Riley Long, a fourth-grader attending East Union Elementary, is getting a surprise May 27. He is the grand prize winner of Community Bankers of Iowa’s (CBI) Money Smart Week Poster Contest. As the first place finalist, Long will receive a $500 certificate of deposit. His poster was submitted for judging by First National Bank in Creston, ISSB and PCSB banks. Representatives from the banks will present the award to Long during a presentation at his school.
As part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Money Smart Week events, April 18-25, elementary students in second through sixth grades submitted poster designs to community banks across Iowa. Posters answered the question: “Why is it important to know about money?” All poster submissions were evaluated based on overall message, creativity and workmanship. Riley and Peyton Long, and the second and third place finalists beat out more than 2,100 other poster entries received from schools all over Iowa.
Riley’s brother Peyton, also in fourth grade at East Union Elementary, will be recognized with a certificate of honorable mention, as well. The certificate is awarded to the student submitting the fourth-best poster in all of Iowa.
“None of us had any idea we’d chosen kids who turned out to be related, since we purposefully don’t look at who submitted the posters while judging is under way,” said CBI Communications Director Krissy Lee. “Riley and Peyton’s parents, William and Sarah Long, should be commended for instilling in their children the educational spirit and financial literacy that the Money Smart Week Poster Contest intends.”
CBI has been hosting the Money Smart Week Poster Contest since 1999. The Grand Prize winning student receives a $500 certificate of deposit, and second and third place students each receive a $200 certificate of deposit. This is only the second year that second and third place prizes have been awarded. The winning poster design will be also be featured in the June issue of CBI's monthly newsletter Community Banker Update and weekly e-newsletter CommonCENTS, as well as on their website, www.cbiaonline.org.
A total of 163 local posters were turned in for judging this year. Students from Mayflower Heritage Christian School, Creston Elementary School, St. Malachy School and East Union Elementary School participated in the event. The poster contest is sponsored by three local banks – First National Bank in Creston, ISSB and PCSB Bank – the state sponsorship by Community Bankers of Iowa. The three local winners will receive a Kindle e-Reader for their creativity, Halle Evans, St. Malachy School, parents Rob and April Evans; Peyton Long and Emmett Long, East Union Elementary School, parents William and Sarah Long.
“The committee members have been so pleased on how the students have participated in the poster contest,” Sharon Higgins, vice president, First National Bank said. “It is so rewarding to see all the ideas they have formed on how to save money and realizing the difference at this age between needs and wants. We look forward to see what the students will do for 2016.”
For more information on Money Smart Week, visit www.moneysmartweek.org.