Hickam FCU Sponsors Award-Winning Financial Literacy Program for Local Classrooms
Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money.
Originally posted on hcul.org
Hickam Federal Credit Union partnered with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program, to make the curriculum available at schools in certain West Oahu communities completely free.
“Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life,” Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said. “Because Hickam Federal Credit Union is sponsoring the program, local schools get it for free. More than ever, it’s important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world. Hickam Federal Credit Union realizes this and is doing something about it.”
Banzai is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed Hickam FCU sponsors award-winning financial literacy program for local classrooms Lauren Schultz, 7th grade math teacher at Kapolei Middle School (right) receives Banzai Financial Literacy kits from Hickam FCU Mililani Branch Manager Kerry Lynn Vea. workbooks, which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. In 2010, the Institute for Financial Literacy awarded Banzai the Curriculum of the Year award. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 5,000 schools in all 50 states.
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 program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings, and more.
Teachers interested in using the Banzai program can visit teachbanzai.com or call 888-8-BANZAI.