating in various activities at the SRB (including conducting a transaction), students earn points, which then can be redeemed for gift cards for various amounts at local establishments. And finally, a scholarship program available to graduating high school seniors. Over the years, our involvement in the schools has continued to grow. Now that we have a high school branch, offering college scholarships only made sense, says MCCU s CEO, Heather Luciani. 2014 marked the first year for the scholarship program, and in June, MCCU granted a $1,000 scholarship to four area high school students. Marshall Community Credit Union firmly believes that financial education is their responsibility if they are to live up to the philosophies of the credit union movement. And that doesn t mean just education for their members only. In fact, much of their outreach has been to the communities they serve as a whole. They believe that through their dedication to education and community involvement, they can prepare the next generation to be more financially responsible and better manage their own money. Whether it s in a classroom setting, at a student-run branch, or even community event, MCCU is committed to increasing awareness and providing instruction and other resources to the youth of the communities they serve. 2014 College Scholarship Recipients
Vol. 1 No. 1a Financial Literacy Magazine est. 2014 MCCU s Youth Instruction Primary Evidence Evidence of the unique structure of MCCU s student-run branch is the inclusion of an Independent Study class that student employees are required to take to be a part of the program. Independent Study Class The class is a period that is dedicated to the development of the SRB as well as to provide student employees with their own dose of financial literacy. At the beginning of the year I work with the students to come up with a goals and a task outline. Each student has their own set of personal goals, but then we work together to come up with branch goals. The task outline is what they will use during their Independent Study class. This outlines what they should be working on each week, including assignments and meetings with members of our Management Team, said Tucker, MCCU Financial Education Coordinator. To keep things fresh and interesting at MCCU s high school branch, they are continually coming up with different contests that students are encouraged to be involved in. Contests In 2012, after it s initial opening, the MCCU SRB needed help coming up with a logo. We knew we didn t want to use the same logo we were currently using for our school program, CU In School, stated Tucker. After discussing options with our student employees, we decided to leave the design up to the students, Tucker continued. That s where the MCCU Student-Run Branch Logo Contest started. Any interested high school student could submit a 2-3 color design for entry. Three winners were chosen, first place, whose logo would become the new SRB logo the following school year, won a $100 Visa gift card. The second place winner walked away with a $75 Visa gift card, and third place took home $25. Logo contest winner and her design Other contests that the MCCU SRB has held include a Facebook contest where students were encouraged to share what they spent their money on via the social media site on MCCU s page. As well as transactional contests for both students and teachers. The more transactions one did at the SRB, the more entries their earned into the drawing for a various things including cash, gas cards, electronics and more. One teacher promotion ended with an art teacher winning a Disney gift card In 2014, nearly two years after opening their first high school branch, MCCU decided it was time to offer some sort of scholarship program. Scholarships If we are going to have a credit union branch inside a local high school, we knew it was time to also start offering college scholarships, stated Luciani, MCCU CEO. So, in the first quarter of 2014, the first annual MCCU scholarship program began. Applicants had to complete a basic application which included two non-family references, a high school transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, coach or leader. Also, applicants had to submit a written essay where they answered two questions; what was your first experience with money and what did you do with your wages? And think of one financial lesson you wish you would have learned in high school, but didn t. What would it be and why? We received some great applications and honest responses to our essay questions, said Tucker. Including, how to complete a loan application, how to fill out a tax form, why saving money before graduation is so important and what credit is all about and why it is so important, she continued. In June, four applicants were chosen to each received a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice. Later that month, MCCU invited the recipients and their families in for a reception with MCCU Board of Directors and members of the Management Team. Students were presented with certificates and a light luncheon followed. My kids have been a part of MCCU s CU In School program for many years, and now one of them is receiving a college scholarship from them. It s amazing! We truly appreciate all that MCCU has done and continues to do with our area students and schools, said Lisa Veich, scholarship recipient, Chandler s, mother. 2014 scholarship recipients with MCCU s CEO and Financial Education Coordinator
