BB&T Announces Expansion of Financial Literacy Program That Has Helped Students at East Forsyth High School

Rebecca Garland, chief academic officer at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction;  Trish Gainey, principal of East Forsyth High School; Ray Martinez, co-founder and executive vice president of EverFi; Cantey Alexander, Triad regional vice president for BB&T with East Forsyth students holding their certificates

BB&T announced the statewide expansion of its financial literacy program yesterday in front of 205 East Forsyth High School students who have completed the program.

Cantey Alexander, BB&T’s regional vice president for the Triad, said that the bank would partner with EverFi, Inc., to bring the BB&T Financial Foundations Scholar Program to more than 450 schools in North Carolina. It currently serves 54 schools, including East Forsyth.

“Financial literacy – from the time you leave these doors – is a critical issue,” Superintendent Don Martin told the students.

Jonathan Smith, a senior at East Forsyth, relayed advice he had heard about the importance of financial literacy.

“If you want to be a millionaire, start out with a billion dollars and start an airline,” Smith said. “How do you avoid this? I’ll tell you in two words: financial literacy.”

The web-based program uses video, animations, 3-D gaming, avatars and social networking to explain financial concepts to students. They will be certified in more than 600 topics in financial education.