CHARLESTON, W.Va. –State Treasurer Larry Pack unveiled Tuesday a redesign of the Get a Life financial education budget activity for middle school students, and he also gave out the first ever Get a Life Community Volunteer Award to the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.

Ashley Alford Glance receiving the award from Treasurer Larry Pack

“After 20 years, we are excited to breathe new life into this important program. Our redesign provides a much-needed facelift that will help re-engage students with new, fun options,” Pack said. “I would also like to congratulate the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce for being the first recipient of our Get a Life Community Volunteer Award. The Chamber does a great job partnering with my office, Putnam County Schools and works to encourage local business leaders to volunteer for our financial education activities.”

President of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Ashley Alford Glance, received the award during one of their education activities at the U.S. Navy Reserve in Red House.

“The Get a Life program plays a crucial role in helping students understand the real-life impact of financial decisions and career planning, equipping them with skills that will serve them no and, in the future,” Alford Glance said. “We are incredibly grateful to be recognized for our involvement in this important initiative over the past 10 years. This work would be possible without the dedication of our Putnam Chamber members who generously donate their time, and the strong partnership and continued commitment from Putnam County Schools.”

The program gives students the opportunity to have a realistic family budget and must visit various business stations and manage an expense ledger. With this program, students are being taught basic math skills and problem-solving techniques.

Through the redesign, the program will feature a modern look with vibrant colors, coordinating images, and updated information. They’ve also added new features to the program, such as a lucky leprechaun chance card, a spin wheel for students visiting the doctor’s office and a rebranded “Level Up” table for students to advance their careers throughout the simulation.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the Treasurer’s financial education staff visited more than 140 middle schoolers and reached more than 16,000 students.

To learn more, you can visit their website here.

Photo: West Virginia Treasury Facebook