The Utah Office of State Treasurer, Utah Jump$tart Coalition, and the Utah State Board of Education recognize Utah educators, administrators, and community advocates who exemplify excellence in empowering Utah’s youth with financial knowledge and skills.
Award Descriptions
- Utah Personal Finance Educator of the Year: Honoring a Utah educator who has demonstrated excellence, dedication, and innovation in teaching personal finance. This award celebrates an educator who has gone above and beyond in the classroom to empower students with practical financial skills that extend into their daily lives and positively influence their community. This educator is nominated by an administrator, student, colleague, parent, or community member.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Honoring a Utah educator who has demonstrated excellence in teaching personal finance over the years. This educator has taught financial literacy for at least 10 years and is nominated by an administrator, student, colleague, parent, or community member.
- Student Empowerment Award: Honoring a Utah educator who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to empowering students to take control of their financial futures. This award celebrates educators who not only teach financial concepts but also mentor and support students in setting and achieving their financial goals, fostering a lifelong commitment to financial responsibility and success. This educator is nominated by an administrator, student, colleague, parent, or community member.
- Innovative Personal Finance Curriculum Award: Honoring a Utah educator who has developed and implemented an innovative and engaging financial literacy curriculum. This award recognizes creativity in teaching methods, incorporation of real-world applications, and the ability to inspire students to become financially literate. This award is self-nominated. The winner will receive a paid trip to the National Jump$tart Conference, the National Council on Economic Education Conference, or the National Endowment for Financial Education Conference, including registration fees, airfare, hotel, and per diem. This educator will present at the next year’s $mart $tart $ummit.
- Financial Education Champion Award: Honoring an administrator who has exemplified passion, excellence, and dedication in furthering personal finance resources in their district. This individual is selected by a Jump$tart nominating committee.
- Community Advocate: Honoring a member of the community who has exemplified passion and dedication in furthering personal financial education in Utah. This individual is nominated by an educator, student, colleague, parent, or community member.
2024 Financial Education Hall of Fame Inductees:
Personal Finance Educator of the Year
Rick Cox, Wellsville Elementary
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Bossard, Itineris Early College High School
Student Empowerment Award
Tracey Jenson, Green Canyon High School
Innovative Personal Finance Curriculum Award
Justin Perfili, Stansbury High School
Financial Education Champion
Brent Clark, Utah County Academy of Science
Community Advocate
John Garrigues, Former Utah Jump$tart Coalition Board President