PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Crook County High School has launched a new Personal Finance and Investing Club designed to teach students practical money management skills. The educational initiative is supported through a partnership between Mid-Oregon Credit Union and KTVZ News to reward educators.
At the club's first meeting held during lunch, students received free pizza alongside an introduction to basic financial concepts. Organizers aim to provide every interested student with lifelong financial tools, starting by establishing bank accounts for any members who do not already have one.
Shawn Swick, a school counselor at Crook County High School, explained that the group aims to serve students at all experience levels.
“You know, pushing those kids that have a little bit of knowledge to gain more knowledge, but then also, kind of as a club, making sure that, you know, everyone who's in this club has a has a base level understanding of how finance works and compound interest and debt and all those things,” Swick said.
Later in the school year, the club plans to hold an investment competition where students trade using 100,000 simulated dollars in a virtual stock market. The group that achieves the highest investment returns will win a contest prize. KTVZ and Mid-Oregon Credit Union contributed $1,000 to purchase the award for the winning team as well as pay for other club expenses.
