Center for Economic Education; University Leaders Excel
April 11, 2016
Dean’s Column by Ron Rosati, PhD
NCTA has two new outstanding programs geared towards helping young people develop practical, real world financial management skills. A new personal finance course will be implemented next semester for NCTA students. The new course is based on the work of noted financial guru Dave Ramsey, and is geared towards helping students get out of debt, stay out of debt, achieve their financial goals and develop a life of financial independence.
A second initiative partners with a statewide program for high school students. On April 16th, NCTA will be one of three Nebraska sites testing personal finance and economic savvy of five teams in a regional competition.
The unique contest is hosted by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office, the Nebraska Council on Economic Education (NCEE) and our new NCTA Center for Economic Education.
In this day of tight individual and family budgets, this competition is ideal for preparing students for reality. The contest format helps keep students motivated and engaged in the subject matter.
Mary Rittenhouse, chairman for NCTA’s Agribusiness Management Systems (AMS) Division, is coordinating the event. She explains that high school teams have been working on their business goals and personal finance understanding all year. The contest is culmination of knowledge gained through classroom studies and preliminary rounds of competition through on-line contests across the state.
We look forward to hosting regional winners from Alliance, Chadron, Osceola and South Platte High Schools here at NCTA. Students in 4-person teams will be given a scenario for family budget or business plans and then allowed two hours to compile their 10-minute presentation before a panel of judges. Scores collected from the three regional sites will result in a state winner announced from the NCTA campus around 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and the NCEE will be awarding $14,000 in college scholarships through Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) funds. NEST is an excellent way for families to save for their children’s college education.
Congratulations to all of the high school students who have been active in the 2016 program.
NCTA also is busy this week with another collegiate rodeo, this time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Aggies will compete at UNL for the Friday and Saturday action.
We are fortunate as well to be traveling from Curtis to Lincoln on Friday, taking a chartered bus of NCTA students, faculty and staff to the Investiture ceremony for University President Hank Bounds.
President Bounds came to NCTA and Curtis twice within his first month of assuming the role in April, 2015. We were excited to host him on campus then, and look forward to his return for NCTA graduation on May 5. And, we are honored to be included in this wonderful opportunity to participate in his official installation as NU President this Friday.
Congratulations also are in order to Dr. Ronnie Green, who was tapped as Chancellor of UNL during an announcement on April 5th. Dr. Green has been our primary administrator as Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and NU Vice President. Dr. Green will remain involved with NCTA in his new position since NCTA works closely with UNL with a number of its administrative functions. We are very pleased to have the Chancellor-elect remain active with NCTA, as he truly is a friend of Nebraska agriculture and our students here in Curtis.
Upcoming Events:
April 15 – NU Investiture of President Hank Bounds, Lincoln
April 15-16 – NACTA Contests, Crookston, Minn
April 15-16 – Aggie Rodeo to UNL, Lincoln
April 16 – Personal Finance Challenge, NCTA Ed Center 8 am
April 16-17 – Jeanna Mueller Barrel Racing Clinic, LTC Arena