High School Students in Oakland County Can Enter Financial Literacy Art Contest
(Oakland County Treasurer’s Office, Feb. 24, 2021)
Pontiac, Michigan – For the tenth year in a row, Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner will be hosting the Financial Literacy Multimedia Arts Contest, featuring the work of Oakland County public high school students. Each year, students are eligible to submit 2-D and multi-media/video pieces of art related to the importance of financial literacy. Thanks to sponsorship from Flagstar Bank, winners from each grade will receive significant cash prizes and college scholarships from a prize pool totaling $10,000. Thanks to Flagstar’s generosity, over $90,000 has been awarded in the past nine years of this contest. At the conclusion of the contest – COVID permitting – all student artwork will be placed on display at the Treasurer’s Office for one year.
Reflecting on the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meisner sees the art contest as an opportunity for students to develop financial literacy skills amid difficult times.
“Since its inception in 2012, our annual art contest has provided an opportunity — not to mention an enjoyable way — to creatively engage and introduce students to financial literacy as a critically important life skill and advance our mission of financial empowerment,” Meisner. “We are extremely appreciative of our ongoing partnership with Flagstar Bank, Oakland Schools and the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLSHA). We’re excited to receive this year’s creative entries.”
In addition, Hedy Blatt – who serves as the fine arts consultant for Oakland Schools – emphasizes the value of art in an educational context.
“The arts play a significant role in many of our students’ lives, and we greatly appreciate this innovative learning opportunity created by Andy Meisner and sponsored by Flagstar Bank,” said Blatt. “This unique contest is a wonderful way to not only support quality arts education by showcasing our extremely talented high school artists, it’s a creative way for our students to learn important, tangible, lifelong financial literacy skills, which cannot be understated. The student art is absolutely amazing, and a huge thank you goes out to our participating high school art teachers who inspire their students and who have been great supporters of this endeavor.”
Kim Goethe, the director of government banking at Flagstar, underscores the creative partnership with the Treasurer’s Office and Oakland Schools.
“Flagstar Bank wants to thank Treasurer Meisner for this unique approach to promoting financial literacy to young people and their families,” said Goethe. “Using art to express this important concept creates significant outreach that resonates with young people while providing important scholarship opportunities. Flagstar is proud to enter its 10th year of supporting this event.”
There are many areas in which a student may choose to explore. Topic suggestions include aspects of financial literacy as it pertains to them—credit card debt, student loans, personal/family money management, financial planning—the list is limitless. Acceptable entries include 2-D (drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, and illustration) and video. Entries are judged on creativity, artistic execution, and the incorporation of the financial literacy theme.
To qualify for the art contest, a student in Grades 9-12 must attend a public high school in Oakland County. All artwork must be submitted online no later than March 19th at 4:00 pm, and the reception for all participants will be held on April 19th either virtually or in-person – depending on public health circumstances. For more information and to submit entries, please visit https://www.oakgov.com/treasurer/gallery/Pages/default.aspx.
For more information about the Oakland County Treasurer’s Office, please visit our website at www.oakgov.com/treasurer or by calling 248-858-0611.