Penn Valley hosts successful financial literacy week!

A lucky Penn Valley student (left) is all smiles as she carts off her winning bag from Commerce Bank.

Students, staff and faculty sharpened their money skills during financial literacy week at MCC-Penn Valley. Nearly 140 students attended five financial literacy events throughout the week. In fact, roughly 75 students attended the Banking and Savings Fair on April 19.

Financial institutions from the area shared money savvy tips with Penn Valley students.

Nearly 40 prizes were awarded to students who attended the events. Employees were also invited to participate by answering questions about financial articles sent to them via email throughout the week. For answering the questions correctly, Project Success Academic Advisor Gieselle Deng won a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

Gieselle Deng showed off her financial know how and scored the winning prize, $50 savings bond.

Here's to a financially savvy Penn Valley!

MCC-Penn Valley presents Financial Literacy Week - check it out!

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, MCC-Penn Valley created a week-long series of events which will take place April 18-21 in the caferteria. Free food and a chance for prizes will be available to those who attend.

Click on the image above for amplified information.

Loan defaults? Not on her watch!

Dena Norris has a challenging job, but she does it with patience and with compassion. That’s why she’s been chosen as the Administrative Center employee of the month for February.

Dena, nominated by a colleague because of her warm and persistent commitment to serving students in need, holds an important position on the MCC financial aid team. As the program coordinator for default prevention, she works to keep students in good financial standing with their lenders and to keep MCC in good standing with the U.S. Department of Education. In other words, she helps students avoid defaulting on their loans which helps the district to maintain a low default rate.

In her direct work with students, Dena (pronounced Day-na) contacts students whose loan payments are past due to encourage them to set up payment arrangements or to let them know what options are available. More proactively, she also contacts students who are at risk of defaulting to help them get back on track with payments.

This financial literacy component is what Dena says she enjoys most about her job. When she counsels a student on how to avoid damaging their personal

MCC-Penn Valley welcomes transfer advisor

MCC-Penn Valley recently welcomed a new transfer advisor. Laura Schneider is based at the campus as part of the Missouri College Advising Corps.

Schneider will help students navigate the process of transferring to four-year colleges and universities including: finding a school that best suits the student's needs, helping to fill out admission and scholarship applications, assisting with filling out and filing the FAFSA, securing financial aid, and taking campus tours.

Throughout the fall semester Laura will also host several seminars on topics such as financial aid and financial literacy.

Laura is in the student services department on the second floor of the Campus Center building and can be reached at laura.schneider@mcckc.edu or 816.604.4049.

Financial literacy seminar coming to MCC-Penn Valley

Join the Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) for a seminar on financial literacy survival skills for college students on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. in the MCC-Penn Valley cafeteria. The session will be facilitated by Sarah Schedler of MDHE who will cover such topics as spending and savings strategies for college students as well as offering prizes to attendees.

The seminar is free but reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Laura Schneider by noon on Sept. 20 at 816.604.4049 or laura.schneider@mcckc.edu.