In collaboration with the office of Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee (District 4), the Center for Economic Education at CSU Fullerton conducted a series of Financial Literacy workshops discussing personal finance, credit, personal loans, and retirement strategies all across North Orange County. The goal of the program was to demystify personal finance and provide our community with practical knowledge and tools to empower them. Participants, wide ranging in age and demographics, were able to ask questions and engage with Center staff to discuss ways they could address and hopefully improve their financial situation. After the workshop, the participants received piggy banks and additional resources to help them further strengthen their financial education.

 Center Director Dr. Bhattacharya standing alongside CA Senator Josh Newman and Alan Garduno    

(Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

For over ten years, the Center for Economic Education at CSU Fullerton has been conducting a variety of financial literacy workshops in hand with the National Council for Economic Education. One of the events we host, Family Financial Fun Night (FFFN), brings together Center staff and economics interns to teach introductory financial literacy to several elementary, middle, and high schools around Orange County. Students have fun learning the basic principles of economics and personal finance with hands-on activities. They received piggy banks, goodie bags, and other gifts for participating in the Centers' learning activities.

This past Fall, our Center had the honor of collaborating with the office of CA Senator Josh Newman (D-29), on a recent Family Financial Fun Night. Participating Elementary school students and their parents first had the opportunity to engage in the several financial activities such as "How to Afford a Dog?" and "Needs Vs. Wants." Once the event concluded, they were awarded with a visit to Senator Newman's Ice Cream truck for their efforts.

1st Place winners of the Olympiad from Troy High School

(Spring 2015, Spring 2016)

The College of Business and Economics partnered with Wells Fargo Bank to pilot the first Olympiad for Financial Literacy, Economics and Business at CSU Fullerton in California on March 14, 2015. In her opening remarks, Alicia Lopez, Wells Fargo Community Outreach Coordinator, highlighted the importance of financial and economic literacy in today’s global economy. 111 high school students participated from 11 area high schools; the majorities represented were from low-income schools.

The Olympiad consisted of five events designed to test business and economic acumen. These activities consisted of a stock market game, which tasked students with making sound investment decisions over a two-month period with a mock $100,000 portfolio; a competition requiring the creation of a thorough business plan and a 60-second Fast Pitch presentation; a financial video competition allowing students to make their own 90-seconds video on personal finance topics; and two separate contests involving multiple-choice tests and a “Jeopardy”-style round-one competition focused on financial literacy/personal finance knowledge and the other on economics and recent business news stories in the Wall Street Journal. Students could participate individually or in groups of up to five for most events.

March 2015 Olympiad pictures

Winners of the Financial Video competition of the Spring 2015 Olympiad: 

• MAAD
• The Importance of Saving Money: For Teens

Winner of the Fall 2022 Titan Fast Pitch Competition - Middle School Category.

(Spring 2014 — Fall 2023)

The Center conducted a Business Plan competition where high school students were asked to sell a business idea in 60 seconds and answer lightning round questions on the details of their proposed business idea. A dozen high schools, mostly low income and Title I schools, participated.

Fall 2022 Titan Fast Pitch Pictures

Fall 2018 Titan Fast Pitch Pictures

Fall 2015 Titan Fast Pitch Pictures

Spring 2014 Titan Fast Pitch Pictures

Fall 2014 Titan Fast Pitch Pictures

Beat the Professor!

(Spring 2014)

Students participating in Beat the Professor played the Stock Market Game against professors at Cal State Fullerton’s Economics Department. Center graduate student assistants taught eight class periods of economic and financial literacy curriculum material in several low- income schools across Orange County. Research on the effectiveness of the treatment is in progress.

I Can Save! and I Will Save!

(Spring 2013 and Spring 2014)

Graduate student teaching elementary school students basic economics.

Graduate students in economics taught elementary school students 12 class periods of financial and economic literacy material in their after-school programs at Title I schools. Students had fun learning basic principles of economics and personal finance with hands-on activities. They received piggy banks with money for participating in the Center’s learning activities.

Beat the Banker!

(Spring 2012)

Winners won a ticket to the Angels Game with their teacher from Western High School.

The Center Director taught seven class periods of financial and economic literacy to two economics sections at a Title I school in Orange County. Effectiveness of the three components of the financial literacy curriculum: The Stock Market Game (SMG), Financial Fitness for Life (FFFL), and Hands on Banking (HOB) were measured by Center researchers. The research article is published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Consumer Affairs.

The high school students who participated in the Beat the Bankers Program played the stock market game against a group of very enthusiastic Wells Fargo bankers. Guess who won!!

The student team that won was treated to an Angels Game at the Angels Stadium.