Joyce Conyers of Brookland Cayce High School has been named the Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union Youth Financial Educator of the Year. Ms. Conyers was surprised in her classroom with her award and $1,000 cash prize by representatives from Palmetto Citizens and her school.
Palmetto Citizens, a former teachers’ credit union, works with many local educators to provide speakers, materials, and other resources as they teach their students about important financial topics. This annual award, now in its 18th year, recognizes an educator who goes above and beyond to bring financial education to their classroom.
Ms. Conyers is a Personal Finance and Fundamentals of Computing teacher at Brookland Cayce High School. To help her students understand and be able to handle their future finances, Ms. Conyers has utilized speakers and financial education materials from Palmetto Citizens to add to her lesson plans.
“I believe financial education is important for young people because exposure on how to handle money early can help them reach their goals and avoid the financial pitfalls that plague many adults,” Ms. Conyers said. “Students participating in a financial education class learn they do not have to earn a lot of money to budget, save, or have good credit.”
Marcia Pierce, Community Relations Assistant with Palmetto Citizens, has worked in the classroom with Ms. Conyers and said, “She has absolutely earned this award and deserves this recognition. She embodies everything this award represents, and we could not have been more excited to present it to her.”
PCFCU Community Relations Manager Emilie Lewis (left) and West Columbia Office Manager Casey Cuthill (right) present the Palmetto Citizens FCU Youth Financial Educator of the Year award and $1,000 prize to Joyce Conyers (center).