Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition
Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition – Now Accepting Entries!
Our student financial literacy competition, in partnership with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st Federal Credit Union, gives students the ability to share what financial literacy means to them.
The 2025 student competition is now open! If you’re a 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student, submit your competition entry today.
It’s never too early to start learning how to be smart with your money. If you know how money works, you’re in a better position to understand where it’s going and you’re able to hold government accountable for how it’s being spent.
Competition Results
The 2024 winners were selected out of 94 entrants across 24 counties who submitted poems or essays on the theme, “What Does Financial Literacy Mean to Me?” The winners are:
- First Place ($2,500 prize): Neema Mwemera, 10th Grade, Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School, Dauphin County
- Second Place ($1,500 prize): Ashley Rodriguez, 11th Grade, William Allen High School, Lehigh County
- Third Place ($1,000 prizes – tie): John Ademuwagun, 11th Grade, Milton Hershey School, Dauphin County; Caleb Masshardt, 12th Grade, Cedar Cliff High School, Cumberland County
- Honorable mentions ($500 prizes): Martina Ferriolo, 11th Grade, Louis E. Dieruff High School, Lehigh County; Savannah Harrell, 11th Grade, Bishop McDevitt High School, Dauphin County; Ava Santanna, 12th Grade, Bishop McDevitt High School, Dauphin County
In addition to the cash prize, every student who submitted an entry to the 11th Annual Financial Literacy Competition received a $1,000 tuition scholarship, applicable when enrolling as a full-time student at Harrisburg University.
This was the 11th year that Harrisburg University of Science and Technology has organized this competition. Monetary prizes were provided by Harrisburg University; no taxpayer funds were used.
FIRST PLACE- $2,500: Neema Mwemera- Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School (10th grade)
Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology President Dr. Eric Darr, and Members 1st Federal Credit Union Assistant Vice President of Community Relations Sara Firestone announce the winners of a statewide financial literacy scholarship competition for students in Grades 9-12. The top finalists of this year’s competition are from Dauphin, Cumberland, and Lehigh counties.