The Financial Wellness Fair, April 10th, 2018 with students and staff attending as a way to get information to the peope who need it. (Model Release signage was posted at the event.)

Carla Lord-Powalski, coordinator of the Blue Hen Success Grant program, introduces a student to online budgeting tools at the April 10 Financial Wellness Fair.

First Financial Wellness Fair a success

Article by Cindy Hall Photos by Wenbo Fan and Cindy Hall April 19, 2018

Students learn tips on saving and budgeting

As the O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money” and other cash-related tunes crooned in the background, University of Delaware students filed through kiosks set up in Perkins Student Center Gallery to learn tips on everything financial—from creating a saving strategy to raising their credit score and fighting identity theft. The occasion was UD’s inaugural Financial Wellness Fair, hosted by the Blue Hen Success Grant program on Tuesday, April 10, for national Financial Literacy Month.

Bailey Garrison, a sophomore history major, had just landed a job and wanted to hear saving and budgeting advice to help her determine what she could afford to spend.

“Planning for your financial future can be scary and intimidating,” said Garrison. “But through the fair I learned that taking small steps now to get used to the idea of budgeting, saving and being smart about spending can really make a difference when I graduate. The one-on-one talks I was able to have at the different booths were so helpful.”

The Blue Hen Success Grant program is a comprehensive initiative led by Student Financial Services (SFS) that provides grants and financial literacy resources for students, with the goal of helping them be successful during their college career and beyond. The fair featured representatives from SFS and UD Library, Museums and Press, who provided quick presentations and myriad resources to empower students to build a healthy financial future.

At one table, participants were directed to the Blue Hen Success Grant website for a listing of scholarship sites, like fastweb.com and studentscholarships.org, where they can find and apply for grants that fit their accomplishments. Students also learned how to access free online personal finance tools like the nonprofit CashCourse—designed specifically for college students—and budgeting apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget).

UD senior José Garcia Cintora plays Money Habitudes at the April 10 Financial Wellness Fair.

At another table, students played Money Habitudes, a card game to help them identify which of six spending categories they fit in—Planning, Security, Giving, Spontaneous, Status or Carefree—and consider the advantages and challenges of their type. The game triggered a ‘lightbulb’ moment for senior human services major, José Garcia Cintora.

“It seems like I have a lot of security,” said Cintora after selecting his cards. “I need to think about what I need versus what I want.”

Also on hand were Jennifer McCloskey and Scott Somerville, instructors in UD’s Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. The two shared basic tax filing information students need to know now and in the future.

Karen Summa, a financial coach at Stand By Me—a local organization that helps Delawareans take control of their finances—gave a presentation on establishing and maintaining good credit and the importance of protecting personal information from predators.

UD scholarships

SFS encourages all students to apply for additional scholarships to help fund their education. This year, SFS awarded over $6.3 million in gift and endowment scholarships made possible by generous donations from UD alumni and friends. As long as students have renewed their FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov) by June 1, they are automatically considered for this funding. Some additional scholarships require an application. Students should visit the SFS website and (1) apply by June 15 for those scholarships that require an application, and (2) pursue available scholarships through external organizations that provide funding.

Additional learning opportunities

From April 21-28, UD Library, Museums and Press will host Money Smart Week with free programs on understanding credit and reducing debt, preventing identity theft, and investing. Events are free and open to the public. Learn more.

In addition, the Blue Hen Success Grant program will host the following sessions in the Student Services Building lobby: