State Treasurer Larry Pack today unveiled a much-anticipated redesign of the Get a Life financial education budget activity for middle school students and presented the first Get a Life Community Volunteer Award to the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.

“After almost 20 years, we are excited to breathe new life into this important program. Our redesign provides a much-needed facelift that will help re-engage students with new, fun options,” Treasurer Pack said. “I would also like to congratulate the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce for being the first recipient of our Get a Life Community Volunteer Award. The Chamber does a great job partnering with my Office, Putnam County Schools and works to encourage local business leaders to volunteer for our financial education activities.”

Treasurer Pack presented the award to Ashley Alford Glance, president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, during a Get a Life financial education activity held at the U.S. Navy Reserve Center in Red House.

“The Get a Life program plays a crucial role in helping students understand the real-life impact of financial decisions and career planning, equipping them with skills that will serve them now and in the future,” Alford Glance said. “We are incredibly grateful to be recognized for our involvement in this important initiative over the past 10 years. This work would not be possible without the dedication of our Putnam Chamber members who generously donate their time, and the strong partnership and continued commitment from Putnam County Schools.”

For almost two decades, the State Treasurer’s Office has empowered West Virginia students with personal financial education through this one-of-a-kind program. Students are given a realistic family budget and must visit various business stations and manage an expense ledger. The program teaches both basic math skills and problem-solving techniques.

Thanks to the redesign, this successful program now has a modern look with vibrant colors, coordinating images, and updated information. There are also new features such as a lucky leprechaun chance card, a spin wheel for students visiting the doctor’s office, and a rebranded “Level Up” table for students to advance their careers. A unique feature of Get a Life is the ability for students to receive higher education with certifications or advanced degrees at the “Level Up” table, then choose a higher paying job in the second round of the activity.

In addition to the updated materials, there is a new, easy-to-navigate section of the wvtreasury.gov website highlighting Get a Life and other financial education resources. Now, schools and organizations can go online to request to host a Get a Life event, and volunteers can sign up to participate.

“Financial literacy is a vital life skill. I want all West Virginia students to have the opportunity to learn how to make good financial decisions,” Treasurer Pack said.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Treasurer’s financial education staff visited more than 140 middle schools and reached more than 16,000 students. Since it was created in 2008, Get a Life has helped tens of thousands of middle school students.

For more information on Get a Life and other educational resources available through the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, visit www.WVTreasury.gov/Citizens/Financial-Education.