Treasurer Sprague Announces January Compass Award Honorees

COLUMBUS – Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has announced Compass Award honorees for the month of January. The monthly recognition program commends organizations, programs, and individuals across the state who are working to guide Ohioans toward financial literacy and empowerment. 

“With Ohio’s economy and workforce rapidly changing to meet the demands of the future, the importance of financial literacy education for our state’s young people cannot be understated,” said Treasurer Sprague. “The Compass Award program recognizes the people and organizations creating comprehensive and innovative methods for equipping the next generation with the personal finance skills that will put them on the path to success.”

Compass Award Honorees for January include:

Desco Federal Credit Union’s Reality Fair (Scioto and Lawrence Counties)

Through Reality Fairs, Desco Federal Credit Union provides hundreds of area students with instruction on personal finance topics through a household budgeting simulation. During the simulation, following classroom instruction by their teachers, students choose a career and then go through different stations where they are presented with choices on topics such as housing, transportation, and other common financial costs. Through Reality Fairs, students are gaining important knowledge and putting it into action.

Andrew Heimbach, Teacher at Wheelersburg High School (Scioto County)

Andrew Heimbach is a social studies teacher at Wheelersburg High School who brings his passion for financial literacy to the classroom. Following a month of classroom instruction on an array of financial topics, his students put their knowledge into action by participating in experiential learning through Desco Federal Credit Union’s Reality Fairs. Through interactive and engaging teaching, Mr. Heimbach works to ensure his students are ready for the “real world” that awaits them after high school.

Eastern Gateway Community College (Jefferson, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties)

A fast-growing educational center, Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) offers a no-cost education to qualifying local students. Through their Career Development Center, EGCC works to equip students with the tools needed to make informed decisions about their degree and career options, as well as education on topics such as creating a resume and interviewing for a job. Additionally, EGCC focuses on building relationships with employers at the local, regional, and national levels to expose students to a wide variety of career and professional pathways.

###

Robert Sprague became Ohio’s 49th Treasurer of State on January 14, 2019, bringing to the office his extensive experience working on financial matters in both the public and private sectors. Under Treasurer Sprague’s direction, the office manages the state’s $29 billion investment and $11 billion debt portfolios, collects and deposits all state revenues, and oversees custodial assets.