On Tuesday, October 29, dozens of people interested in financial-education joined us at the inaugural MCEE Before The Bell Breakfast. Taking place at SECU’s offices in Linthicum, Before the Bell featured national, state, and local speakers who explored the current state and future of financial education for children in Maryland. The inspiring event reminded us that there is more to do to ensure that more Maryland students access the financial education they so deeply need, and that there is strong community support for in-school experiences.

Ritta McLaughlin, Director, Investor Education Community Outreach, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s recent research on Gen Z’s attitudes and behaviors around investing. The findings suggest that many in Gen Z begin investing before the age of 18, that there is a  correlation between their investing and gambling habits, and that small-amount or cryptocurrency investing is becoming increasingly popular. 

Rory Murray, Principal at Providence Strategies, summarized outcomes from the recent Maryland General Assembly session and discussed the structural deficit the state is facing in the coming years. He noted that while the Moore-Miller administration has prioritized equity and ending child poverty, there is not yet consensus between the administration, the General Assembly, and MSDE about expanding financial education for youth. He suggested that community members advocate with their county boards of education for expanded access to financial education in all grade levels.

Oorja Minot, Richard Montgomery High School Student (Montgomery County) and COO of Innovate-X,  spoke via video about financial education in Montgomery County. She noted that there is currently no requirement, and that course availability is inconsistent. Innovate-X is a youth-led organization empowering students through financial literacy, leading students to advocate to change the lack of this learning by promoting the importance of school-based financial education. Oorja encouraged the business community to engage with the MCPS Board of Education to support financial education opportunities.

Before the Bell was presented by MCEE in partnership with SECU. Keep an eye out for next year’s event!

Great news for teachers considering inviting students to participate in the MCEE Poster Contest - for which registration is now open! 

MCEE is excited to announce that the winners of this year’s Poster Contest will have their creative entries displayed during the entire month of April (Financial Education Month) in the lobby of the Louis Goldstein Treasury Building in Annapolis - home to the Comptroller’s Office and State Treasurer’s Office! This honor is a wonderful addition to an already educationally engaging experience for students, infusing financial learning with creativity. 

In addition to the display, winners, their teachers, and families will be invited to a reception on March 27 at the Treasury Building to unveil the display, honor students’ achievements, and meet elected officials and legislators. All are welcome, and the display will be open to the public all month long. 

Teachers, learn more about getting your students involved in creating original posters that demonstrate their knowledge of personal finance and economics concepts by clicking here. Posters are due on March 1!

When it comes to teaching and learning personal finance and economics with young people, conversations are crucial. They give space to ask questions, explore ideas, and make connections to important concepts. In an ideal learning journey, MCEE’s work with teachers and students in classrooms is only part of the process. Supplementing MCEE’s engaging programs with conversations at home is a fantastic way to learn more, explore more, and understand more about personal finance and economics.

This month, MCEE Executive Director Julie Weaver shared tips in two family-oriented magazines for how families can turn everyday activities - in and out of the holiday season - into teachable moments, such as meal planning, shopping for gifts or encouraging entrepreneurship.

Read Julie’s article, from the recent issues of Frederick’s Child and Baltimore’s Child here.

When asked about the Mid-Atlantic Security Traders Association’s (MASTA) support of MCEE, MASTA Foundation President Stan Craig puts it simply and powerfully: “We share the same mission. MCEE enhances the financial literacy of children across Maryland. It’s exactly the kind of work we do as a Foundation.” 

That alignment has created an impactful, decade-long partnership that has helped thousands of students and educators access personal finance and economic learning experiences that will help them in life. 

MASTA’s support can be seen in two of MCEE’s most important initiatives: the Stock Market Game - the popular simulation challenging students to manage a stock portfolio, and teacher professional development - immersive, collaborative workshops and sessions that help educators improve. 

For Stan, the choice to support the Stock Market Game includes a personal connection. “I participated in the Stock Market Game in 5th grade, and both of my children have participated,” he explains. “I fondly remember the experience; it opened my eyes to trading, investing, and how to research companies. It set the foundation for what I do now. And my youngest is now exploring degrees and careers in finance.”

MASTA is committed to helping more schools and students access the Stock Market Game experience. “It’s a joy to support students in less affluent schools so they can access this program,” said Stan. “We’re happy to provide opportunities to overcome barriers to this important initiative.”

