The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance Partners with the Girl Scouts of Louisiana East Council to Promote Financial Literacy and College Access to Girl Scouts and Parents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2023

Media Contact: losfa.communications@la.gov

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance Partners with the Girl Scouts of Louisiana East Council to Promote Financial Literacy and College Access to Girl Scouts and Parents

My LOSFA College Advocates Share Important Information Through An Interactive, Theatrical Program, Girl Scouts Earned a Special Financial Literacy Badge

Baton Rouge, LA– On January 14, 2023, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) partnered with the Girl Scouts of Louisiana East Council for the Smart Cookie U event to provide a tailored program based on LOSFA’s Financial Literacy for You (F.L.Y.) Tour model. Using LOSFA’s 5-Point Match programming, 161 Girl Scouts, 40 parents, and dozens of Girl Scouts volunteers and staff were provided important information related to financial aid for college, money management, and on-campus support services available to students. Among the three badges earned, girl scouts earned a special financial literacy badge called “Financing My Future.” LOSFA representatives also provided important information to parents and other participants about the state’s 529 Saving Plans, including START, START K12, and LA ABLE.

LOSFA Public Information Officer and Senior My LOSFA College Advocate Kayla Gros served as the MC for the Meet Your Match Game Show portion and was excited to expand financial literacy resources and Unlock My Future tools to the girl scouts. She says, “Partnerships such as this provide unique opportunities to continue career exploration and engage in building a college access culture. Our goal is to have the whole audience participate in the show. During this event, we did just that and reached students from 3rd grade to high school seniors and involved parents and staff. It is a rewarding experience to see the younger girls excited to participate, showing that it is not too soon to begin the conversation around postsecondary education.”

Lauren Vance, Property and Program Director for Girl Scouts of Louisiana East Council, said, “The Girl Scouts Louisiana East team could not have been more excited to work with LOSFA for our annual Smart Cookie University program! The attendees learned about financial literacy through exciting games and presentations throughout the day and earned 3 badges and a patch! We cannot wait to work with LOSFA in the years to come!”

The “Meet Your Match” event took participants through a game-show experience facilitated by grade-specific My LOSFA College Advocates (MLCA), who communicated the importance of financial literacy and fiscal responsibility. The fun and interactive games exposed participants to their postsecondary options while helping them learn the costs of college. Girl Scouts and parents were separated into respective grade-level groups led by each MLCA for the activities, which included but were not limited to:

  • Match and Fit
  • Internships
  • Navigating campuses
  • Financial literacy
  • Housing options
  • Degree programs
  • Types of colleges, universities, and proprietary schools
  • Money management
  • TOPS/TOPS Tech, FAFSA, and other aid
  • START Savings Accounts

About LOSFA’s Financial Literacy for You Tour:

F.L.Y. Tour is a dynamic theatrical presentation that uses poetry, music, and drama to communicate the importance of financial literacy and fiscal responsibility. The fun interactive format featured in the F.L.Y. Tour will help students learn about financial aid for college, money management, on-campus support services for students, and more. For more information or to schedule an event, visit our website.

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