A team from Arthur County High School, representing the state of Nebraska, took third place at the National Personal Finance Challenge on Friday in Kansas City, Mo.
The team represented Nebraska in the national event after winning the state competition April 21. The state competition is sponsored by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, headquartered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Members of the Arthur County High School team are Peyton Flack, Madison Rut, Brenna Larsen and Georgie Lage. Their teacher is Tammie Swanson.
First place at the national competition went to a team from Indiana, and second place went to a team from Illinois. Arthur County High School is in Arthur, Nebraska. Total enrollment in Pre-K through 12th grade was 109 in the 2015-16 school year.
Jennifer Davidson, president of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, said the Arthur County High School team is the first Nebraska team to place in the top ten of the national competition.
“With 19 state champion teams represented, the competition at nationals was fierce. I could not have been prouder of the performance of our team from Arthur, Nebraska. The team quickly evaluated the complicated case study and presented a sound financial plan for the hypothetical family. These four young ladies are wonderful representatives of our great state,” Davidson said.
“As one of the smallest rural schools in Nebraska, we were honored to place among the top three teams in the nation. We would like to thank Jennifer Davidson and the Nebraska Council on Economic Education for this amazing opportunity,” said Tammie Swanson, Arthur County High School teacher. “The Arthur County Schools team was proud to represent Nebraska at the national Finance Challenge in Kansas City. The Nebraska state competition and the national competition were fun and rewarding experiences for our students.”
Each student on the team received $200 for placing third in the national competition. The school also receives a banner. On the state level, each member of the Arthur County team received a $2,000 contribution to a Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) college savings account.
“I am extremely proud of these students from Arthur County High School. Their success demonstrates the strength of our small, rural schools in Nebraska. Excellent teaching and learning are taking place daily in these schools. I congratulate the students, their teacher, and their administrators for recognizing the value of learning about personal finance and supporting these students’ efforts in the state and national competitions,” said State Treasurer Don Stenberg.
“As Trustee of NEST, I am happy to present each of these four deserving students with a $2,000 contribution to a NEST college savings account to be used at a four-year college, a community college, or a technical school,” he said.
Second-place team in the Nebraska competition was from Norris High School. Team members are Zach Granatowicz, Keegan Schuchart, Keaton Plautz, and Lane Whipple. Each student will receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST college savings account. The students’ teacher is Justin McGill.
The third-place team in Nebraska was from Omaha Northwest High Magnet School. Members of the team are Zoe Thorson, Adam Strasser, Brett Hillabrand, and Randall Schindler. Each student will receive a $500 contribution to a NEST college savings account. The teacher is Susan Dimmitt.
