Financial Literacy
Wood County United Way Financial Stability Coalition – Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl
Connexus Association has made several grants to The (Wood County United Way) Financial Stability Coalition to support their efforts to bring the Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl (FICB) to Wisconsin Rapids in spring 2020, 2021, and 2022. The FICB is a financial literacy study program for high school students which is coordinated by Asset Builders, "a Wisconsin nonprofit organization with a mission of promoting financial education and wealth building strategies to enhance the quality of life of low-income youth, families and communities”. (www.assetbuilders.org). The Bowl features student teams (up to 4 members and an alternate) who participate in a quiz show type competition with questions that tests their knowledge about personal finance, business, economics and current events. All FICB teams are led by adult coaches who help students study and prepare, as a classroom or an after school activity. Students study financial education topics from budgeting to investing skills with the hope that they will learn how to break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck and become financially independent. Teams that finish 1st and 2nd place from each region earn the right to advance to the state championship tournament.
National Institute of Financial and Economic Literacy
The Connexus Association is proud to support the National Institute of Financial and Economic Literacy (NIFEL) and their quest to expand opportunities through financial education. Each year NIFEL holds numerous summer sessions on the campus of Edgewood College in Madison, WI geared towards dramatically increasing effectiveness in educating students and building confidence in the teaching of a wide array of financial topics.
2018 was the fifth year that the Connexus Association offers scholarships to local educators looking to further their knowledge of financial literacy. If you or someone you know would like to be considered for a scholarship to attend this event please contact us.
For more information on this highly beneficial program please view the brochure at: www.edgewood.edu
Adult Financial Literacy Education Workshops
With the support of Connexus Association, Northcentral Technical College launched an Adult Financial Literacy Education Initiative. The funds will be utilized by the project to offer five workshops to current students and alumni.
The first workshop, held in April 2016, was titled "Impact of Your Credit Score" and covered Employment and Advancement opportunities, Security Clearance, Credit & Your Wallet, It’s Not in Your FICO Score!, and How to Improve Your Credit Score.
The second workshop, held in May of 2016, was titled "Be a Smart Borrower" and covered The workings of tuition and financial aid, Calculate your post- college payments now!, Resources to help with student loan payments, Why should I apply for scholarships?, and How can I graduate in 2 years or less?
The third workshop, held in fall of 2016, was a repeat of "Be a Smart Borrower" as a result of feedback indicating this was a desired topic.
The fourth workshop, held in fall of 2016, was titled "What Budget is Right for You?" and was geared toward first year college students to learn strategies to set financial goals and how to determine wants versus needs.
The fifth workshop, held in fall of 2016, was a repeat of "Impact of Your Credit Score".