MSU undergraduates visit stations during the Go for the Green: Finance Your Future event to learn different personal finance skills. Photo credit: Jacqueline Hawthorne, College of Social Science.
To celebrate financial literacy month, the MSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), teamed up with the MSU Libraries, the MSU Office of Financial Aid, the MSU Transfer Student Success Center and MSUFCU to host a financial literacy event for MSU undergraduates on April 16, 2025 that welcomed close to 200 students.
“I hope they take away a basic understanding around core financial literacy skills such as learning how to budget, understanding credit, and learning the importance of scholarships and accessing student loans, if that is a need for them,” said Erica Tobe, Ph.D., MSU HDFS faculty member and department lead for Go for the Green Financial Literacy. “We hope these are skills that they can begin building now and use into the future.”
“This event is always an excellent opportunity for MSU students to engage with financial literacy concepts and learn about the different supports and services available to them on campus,” said Holly Flynn, MSU outreach and engagement librarian.
The event’s lead sponsor was the MSU Libraries, funded with a grant from MSUFCU.
“Thank you to MSUFCU for partnering with us to support four scholarships for attendees,” Flynn said. “We are excited to announce the recipients of the scholarships were Jaspreet Singh, Davinee Scott, Jonathan Pant, and Bridget Kinna. The MSU Libraries are a hub of learning on campus, covering many different literacies and subjects so we were happy to host this year’s Go for the Green Financial Resources Fair.”
At the booths, undergraduates had a chance to learn more about student loans and FAFSA, budgeting, saving, credit, and students also had the opportunity to win prizes and scholarships.
HDFS is just one of many campus partners involved in increasing financial literacy across campus through events like the fair. Another campus partner co-hosting this event was the MSU Transfer Student Success Center.
“The financial resource fair was a great event, and students who stopped by our table appreciated the budget worksheets and financial resources we provided,” said Charles Jackson, Ph.D., director of the MSU Transfer Student Success Center. “It felt good knowing we educated students on the importance of establishing a monthly budget and keeping consistent to a budget. I look forward to more collaborations with the Go for the Green Team, promoting financial literacy to our MSU students.”
Ashley Hewlett-Lemke (left) and Dr. Charles Jackson (right) from MSU Transfer Student Success Center share resources with students. Photo credit: Jacqueline Hawthorne, College of Social Science.
“I was thrilled to see the great turnout overall, but especially happy to see the number of transfer students who joined us for the event. The Transfer Student Success Center is looking forward to future collaboration with the Go for the Green Team to further the financial literacy of all students, but particularly our transfer student community at MSU,” said Ashley Hewlett-Lemke, program coordinator of the MSU Transfer Student Success Center.
Ashley Hewlett-Lemke (left) and Dr. Charles Jackson (right) from MSU Transfer Student Success Center share resources with students. Photo credit: Jacqueline Hawthorne, College of Social Science.
The team is already planning for events to be held next fall. To learn more about the MSU Go for the Green financial literacy offerings, visit https://hdfs.msu.edu/academics/undergraduate/financial-literacy.
By Katie Frey