Friday night was a memorable one at the Comcast Center as 348 members of the Class of 2011 received their diplomas. The ceremony featured addresses by Valedictorian Walter Xu, Salutatorian Amanda Zieselman, and Senior Class President Bridget Davis as well as lovely musical selections by the MHS Concert Band, Orchestra, and Concert Choir. The Sun-Chroncle's account of the ceremony may be read by clicking here.
 

Junior Max Kinney with Treasurer Steven Grossman and Commissioner Mitchell Chester

Last Friday Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman presented citations of recognition to MHS junior Max Kinney and 16 other outstanding students throughout the state who achieved a perfect score on the National Financial Capability Challenge Exam. The Treasurer made the presentations at a ceremony held at the Boston offices of the Federal Reserve Bank.

"This event today not only recognizes students for their remarkable achievements, but it also highlights the growing enthusiasm for promoting youth financial literacy in the classroom," said Treasurer Grossman. "The National Financial Capability Challenge supports the integration of invaluable life skills into school curriculums. As Treasurer, I want to see to it that participation in activities like this increases dramatically across the state."

Grossman said that the exam builds on his efforts to raise awareness about the need for financial literacy. Most recently, the Treasurer advocated for the successful passage of legislation that created the Financial Literacy Trust Fund, which will use privately raised funds to provide training to targeted populations about issues pertaining to saving tactics, consumer protection measures, and the power of compound interest in long-term financial planning.

The National Financial Capability Challenge is a joint initiative organized by the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Education. It is designed to promote the incorporation of personal finance education into school curriculums to increase the financial knowledge of high-school aged youths across the country. The 30-minute exam was taken by over 2,600 students across Massachusetts in March and April of this year.

"A solid foundation in financial literacy is a key component of a well rounded education and provides students with critical real-world skills," said Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "I congratulate the students recognized today for their noteworthy achievement."

Congratulations to Max on this outstanding distinction!