That kind of barrier-breaking commitment extends to MASTA’s own activities, including a scholarship program for area high schoolers seeking to go to college for degrees in finance, and for those who have participated in the Stock Market Game. 

MASTA’s partnership with MCEE helps educators access learning experiences to improve their classroom teaching. Every year, the association sponsors a trip by Maryland educators to the National Conference of the Council on Economic Education. This past year, teachers from five counties joined us for two days of collaborative workshops and meaningful learning. 

“Life does not revolve around money; but money provides access to opportunities,” says Stan. “Being financially responsible and investing for the future and retirement is one of the most important things you can teach children. As financial professionals, we’re able to offer children this guidance. And by supporting MCEE, we’re helping make sure students across the state, no matter their circumstances, can access this learning as well.” 

A huge thank you to the MASTA Foundation for its ongoing support!

AACPS

August 28, 2024

When it comes to writing about investments, students – and, perhaps, adults – could learn a lot from Arnold Elementary School fifth-grader Johan Zacharia.

Johan’s essay was named national champion out of 959 entries in the elementary school division of the national InvestWrite essay competition, the culminating activity to the Stock Market Game^™ program utilized in schools across the United States and organized locally by the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE). Johan’s work detailed what he learned from his experience in the Stock Market Game^™, discussed which investment in his portfolio performed the best, and provided a recommendation on a future hypothetical investment.

“I feel proud to have won the InvestWrite award,” Johan said. “I learned a lot and hope to use what I learned in the future.”

Johan wrote that while his involvement in the Stock Market Game^™ was challenging, he learned tactics and strategies that paid off in the end.

“My portfolio performed well because I have a mix of food, entertainment, and drinks,” Johan wrote in his essay. “I have Costco because people buy groceries every day. I have Disney, Netflix, and Spotify because people watch movies and listen to music. I purchased Pepsi because it is a beverage company and has a good market share of popular snack food.”

Spotify sparked a particular interest for Johan in February, when the Kansas City Chiefs were playing the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

“My team predicted after the Super Bowl many people would listen to Taylor Swift,” Johan wrote. “So we bought Spotify.”

For winning the competition, Johan will receive a new laptop computer, a camera, and a $50 cash prize. Teacher Amy Phillips will receive a $750 award and the school will get a trophy to display as well as funds for a student celebration during the school year.

In Maryland, the Stock Market Game^™ and InvestWrite programs are managed by MCEE, a nonprofit organization based at Towson University that is focused on supporting instruction of personal finance and economics in all grade levels and content areas. MCEE provides professional development opportunities for educators, classroom resources, and classroom-based student learning engagement programs. MCEE partners with the Sifma Foundation to deliver the Stock Market Game^™.

Read Johan's winning essay here.

As we close out our 70th anniversary year, we are thrilled to unveil a brand new identity:

Our new logo exemplifies our mission-driven purpose and our proven impact in preparing Maryland students to graduate high school with the financial knowledge they need to make thoughtful, rational decisions as they pursue their dreams and shape their futures.

The upward arrow in our new logo is a recognizable image for financial growth. It serves as a fitting symbol for the personal and financial success that comes from understanding and applying financial and economic concepts. The box around our acronym is a metaphor for the structure that financial education provides in that positive trajectory by lifting students, families, and communities. It also symbolizes the supportive spaces where MCEE guides students towards opportunity through its programs: schools, homes and communities.

The culmination of our 70th anniversary year celebration feels like the perfect time to enhance our identity with a mark that represents what we do, why we do it, and where we’re headed. We’re so thankful for the ongoing partnership and support we receive - in the past and in anticipation of our future! 

MCEE Welcomes Two New Board Members 

The Maryland Council on Economic Education has elected two new members to its Board of Directors - Dan Ellerman and Don Walsh. 

Don Walsh is a Partner at RKW Law Group, where he helps businesses of all sizes navigate complex transactions, litigation, mergers and more. Don brings a thoughtful perspective and proven leadership to MCEE through his 30+ years of experience working with financial and legal issues.  

Dan Ellerman is Global Head of DEI at W. R. Grace, leading efforts to elevate equitable practices and ensure diversity throughout the multinational company. In addition to his decade-long experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dan has passion for education, including serving as an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College. 

