CSB’s Student Financial Literacy Program IN its 12th year
PADDOCK LAKE — A financial literacy program that’s impacted over 10,000 area students celebrated a day like never before on Friday (April 11).
Eighty volunteers helped 340 Westosha Central High School students meet graduation requirements and develop sound money skills.
Westosha Central students are required to take a personal finance class and participate in the My Local Interactive Financial Education (MyLIFE) simulation. The program was created by Community State Bank in 2013.
It was a record turnout in terms of volunteers and students.
“MyLife would not happen without Community State Bank,” said Julie Eckhart, head of the Westosha Central business and marketing department. “I want to thank all of the volunteers because again without the volunteers this event would not happen as well.”
Every Wisconsin high school student — starting with the class of 2028 and beyond — is required to take a standalone personal finance class for graduation.
Westosha Central has required it since 2015.
“It’s extremely important for the students because they don’t know what things cost and they don’t know how to budget,” Eckhart said. “There’s so much thrown at them as far as credit cards and loans.
“They are understanding how much they’re paying on a monthly basis and how to save for emergencies and retirement. I wish I had this when I was in school.”
Students chose a profession and family before entering the real world, station to station, to meet with local experts in housing, automotive, insurance, investments and more.
“Julie and the team at Central along with CSB did a good job of pulling more volunteers than than they’ve ever had,” Community State Bank Senior VP Neil Buchanan said. “And it still created the atmosphere to have those good conversations with the students without having to rush. It was a great day.”
For more information on the CSB MyLife program, visit CSB.bank.