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Finance Project Wins Award

UEN's Finance in the Classroom project won an award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

(NASHVILLE) – A Utah-produced financial education project won an award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) in Nashville, Tennessee on January 13, 2011. NETA presented the award to the Utah Education Network (UEN) for its multi-platform Finance in the Classroom for Utah educators, students and parents. The award-winning project grew from a mandate from the Utah Legislature that Utah schools provide financial literacy and economic education.

"The Utah State Office of Education (USOE) asked us to bring together instructional resources, train teachers and disseminate quality content--all key UEN competencies where we have a proven record of accomplishment," said UEN Chief Content Officer Laura G. Hunter, who accepted the award. "UEN holds a relationship of trust with Utah educators and we invited their input. A UEN-hosted teacher focus group evaluated the project and all participants agreed that Finance in the Classroom had become the 'go-to' place for Utah financial literacy teachers," said Dr. Hunter.

UEN partnered with 16 community organizations and businesses to create the unique resource. Key partners included USOE, the Utah Jump Start Coalition, Utah Educational Savings Plan, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, America Saves (Utah chapter), Junior Achievement of Utah and the Utah Division of Securities.

"The website launched on time and with input from a diverse group of partners," said UEN's Doug Jones, the project manager. "Teachers tell us that Finance in the Classroom is now their one-stop resource for financial literacy curriculum. Jones notes the project is much more than a website, "In addition to the online site, UEN-TV also broadcast more than 40 related television programs from 3-10 p.m. during the UEN-TV Financial Fitness Broadcast Week. UEN also produced public service announcements, newspaper ads and online buttons featuring the project schedule as a widget that educators have placed on their blogs and classroom websites. Today's teachers rely on multiple platforms, and Finance in the Classroom interacts with them in a variety of ways."

The project has drawn more than 63,000 web visits since its launch in January 2010. It accomplished 24 key milestones, all on time and within budget. The project relied on close collaboration between Hunter, Jones and UEN web developer Michelle Dumas, graphic designer Denise Tribble, web services manager Karen Krier, television program manager Kyle Anderson, communications manager Rich Finlinson; and project partners from many other organizations. The total project cost was $42,210. Of that, $17,600 was paid by a grant from CPB PMI (Public Media Innovation fund). UEN paid the remaining $24,610 which included staff time, web design, television program licensing, lesson development, and production of promotional postcards, posters and other materials.

The Utah Education Network is an award-winning consortium of public education, higher education and the state's library system. UEN provides broadband connectivity to Utah school districts, public colleges and universities and public libraries throughout the state. UEN also provides instructional services and professional development for educators, connects hundreds of Utah class rooms via video conferencing, and operates broadcast station UEN-TV.

For more information, contact:
Laura G. Hunter, 801-581-5852