Cougars, TDECU Partner for Financial Literacy Series
11/7/2022 8:00:00 AM | General
Houston student-athletes benefit from educational workshops
HOUSTON – Last month, more than 40 University of Houston first year and second-year student-athletes in CORE 1101 took part in the department's inaugural Financial Literacy Series, held in conjunction with TDECU.
The course was centered around an assortment of educational topics including how to properly save and budget. Additionally, a pair of workshops were presented to all Houston student-athletes on credit card and debt management, taxes, benefits and insurance. Participants also learned about credit, its importance and how to manage credit responsibly.
"Financial literacy is one of the things that most college students don't learn about until they have to make a financial decision without their parents or guardians' influence," Director of Student-Athlete Development Christal Peterson said. "As a student-athlete, our students are experiencing financial opportunities that maybe they have never seen before. On our end, it's important to help educate them on making right decisions so they can accomplish their future goals."
Student-athlete participants also learned about various types of credit and ways to manage debt as well as how to obtain benefits through human resources at work or research and secure benefits at a job where they are not provided.
"This was a very beneficial workshop because TDECU discussed topics that we will be needing in a short few years after our time at Houston," Houston Track & Field junior sprinter Winter Bogan said. "Credit is a topic that is frequently misunderstood by young adults as well as adults. Understanding credit is the steppingstone needed to help us better transition into young adulthood. I learned about credit, how to obtain it and how to maintain a high credit score, and the things I should avoid if I don't want my credit score to drop."
TDECU formed in 1955 when a group of Dow employees came together to provide financial help for the hourly worker. That mission of people helping people continues today. Over the last 65 years, TDECU has grown to meet the needs of the communities we serve, and to bring TDECU's passion for service and great value in products to new financially underserved areas.
"I really appreciated the opportunity to help bring financial education content to the UH student-athletes," TDECU Financial Wellness Program Manager Christopher Soriano said. "Finances are an important aspect of everyone's life and student-athletes are no different. I truly feel that we have made a positive impact on the students' financial journeys, and I am grateful for the partnership we have with the UH community. I'm excited and am looking forward to making next semester's Financial Literacy Series even better."
In September, the University of Houston and TDECU announced in principle a partnership extension that allowed the city's largest credit union to maintain naming rights of TDECU Stadium and expand its support of the University through at least 2034 with a new financial investment exceeding $20 million.
The multi-year agreement broadened TDECU's commitment to the University, Houston Athletics, and the surrounding community.
"I believe the knowledge gained in the Financial Literacy Series is an empowering first step towards helping the student-athletes understand the importance of making smart financial decisions," TDECU Senior Specialist for Learning & Development-Holdings said. "I look forward to our future participation and the development of the series with the continued focus of enhancing the experience for the student-athletes and the UH community."
Houston's CORE 1101 provides first-year students with opportunities to develop skills, behaviors and attitudes exhibited by successful scholars, including learning and study strategies, communication, time-management, and career and major exploration, as well as connection to UH campus culture and resources.
"This partnership with TDECU is one that I am most excited for because we are putting experts in the field in front of our students with the hopes that genuine relationship starts to form as well as future employment opportunities for our students with this great organization," Peterson said.
The course was centered around an assortment of educational topics including how to properly save and budget. Additionally, a pair of workshops were presented to all Houston student-athletes on credit card and debt management, taxes, benefits and insurance. Participants also learned about credit, its importance and how to manage credit responsibly.
"Financial literacy is one of the things that most college students don't learn about until they have to make a financial decision without their parents or guardians' influence," Director of Student-Athlete Development Christal Peterson said. "As a student-athlete, our students are experiencing financial opportunities that maybe they have never seen before. On our end, it's important to help educate them on making right decisions so they can accomplish their future goals."
Student-athlete participants also learned about various types of credit and ways to manage debt as well as how to obtain benefits through human resources at work or research and secure benefits at a job where they are not provided.
"This was a very beneficial workshop because TDECU discussed topics that we will be needing in a short few years after our time at Houston," Houston Track & Field junior sprinter Winter Bogan said. "Credit is a topic that is frequently misunderstood by young adults as well as adults. Understanding credit is the steppingstone needed to help us better transition into young adulthood. I learned about credit, how to obtain it and how to maintain a high credit score, and the things I should avoid if I don't want my credit score to drop."
TDECU formed in 1955 when a group of Dow employees came together to provide financial help for the hourly worker. That mission of people helping people continues today. Over the last 65 years, TDECU has grown to meet the needs of the communities we serve, and to bring TDECU's passion for service and great value in products to new financially underserved areas.
"I really appreciated the opportunity to help bring financial education content to the UH student-athletes," TDECU Financial Wellness Program Manager Christopher Soriano said. "Finances are an important aspect of everyone's life and student-athletes are no different. I truly feel that we have made a positive impact on the students' financial journeys, and I am grateful for the partnership we have with the UH community. I'm excited and am looking forward to making next semester's Financial Literacy Series even better."
In September, the University of Houston and TDECU announced in principle a partnership extension that allowed the city's largest credit union to maintain naming rights of TDECU Stadium and expand its support of the University through at least 2034 with a new financial investment exceeding $20 million.
The multi-year agreement broadened TDECU's commitment to the University, Houston Athletics, and the surrounding community.
"I believe the knowledge gained in the Financial Literacy Series is an empowering first step towards helping the student-athletes understand the importance of making smart financial decisions," TDECU Senior Specialist for Learning & Development-Holdings said. "I look forward to our future participation and the development of the series with the continued focus of enhancing the experience for the student-athletes and the UH community."
Houston's CORE 1101 provides first-year students with opportunities to develop skills, behaviors and attitudes exhibited by successful scholars, including learning and study strategies, communication, time-management, and career and major exploration, as well as connection to UH campus culture and resources.
"This partnership with TDECU is one that I am most excited for because we are putting experts in the field in front of our students with the hopes that genuine relationship starts to form as well as future employment opportunities for our students with this great organization," Peterson said.
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