Financial Literacy Week At SPHS: “Money Grows On Skills, Not Trees!”

During Financial Literacy Week, March 10-14, Severna Park High School (SPHS) engaged students in a series of informative events to promote financial literacy. Sponsored by the Signature Program: Business, Innovation & Leadership in collaboration with the school’s Integrated Community Stakeholders Team (ICST), the week was packed with activities designed to give students the tools they need to make informed financial decisions.

The week kicked off with a trivia contest, where classes competed in a live event and brought their answers to the office for a random drawing. Laura Greenlee and Brigid Harrington’s advisory classes were the lucky winners.

On Tuesday, a panel discussion featured industry experts including James Henson Jr., owner of Henson & Associates; Joanna Kouvaras, certified public accountant and tax consultant; and Ryan Thompson, senior wealth advisor at Wilmington Trust. The panel covered budgeting, taxes and investing. Throughout the week, follow-up sessions offered students hands-on, activity-based learning, including practical lessons like filling out a W4 form.

Thursday’s session on investing with Thompson was heavily attended with 24 “Financial Falcons” there to learn about how to invest and grow their money. Ragnhild Erdely’s Algebraic Apps classes also gained valuable insights from guest lessons, including Matt Wyble’s session on “Building Credit from Scratch” and M&T Bank’s overview of “Banking Basics.”

On Wednesday evening, the community was invited to attend Financial Family Night, which covered college costs, trade certifications, and military options. The Signature Program partnered with AVID, and together, students developed informational trifolds linking finance and business majors to the colleges and universities that offer them, as well as the career opportunities associated with those degrees and certifications. The week concluded with lunchtime trivia on Friday, hosted by Henson, as students answered questions about dollar bills to win prizes. A total of 569 students took part in the week’s activities, making it a resounding success.

Severna Park High School Signature Site Facilitator Annie Houghton called Financial Literacy Week a great week for volunteers and students.

“Teaching financial literacy is so important,” Houghton said. “When high school students are financially literate, they have the essential foundation for a smart relationship with money. It’s important to start early as it can help start a lifelong journey of learning about the financial aspects of life. The earlier you start to become financially literate, the better off you’ll be because education is the key to a successful financial future.

“Through these activities, students gained valuable knowledge that will set them on a path toward financial success.”