Caption: From left, Plymouth State University accounting students Stephen Morris, Joseph Stanley, Natalie Smith, Madelyn Westbrook and Kaitlyn Chambers participated in the first ever NHSCPA Financial Literacy Series for New Hampshire children ages 14-17 in foster care at several group homes in the state.
Five Plymouth State University (PSU) students in the Accounting Program and the PSU Student Accounting Society recently participated in a new Financial Literacy Series for children in foster care in New Hampshire, by teaching them about taxation and lending.
This is the first year the New Hampshire Society of Certified Professional Accountants (NHSCPA) organized the Financial Literacy Series, called You and Your Money Matter. The six-part series took place weekly via Zoom between March 1 and April 5. Each 45-minute session covered a different topic of financial literacy including budgeting, credit cards, investments and more. PSU seniors Kaitlyn Chambers, 21, Natalie Smith, 22, and juniors Stephen Morris, 21, Joseph Stanley, 20, and Madelyn Westbrook, 20, designed and delivered presentations on taxes, loans and life lessons, which took place on March 22 and March 29, respectively.
“I have two younger sisters who were adopted by my family out of the foster care system. Presenting to the students that day, I saw a glimpse of my sisters in their faces, so it was doubly fulfilling to teach them about these important topics they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about.” Chambers said. “It is my hope that the skills and information gained by the participants will help them to be successful adults and help them navigate financial challenges like understanding student loans if they choose to go to college. I am also grateful for having learned a lot from the experience, myself.”
Students from Saint Anselm College and Franklin Pierce University delivered presentations on other topics over the course of the series.
PSU Assistant Professor of Accounting and Accounting Program Coordinator Jennifer DeMoras said the NHSCPA approached her with the opportunity to participate and she immediately enlisted the support of the Student Accounting Society.
“The students did a wonderful job curating the content and preparing and delivering the presentations. They were thoughtful of their audience, devised creative ways to maintain engagement, and shared vital knowledge with the program participants,” DeMoras said. “Most importantly, the students quickly saw the value in this program and were genuinely excited to be a part of it.”
The students will be recognized for their work on the series during the annual NHSCPA dinner on May 9 at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, New Hampshire.
The NHSCPA partnered with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to deliver the programming to dozens of 14-17-year-old children in foster care from several group homes in New Hampshire.
“We are grateful to the NH Society of Certified Professional Accountants and our colleagues and students at Plymouth State University for developing and providing this great program for our foster youth,” said DCYF Director Joe Ribsam. “It is always exciting when our professional and academic communities come together to work with our youth as they develop life skills that will benefit them well into adulthood.”
After developing a plan with Ribsam, as well as leaders of the DCYF Adolescent Program, NHSCPA CEO Robin Abbott reached out to all colleges and universities in the state with accounting programs to invite them to participate.
“This program has been an amazing opportunity for our student members as well as the extremely deserving participants,” Abbott said. “Everyone received practical and educational benefits while learning in a mutually supportive and safe environment.”
Abbott said they plan to continue this program annually.
