Page 14 - TTWISummer2026

Finance
Page 14 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Two Middleton High School Students Receive Governor’s Financial

Literacy Award for Their Finance Class for Middle Schoolers

cial literacy. They teach middle schoolers positively on Middleton High School and our
how to create budgets, make smart spending FBLA program.”
choices, and see how compound interest helps Boehm and Mr. Brian Zimdars, another
money grow over time. FBLA advisor, attended the awards ceremony
Their peer-to-peer model has reached too.
more than 450 students and their aim is to reach Mr. Boehm, Sophia Chen, Sophia Pientka
1,000. They’ve taught classes at Kromrey and Mr. ZimdarsThe award honors individu-
Middle School, Glacier Creek Middle School, als and organizations for their efforts to help
Middleton Public Library and Beloit Memo- Wisconsinites build their financial literacy and
rial High School, with plans to expand across capability skills. Honorees are selected by the
Dane County and statewide. Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and
Chen and Pientka are members of Mid- Capability.
dleton High School’s chapter of the Future “We are incredibly honored to be recog-
Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Their nized by Wisconsin’s Governor for our work,”
Finance for Life project is now their FBLA Chen said. “This recognition was unexpected,
chapter’s official community service project. which makes it even more meaningful. We’re
FBLA advisors Mr. Bill Boehm and Mr. Brian excited to continue expanding our program
Zimdars attended the awards ceremony. across the state and reach more students.
“Sophia Pientka and Sophia Chen’s Being recognized at this level allows us to
recognition with the Governor’s Financial show youth that they truly can achieve any-
Literacy Award highlights their leadership thing they set their minds to. Behind every
Carrie Brooker, Public Relations Specialist sin State Capitol on April 10. Of the 21 award and the measurable community impact of award is a great deal of hard work and dedi-
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District recipients, Chen and Pientka were the only their work improving financial literacy for cation, so it’s an amazing feeling to see that
Middleton High School juniors Sophia students. middle school students in Dane County,” effort acknowledged.”
said Bill Boehm, Middleton High School
Chen and Sophia Pientka were honored as They were recognized for their Finance teacher and FBLA advisor. “This honor vali-
recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Financial for Life project, which helps middle school dates the quality of their project, strengthens www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us
Literacy Award in a ceremony at the Wiscon- students in Dane County increase their finan-
the Finance for Life initiative, and reflects

Interactive Financial Simulation Preps Hamilton Seniors For Life

After High School

few short weeks away from graduating. The
lessons they learned about budgeting and
financial planning will undoubtedly stick with
them as they transition to this next step in their
journeys.”
The interactive personal finance simu-
lation provided students an opportunity to
pretend to live for one month in the real
world and make financial decisions related to
housing, transportation, insurance, childcare,
groceries, utilities, entertainment and more.
Each student was assigned a career, a salary
and a family scenario. They spent approxi-
mately one hour, rotating through 20 different
stations, conversing with parent volunteers
and staff about various financial scenarios.
School Resource Officer Deputy Leah
Estes contributed to the simulation by issuing
fictitious citations to students, providing a
valuable lesson in budgeting for unexpected
Hamilton School District “We are always looking for engag- expenses.
Hamilton High School seniors had the ing ways to bring real world experiences “This event was an incredible success,”
opportunity to participate in the CB’s Real Life and decision making skills to life for our said Goike. “Many of the scenarios provided
101 Personal Finance Simulation on May 21 in students,” explains Hamilton High School students with eye-opening experiences that tinue building on this experience and hope to
the school gymnasium. The goal of the experi- Associate Principal and Extended Learning highlighted the realities and responsibilities of make it an annual opportunity for our seniors.”
ence was to help students apply personal finance Coordinator Marquea Goike. “The Personal adulthood. It was rewarding to see meaningful
concepts in a fun, realistic and eye-opening way Finance Simulation was such a great experi- learning taking place in real time as students
as they prepare for life after high school. ence for our oldest students who are only a developed critical thinking, budgeting and www.hamilton.k12.wi.us
decision-making skills. We are excited to con-