Vol. 1 No. 2 Financial Literacy Magazine est. 2014 Bringing Awareness to Financial Literacy Efforts Marshall Community Credit Union is actively involved in many programs and events that make it possible to share their financial knowledge. From their eight in-school branch locations to public community events that they participate in, it all helps MCCU bring awareness to the need for more financial education for youth and what they are doing to help. Area communities are aware of Marshall Community Credit Union s financial literacy programs. But how you ask? Through a variety of sources, including local press and media, credit union outlets and of course through the schools they partner with. Press and Local Media Local newspapers are great resources to help spread the word about the teaching of financial literacy and education to area youth that credit unions do every day. For every school donation, teacher sponsorship, youth event and even financial savings awards given, MCCU makes sure those good things are shared in local papers. The papers include two area newspapers, as well as two Chamber newsletters and the MCUL Monitor. If you are doing great things, why not share it with others? states Andrea Tucker, MCCU s Financial Education Coordinator. Students showing off their Keep Calm & Save On shirts One example includes a press release recognizing the efforts of students who not only set a financial goal at the beginning of the school year, but that also met that goal by the end of the year. Each school year we have lots students sign up for our Savings Goal program. With this program, we help students set financial savings goals. We track their savings deposits throughout the year, keep them updated on how they are doing and help guide them along the way. At the end of the year, we recognize those students who actually met their goal with a certificate of achievement, a Keep Calm & Save On t-shirt, as well as a nice article about them in the local paper, says Tucker. It s a great way to spread awareness of our programs to the general public, but it s also a tool that we use to get parent s attention as well. When they see their own kids, or other kids that they may know in the paper, they pay attention, continued Tucker. Credit Union Outlets Another way MCCU raises awareness is through their own outlets; including a quarterly newsletter for members, lobby posters and displays and a part of their website that is dedicated to their youth programs and the financial literacy work that they do. As well as electronic forms of awareness through their Facebook and Twitter pages and email blasts. Each credit union newsletter includes a youth section where members can see what s going on at the school branches, upcoming youth events and more. During National Credit Union Youth Week, MCCU celebrates youth all month long, starting with the Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge. For the past several years, MCCU has participated in the FLLC. This year, MCCU was paired up with Senator Mike Noffs and planned a presentation using the MoneyMatters Thumball. By using the Thumball, MCCU and Noffs were able to cover a wide variety of financial topics all while keeping the students interest and attention in a fun and interactive way. Youth Week at MCCU always ends with a Kids Day event. In 2014, MCCU held a bowling party for its youth members, which included free bowling, shoe rental, giveaways and drawings for items such as an ipod shuffle, movie theatre tickets, bowling passes and even Visa gift cards. The credit union s website is another great resource for education material and awareness of its youth programs. Parents are directed to the Youth Products and Services section of the website where they can find a calendar of events, past youth newsletters, more information on each youth program and specific credit union products geared toward youth. Students are encouraged to visit the website to get various applications related to the school branches (volunteer applications, account applications, Savings Goal applications, etc.) as well as to check out photos from previous youth events, scholarship and even youth loan information. Teachers are also directed to this section of MCCU s website where they can learn more about the financial presentations offered by the credit union as well as tours that are available and even information on receiving a credit union mini-grant. School Partnerships Through the relationships that MCCU has with area schools, they are allowed to participate in school events and talk to parents, students and community members about the importance of financial literacy. They attend each schools registration day in August. At registration, where both parents and students attend, they have the opportunity to educate everyone about why there is a credit union in the school and about the financial education MCCU provides in the classroom. MCCU also attends school carnivals, parent-teacher conferences, a back-to -school welcome breakfast for school faculty, and more! Annual events, however, are not enough. In order to reinforce their message, MCCU publishes monthly newsletters for all eight of their in-school branches. These newsletters go out to all the students at each school and include a mixture of fun topics, some interactive activities and, of course, financial literacy topics. MCCU also has their own bulletin board at each school where they create displays on various financial matters, including the life of a check, how a debit card works, the pros and cons of credit cards, understanding a paycheck and more! It s just one more way MCCU spreads their financial knowledge to youth in their communities.
