Beta Alpha Psi and PwC teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club in the spring of 2016 to teach a Financial Literacy curriculum to interested high school students. The curriculum covered topics such as how to save for college, the importance of budgeting, and fraud prevention. The high school students had the opportunity to travel to Boise State University campus and take a tour of the College of Business and Economics before class sessions began. A large majority of the officers and members took on roles as instructors, organizers, and classroom supporters. The entire classroom was lively with conversation about pertinent topics that students, who are about to enter the world, are seldom exposed to in an academic setting. There were several factors that contributed to the success of this service activity.
First, the turnout for volunteers was high. BAP members took the issue of educating young people about their finances to heart and showed up ready to impart knowledge. Nick Duncan, an accountancy major and a player on the Boise State Men’s Basketball team, attended the event. He spoke to the students about the importance of hard work and life-focus and how it translates into success. The students did not need to be told how critical it was for them to gain an understanding of money, how to utilize it properly, and how to track its flow. This natural grasp on the importance of personal finances easily captured the attention of the students.
The BAP members were encouraged to learn their curriculum thoroughly and supplement or change sections that needed to be modified for the benefit of this particular group of students. Some instructors decided to add short games, prize candy, and props to bolster the topics. The curriculum used was provided directly by PwC, complete with pre-tests, post-tests, and various hand-outs. PwC was present for both the rehearsal day and the classroom day to provide support, and oversee the progress and execution of the event
One specific highlight of the event was when the students were asked to write a short essay describing an important life goal they would like to achieve and what kind of concrete steps they will need to take in order to achieve it. This open-ended activity allowed the students to explore their expectations for the future, and what kind of work they may need to perform over time to arrive at their goal. Various prizes were handed out throughout the evening for this and other activities. Prizes included a new backpack and one of Nick Duncan’s basketball jerseys. When asked about the event, BAP members say that it was a fulfilling experience to be able to make a difference in young lives before they leave home and take on the world after high school.
This installment of the Financial Literacy Program was such a success that BAP was invited by the Department of Early and Special Education at Boise State University to teach the program to students from the Prep Academy Special Education Program over three consecutive summers, beginning this past 2016 summer. The Financial Literacy class will be part of a week-long college demonstration where the high school students are housed on campus and attend various lessons. The aim is to get them excited to continue their education after high school. BAP is honored to be involved with educating young students and continuing to strengthen its ties with the Boise community.