Said Julie Weaver, MCEE Executive Director, “MCEE is successful thanks to the support of experts, leaders, educators and supporters who share our understanding of the power of personal finance and economics education. Don and Dan will expand our impact, improve our practices, and allow us to work with more educators and students in Maryland.”

Welcome, Dan and Don!  

More than 100 elementary, middle and high school students from 55 schools across Maryland have won the statewide personal finance and economics competitions coordinated by the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE). The winners were honored on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at an awards ceremony at Towson University.

The competitions, described below, provide a fun, competitive atmosphere for learning personal finance and economics - topics often not taught in schools. More than 20,000 students from 20 Maryland counties participated in MCEE’s competitions this school year - the highest student participation in MCEE’s annual programs in more than 13 years.

Highlights of the awards are a team from Severn School in Anne Arundel County winning the Personal Finance Challenge National Championship, two teams from Mount Hebron High School in Howard County winning the Economic Challenge National Championships, and a Howard County student earning 5th place in the national Investwrite essay competition.

Awards were presented to winners in:

• Stock Market Game™ (SMG): A semester- or year-long simulation challenging teams to create and manage an imaginary $100,000 portfolio to build the highest return on investment. Participants learn about the stock market, and the American and global economy while developing skills in math, reading, research and critical thinking. 

• InvestWrite Essay Competition: A national writing competition that reinforces the economic & financial education concepts students learned by participating in the Stock Market Game™. 

• Maryland Personal Finance Challenge: An academic competition where high school teams learn and demonstrate knowledge and application of personal finance concepts featuring case studies and quiz rounds. The Challenge is sponsored by M&T, WesBanco, State Farm, Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union, First Financial Federal Credit Union, and Towson University. 

• The Maryland Economics Challenge: A one-day event in which teams of high school students exhibit their knowledge of micro and macroeconomic principles and the world economy. 

• Personal Finance Poster Competition: Students demonstrate their understanding of economic concepts through original art. 

• Financial Education Poetry Contest: This celebration of Financial Education month invited students and educators to create original poems about personal finance topics. 

These competitions are coordinated by the Maryland Council on Economic Education, the nonprofit that helps Maryland's children graduate high school with the economic and financial knowledge and decision-making skills they need to succeed as adults. MCEE also works with educators by coordinating professional development experiences and creating lesson plans that incorporate financial education into any subject and for all grades. MCEE supports more than 2,000 teachers each year who reach over 228,000 Maryland students.

Said Julie Weaver, MCEE Executive Director, “The winning students from these statewide competitions should be proud of these wonderful accomplishments. They have creatively shown their understanding of personal finance and economics concepts and demonstrate how important this kind of learning is for all children.”

Click here for the full list of winners.

 WesBanco Mission Aligns with MCEE

When a company is committed to making the communities they serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive, AND their employees directly participate in financial education programs, Maryland students - and MCEE - benefit.

That type of meaningful partnership is best exemplified by WesBanco’s participation with the Maryland Council on Economics Education.

Not only is the financial services provider a long-time financial supporter of MCEE, but members of the bank’s leadership team contribute their expertise and guidance to students in MCEE-coordinated activities. This Spring, for example, WesBanco Vice President and Commercial Banker Sue Sollers and Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Officer Sammy Pulliam volunteered to assist students competing in the final round of  the Maryland Personal Finance Challenge, where they evaluated the presentations created and delivered by six student teams to address a fictional family financial scenario.

“Our partnership with MCEE is a natural fit for WesBanco,” says Amy Grutzner, Vice President and Commercial Banker and an MCEE board member. “We’re committed to empowering people to make informed decisions at every stage of their financial journey. That perfectly aligns with MCEE’s mission to equip Maryland youth with the financial knowledge and skills they need to be successful throughout their lives. Supporting MCEE allows us to extend our commitment to the youth in the communities we serve. “

To learn more about WesBanco’s commitment to the communities it serves, visit https://www.wesbanco.com/sustainability/communities/. 

Our 2024 Student Achievement Awards event will be streaming live on May 15, 2024 from noon to 1:30pm. Connect with your digital device to join in the celebration of the students and educators who have excelled in our programs this year. Students from across Maryland will take the stage to share their stories of how important financial education is in their lives.  Click here to join!