Vol. 1 No. 2a Financial Literacy Magazine est. 2014 Marshall Community CU s Primary Evidence of Bringing Awareness to Financial Literacy Press Releases With every community event, school sponsored program, youth event and all things related to the CU In School program, Marshall Community Credit Union writes and submits a press release. A press release is a relatively inexpensive way to gain visibility and to share good news with people in area communities. We write and submit at least four press releases a month, said Tucker, MCCU s Financial Education Coordinator. And nine times out of ten, our school and youth related articles get put in. Everyone likes seeing local kids in the paper and when they can tie that local student to a great program, like MCCU s CU In School program, it s even better. the site and learn more about credit union products and services that are just for them, access in-school branche information and newsletters, as well as learn more about the youth programs that MCCU has to offer. This includes their annual participation in CUNA s National Credit Union Youth Week. Each year MCCU hold s month long savings challenges, piggy bank decorating contests and more for its youth members. For the past two years, they have also held a Millionaire for a Day contest, where one lucky saver is treated like a millionaire for one day. Not only do they get a deposit for $1,000,000 into their savings account, where they get to keep the interest earned on the money over a 24 hour period, but also get picked up from school in a limousine and get taken to dinner, courtesy of MCCU. Partnership for Education MCCU has partnerships with eight area schools. With this partnership, MCCU is able to not only teach money management, but also financial literacy and monetarily assist schools, teachers and parent council groups as well. Besides each in-school branch, MCCU also has a bulletin board at each school where they are able to share financial literacy ideas, concepts and more with students, school staff and parents. Credit union staff members also attend each schools registration and open house at the beginning of the year, periodic parent-teacher conferences, school carnivals, sporting events and even faculty meetings to bring even more awareness to their financial education efforts. A display for a school open house MCCU donates to Gordon School s G3 program In the last year, 26 of the nearly 50 press releases sent were youth related. Ranging from topics including MCCU s participation in Junior Achievement, the Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge, donations to schools, teachers and PCO s, CU In School award winners, scholarship announcements and more! Credit Union Outlets Marshall Community Credit Union also utilizes it s own outlets to bring awareness to their financial literacy efforts. A section of their website (marshallcommunitycu.com) is dedicated to youth. Youth members can visit 2014 Millionaire for a Day winner and her family In addition to Youth Week, MCCU also participates in the Michigan Credit Union Leagues annual Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge and the Federal Reserves annual Money Smart Week, both of which bring the credit union and communities together, but also puts the importance of financial education in the forefront. New in 2014, was the introduction of MCCU s Mini-Grant program. The minigrant program allows teachers to submit grant requests up to $2,000. In the last six months, MCCU has granted over $4,500 to area school teachers for educational programs, class trips and more. MCCU grants a teachers request for the purchase of an ipad mini for their classroom
Vol. 1 No. 3 Financial Literacy Magazine est. 2014 Collaboration is Key! For Marshall Community Credit Union, collaboration really begins with its employees. The importance of educating all of their members is instilled in each and every employee. With a full-time Financial Education Coordinator, part-time Youth Representatives, Student Employees and knowledgeable staff, MCCU as a whole continues to develop and nurture new, substantial relationships to increase youth financial literacy. union employees to volunteer in their classroom year after year, said Andrea Tucker, Financial Education Coordinator. In December of 2013, MCCU participated in the JA Titan Challenge. This was the first year they participated in the high school business competition. The program allowed MCCU to increase the depth of financial education to a variety of area schools. presentations on almost any topic a teacher can think of. Last year, a fourth grade teacher approached me looking for some supplemental material for her lesson on economics. Of course I was willing to help and together we were able to come up with an interactive lesson using PlayDoh. The kids loved it! Tucker explained. During the 2013-2014 school year, Tucker presented to a total of 30 classrooms at 9 different schools. If we are going to be successful in combating financial literacy, we must work together, says Heather Luciani, MCCU s CEO. To that end, the credit union partners with many different organizations in a variety of different ways. 2014 JA Titan Challenge Winners - Comstock High School Junior Achievement Junior Achievement is an educational program that MCCU not only contributes to financially, but also supports by encouraging its employees to teach some of the JA classes during the work day. In the last two years, MCCU was able to coordinate several volunteer employees with their local teachers to provide instruction to over 400 students. MCCU has found that the relationship created between its employees and the teachers has been a win-win situation. We often get teachers asking for the same credit Banzai The beginning of the 2013-2014 school