Each year, NGPF Fellows have the option to award a Personal Finance Student of the Year Award' to a student who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in their personal finance class during the school year. Yesterday was the first of 25 student awards that will be shared right here on the blog throughout the coming summer weeks. We'll showcase one student each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Students are selected based on the following criteria:

• Student has taken a personal finance class in the 2019-2020 school year that was taught by the NGPF Fellow who nominated them
• Student demonstrated outstanding performance in the class based on participation/academic excellence/passion for the subject matter

Congratulations this Thursday go to:

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Student: Fenna Tufte

Teacher: Karl Remsen

School: Lake County High School, Leadville (CO)

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“I learned how to be an adult in this class. This was helpful because when I get thrown into this world I won’t be clueless on what to do regarding finances. This course changed how I think about my future because it will help me live a happy and secure life. It changed my opinion about how easy it is to prosper and not fall into the hands of poverty. This is because I have learned to budget, but I can also keep my private information private. I now plan to use the information to the best of my ability so that I can live a life that has less stress and more prosperity. The actions I took are very simple, I started a savings account, and I’m starting to budget and save for the things I need (college) rather than want (clothes).

In talking to other students, they have stated that they love the class and it has greatly prepared them for life. Some also said that it has helped their future money plans and now they will not be spending as much but instead saving. It is arguably the most important class that we as students have taken and I believe will be great for even adults. It has prepared us for the struggles of taxes, loans, finances, etc. I believe all of us are that much more prepared for life and I think everyone deserves this knowledge and the opportunity to learn about this material.”

-Fenna Tufte

About the Author

Yanely Espinal

Born and raised by Dominican, immigrant parents in Brooklyn, Yanely is a proud product of NYC public schools. She graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in 2007 before going on to receive her bachelor's degree at Brown University in 2011. As a Teach For America corps member, Yanely taught third and fourth grade in Canarsie, Brooklyn. She received her master's degree from Relay Graduate School of Education in 2013. She spends her spare time making YouTube videos about personal finance on her channel, MissBeHelpful. Yanely also loves to dance, sew, paint, listen to podcasts, and babysit her 10 nieces and nephews!