Topeka, Kan. – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, announced three participants in Jobs for Americas’ Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) programs as winners of a financial literacy essay scholarship contest sponsored by the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner, a division of the Kansas Insurance Department. Kansas Securities Commissioner Dan Klucas presented the winners with their scholarships at the JAG-K Career Development Conference hosted at McPherson College. The Department granted $10,000 to JAG-K designated for a financial literacy essay contest in which the top three JAG-K student essays split a share of the grant in scholarship funds.
The scholarship winners included:
1st Place, $5,000 – Karina Martinez, Kiowa County High School
2nd Place, $3,000 – Raygan Heft, Kiowa County High School
3rd Place, $2,000 – Ashley Reddig, Great Bend High School
“The winning essays displayed a firm understanding of critical financial concepts, particularly a demonstration of prudent investing practices,” said Commissioner Schmidt. “The essays show that JAG-K students are obtaining practical money skills that will serve them well in adulthood.” “Financial literacy is an important aspect of the evidence-based JAG model,” said JAG-K President and CEO Chuck Knapp. “We appreciate the strong, consistent support of our efforts and our students by Commissioners Schmidt and Klucas. The Kansas Insurance Department has been a great partner in helping students prepare for successful futures.”
To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas. For more information about the Kansas Insurance Department or to learn more about making smart investment decisions visit insurance.kansas.gov and SmartInvestKS.com.
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JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. Participants in the program face multiple barriers to success that their JAG-K Career Specialist helps them overcome through a nationally accredited, evidence-based model. The Securities division of the Kansas Insurance Department partners with student development organizations like JAG-K to support and promote financial literacy programs throughout the state.
The Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner, a division of the Kansas Insurance Department, regulates investment sales in Kansas–the birthplace of “Blue Sky Laws.” In 2017, the Office was merged with the Kansas Insurance Department