year marked the start of a new partnership for MCCU, a partnership with the people at Banzai. Banzai is a national award winning financial literacy program. It is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget but it s not always easy. Students must learn to manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings and more. In one year, MCCU has been able to reach 13 high school classrooms and over 500 students with Banzai. Financial Presentations MCCU s Financial Education Coordinator, Andrea Tucker, works closely with area schools and their teachers to provide classroom financial presentations in grades K-12. MCCU offers over 30 presentations on a variety of topics that are all grade and age appropriate and that also meet Michigan Standards and Benchmark requirements. However, Tucker will also custom create By participating in MCCU s financial presentations, teachers have a chance to win a tote full of school supplies In addition to these organizations, MCCU also collaborates with the Michigan Credit Union League (Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge), CUNA (National Credit Union Youth Week) and the Federal Reserve (Money Smart Week) to help increase the positive impact their programs have on local youth. With these collaborations and partnerships, MCCU has really been able to set themselves apart and provide a variety of opportunities to reach out to young people and educators about the importance of instilling life skills by providing important financial literacy tools. Goodies available during Money Smart Week - 2014
Vol. 1 No. 3a Financial Literacy Magazine Marshall Community CU Collaboration Primary Evidence Marshall Community Credit Union knows that in order for financial education to be successful, you can t do it alone. Collaboration is key! We work with many local and national organizations to provide financial education to the youth in our communities, said Luciani, MCCU s CEO. One of those local organizations is Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan. Several MCCU employees teach JA lessons to area students each year. This past school year, five employees volunteered their time at local schools, in classrooms from elementary all the way up to high school. MCCU s Financial Education Coordinator, Andrea Tucker, even sat on the JA Titan Committee in 2013. We ve sponsored Titan teams in the past, but this was the first year we were ever able to actually participate, said Tucker. It was so much fun to work with all of the students and their teachers. And being on the committee gave me a chance to network and get to know volunteers from other area businesses as well, she continued. Several MCCU JA volunteers are repeat volunteers and are often asked back year after year by teachers. It s a great feeling knowing that both the students and the teachers enjoy having you in their classroom, stated MCCU JA volunteer, Becky DeFabio. And it s fun when students come into the credit union and recognize you. They really get a kick out of that! she continued. also works with Banzai, a online financial literacy program geared toward middle school and high school students. With MCCU s help, teachers are able to get free materials to teach their students financial education. Not only do we offer the materials for free, and the students are learning all about the importance of saving, interest, and how to balance a monthly statement, but we also give the students something in return, noted Tucker. Once a student completes the Banzai course, they are presented with a certificate from us. If they bring that certificate in, we ll deposit $10 into their account, she continued. Two thousand thirteen marked the first year of the Banzai program at MCCU, but it didn t take long for it to catch on. So far, 13 teachers have taken advantage of the offer. I ve used the program twice now since the beginning of the school year, said Marshall High School teacher, Shelly Densmore. MCCU will never know how much this means to me. I would have never been able to afford the material on my own. It is greatly appreciated, Densmore continued. Marshall Community CU also has over 30 of their own financial presentations that are offered for free to area teachers, scout troops and anyone else interested in learning more about a variety of financial topics. We recently helped a local Daisy Girl Scout troop earn a financial literacy petal by talking to them about the importance of saving, spending and sharing their money, said Tucker. And not long after that, a Boy Scout troop was interested in learning more about how a credit union worked, so they came in for a tour and presentation on their difference between banks and credit unions. Another partnership that Marshall Community CU has is with their local library. The two often partner for educational seminars and events for both young people and adults. One of the programs that the library and MCCU partnered together on was an arts apprenticeship program for area middle school students. Participants spent time after school learning about different art techniques including painting, drawing, clay work, etc. At the end of the program, MCCU purchased several pieces of student artwork to display in their lobby. The credit union is now working with a local gallery to seasonally change out the outwork and give more students a chance to display their pieces. With the help and collaboration of other businesses and organizations, MCCU has been able to widen their educational range and are able to reach even more young people. We can t do it alone, Tucker said, and working with other great organizations that have the same hopes and ideals that we have makes it all possible, she concluded. In addition to Junior Achievement, MCCU Community youth at a recent library event