Berkshire High School students Calvin Dion, Savanah Everiss, Kylie Gleason, Ryan Kessinger and Sophia Young have been awarded the Governor’s Merit Scholarship...
Governor’s Merit Scholarship
Berkshire High School students Calvin Dion, Savanah Everiss, Kylie Gleason, Ryan Kessinger and Sophia Young have been awarded the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, which may be used at colleges and universities throughout Ohio. The program administered through the Ohio Department of Higher Education grants up to $5,000 per year for four years of full-time education at a public, private or nonprofit institution of higher learning in Ohio. It rewards high academic achievement in the top 5% of class rank, provides incentives for students to continue their education in Ohio, and ultimately helps the state retain a well-educated workforce. Additionally, the award helps reduce financial barriers that may prevent Ohio’s top high school graduates from pursuing higher education.
Personal Financial Literacy
Effective money management and financial planning are important skills that can have a long-lasting impact on the lives of young graduates. Berkshire High School is helping students gain the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully navigate money-related issues through the Personal Financial Literacy (PFL) course, a semester-long class required for all Berkshire High School students, beginning with the class of 2026.
The course is aligned with Ohio’s Learning Standards for Financial Literacy, which is defined as the ability to read, analyze, manage and communicate about personal financial conditions that affect one’s material well-being. Topics covered include financial responsibility and decision-making, planning and money management, informed consumer, investing, credit and debt and risk management and insurance.
The goal of the course is to help students develop the capacity to make informed and reasoned financial decisions, act responsibly both as consumers and investors and understand how to best utilize their limited resources. To achieve these ends, teacher and PFL course instructor Hannah Bomback focuses on providing students with project-based learning experiences that integrate real-life scenarios within the course curriculum.
During the semester, students will engage in a career exploration activity and complete a “Collage of My Life” project that involves identifying and unifying their values and goals with sound financial planning practices. Students will also develop an understanding of the money management process, including the statement of financial position (net worth), income and expense statement (net gain or loss) and a spending plan using a balance sheet or budget.
