Two Hopkins DECA Students Take First In State

senior Seth Gellman and junior Chandler Luhowskyj had worked on a financial literacy curriculum for nine months. They coordinated with staff in every school to line up instruction times. They reached virtually every student in the school district.

So when it was announced that their project won first at last week’s DECA State Career Development Conference, there was one feeling that rose above all others: relief.

“It’s a long project. It’s been a lot of months. It’s more relief that we made it. You never really know,” Gellman said.

Gellman’s and Luhowskyj’s project was a comprehensive curriculum—including the Hopkins DECA financial literacy promotion project they started called “Your Money Your Life”—that taught Hopkins students about financial literacy. The curriculum involved presentations, online games and worksheets. At the end, they submitted a 30-page paper, created a presentation board with goals and statistics and showed off an iPad presentation.

The students started on the project in June 2011. Much of the challenge centered on just organizing activities around the schools’ already busy schedules. But Gellman and Luhowskyj managed to bring intriguing learning experiences to the district—including speeches by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Dorothy Bridges, senior vice president for community development and outreach at The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

The two decided early on that they’d have to model good financial decisions as well as talk about them. Gellman noted that he saves a set amount of money each month and that he’s become more conscious about impulse buying.

“Impulse buying is one of the worst things that I have personally done, that I have seen other students do,” Gellman said.

The program brought other rewards beyond DECA recognition. Parents of elementary school students e-mailed to thank them for the project and high school students also asked questions when they set up a table during lunch periods, Luhowskyj said.

“They were glad to see a new face of financial literacy,” he said.

Their journey isn’t over yet, though. They’re headed to Salt Lake City April 28 through May 1 to present at DECA's International Career Development Conference. In addition, they’re making plans for the program to continue next year, after Gellman graduates.

But that’s ahead. For now, they’re enjoying a job well done.

“For both Seth and I, it was a big wave of relief after nine months (of work),” Luhowskyj said.

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