State Treasurer Larry Pack on Thursday, February 26 presented two Get a Life Community Volunteer Awards to the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia University (WVU) Finance and Investment Club and Mountaineers on Wall Street.

“My Office is proud to present two Community Volunteer Awards to the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and WVU Finance Clubs,” Treasurer Pack said. “Financial literacy is a vital life skill, and I want all West Virginia students to have the opportunity to learn how to make good financial decisions. We applaud the Chamber’s work to encourage local business leaders to help our students learn how to start budgeting. It’s also inspiring to see college students step up and volunteer to help younger students succeed in life.”

During separate events Thursday, Treasurer Pack presented the first award to Kathy Wagner, President of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce.

“On behalf of our many Chamber volunteers, we greatly appreciate this recognition,” Wagner said. “It is an honor to serve our students and bring “real-world” budgeting skills to them. We are always amazed about how students react to the costs involved in maintaining a household. The Chamber recognizes the students of today are the workforce of tomorrow. We hope this program continues to enlighten students and helps guide them on a path to a strong financial future.”

The second award was presented to Ann Marie Hibbert, Professor and Chair, Department of Finance and Director, Center for Financial Literacy and Education in the John Chambers College of Business at WVU.

“It is an honor to see our students recognized for their work with the Get a Life program,” Hibbert said. “We deeply appreciate the State Treasurer’s commitment to equipping young West Virginians with essential financial skills, and for welcoming us as partners in that mission. When middle school students begin practicing sound money management habits early, they are better positioned for long term success. Equally important, our finance majors grow through this hands-on experience, developing leadership and a deeper commitment to service.” 

In the Get a Life program, middle school 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. The program now includes a modern look with vibrant colors, coordinating images, and updated budgeting information.

The Treasurer’s financial education staff visits more than 140 middle schools and reaches more than 16,000 students annually. 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.