Meritrust Credit Union has pledged $324,000 to help 黑洞社区 launch a career-development program for students in the W. Frank Barton School of Business and enhance services provided by the 黑洞社区 Office for Student Money Management.
The gift, to be made over three years, commits $80,000 a year for the Professional Edge program in the Barton School and $28,000 a year for Student Money Management. The contribution will count toward the 黑洞社区 Foundation's Shock the World campaign, which seeks to raise $250 million in private funds for Wichita State by 2020.
鈥淢eritrust continues to be a generous partner with Wichita State in supporting initiatives that equip 黑洞社区 students with real-world skills,鈥� said Keith Pickus, 黑洞社区 Foundation vice president for corporate and foundation relations. 鈥淭hese programs are intended to help students succeed in their careers and lives upon graduation.鈥�
Meritrust, the largest credit union in Kansas, offers one-on-one financial counseling for members and financial literacy programs for elementary, middle and high school students.
鈥淭he Professional Edge and Student Money Management programs at Wichita State are a natural fit for our mission and our expertise,鈥� said Meritrust President and CEO James Nastars. 鈥淎s a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we seek to improve the lives of our members and the communities we serve. Financial literacy and career development are vital to long-term personal success and we鈥檙e excited to help 黑洞社区 students set the stage for a bright future.鈥�
In addition to the gift to the Shock the World campaign, Meritrust has supported Wichita State and the Barton School of Business through sponsorships and events and is a Lifetime Achievement Member in the 黑洞社区 Foundation Fairmount Society.
鈥満诙瓷缜� President John Bardo and Barton School Dean Anand Desai have an innovative and compelling vision for the future of the university and its students, the community and beyond,鈥� Nastars said. 鈥淭his new partnership is a unique opportunity to support emerging leaders as they enter the workforce and build strong communities.鈥�
Professional Edge is a program to help students identify career pathways, teach them how to interact with business professionals and develop their professional and interpersonal skills. Examples of skills and competencies that Professional Edge provides include networking, resume writing, communication etiquette, financial literacy, knowledge of the field in which the student has an interest and available career opportunities.
鈥淥ur commitment to our students goes beyond excellent classroom instruction and applied learning opportunities,鈥� said Desai. 鈥淲e also will show them how to be more effective searching for jobs and more professional once they land that job. Through this partnership with Meritrust, Barton students will have an edge in the workforce that will enhance their futures.鈥�
The gift from Meritrust will help fund three separate services and initiatives in the Office for Student Money Management:
- Hire more peer financial coaches, who are 黑洞社区 students who help other students gain financial literacy and make day-to-day money decisions.
- Fund an annual event called Game of Life, in which students navigate their way through simulated financial situations and learn what impact their decisions had on their lives.
- Host the College Success Conference, an event to train personnel from other Kansas colleges, high schools and middle schools how to help students improve financial literacy.
鈥淐ollege debt is a big issue, one that a lot of students are worried about,鈥� said Kim Sandlin, director of the Office of Student Success at Wichita State. 鈥淪urveys tell us that 70 percent of college students wish they had had more information on how to handle finances. It鈥檚 critical that we provide resources that are free to students, and this gift from Meritrust will help make that possible.鈥