all of THe Texas TecH unIversITY
fInancIal plannIng graduaTes
In THe sprIng of 2007 landed Jobs aT leasT one monTH
before graduaTIon.
Jennifer Sanders, who created and teaches “While working at a public corporation, manager and assistant vice president
the course. I saw that good writing skills were essential, for Amegy Bank in Houston, also stresses
Dallas ISD offers an extensive range of especially if you wanted a promotion the need to master the math used in the
business courses. to upper management,” Sanders says. business world.
“Our school offers two programs of “Furthermore, from a finance standpoint, “In finance, employees need to have a
study,” Sanders says. “I teach banking and mathematics is essential. Employees need good grasp of numbers,” she says. “Students
real estate. We study mortgage lending for to be able to interpret and analyze, to need about 12 hours of accounting. It’s very
a semester, accounting for a year, and real understand the numbers and explain them, competitive now—for entry-level positions,
estate for a year. to project and estimate—all the skills employers require a good background in
“The other program students can necessary for higher-level thinking. accounting. Employees need to be able to
take is the academy of finance, which “I recommend taking accounting,” she understand a balance sheet, so that they’re
covers banking and accounting, but says. “It’s often offered for dual credit in able to talk to clients.”
also includes courses on economics and high school, so students can get a college-
international finance.” level experience. I also recommend
economics, which is offered for dual
Writing and Math needed credit in various places, and a banking
What skills are needed to pursue a course. That’s so students get a general
Finance-related career? Start with a strong understanding of the financial field.”
foundation in English and math. Mariana Sanchez-Ramon, a branch
S P o T L I G H T
vIRtuAL FINANCE
The Online Stock market Game Delivers real Learning
K
now anyone who would like to get $100,000 “students receive a ‘virtual’ $100,000 that “we’ve had outstanding results with the stock
to invest in the stock market, in any way they they can invest over a 10-week period,” mackey market game,” says cecilia santos, an instructor
choose? They can, but there’s a catch: the money says. “It gives them a chance to research at laredo’s John b. alexander High school. “we’ve
isn’t real. The lessons are, though. companies and learn about how the market had quite a few students who have been offered
since 1977, thousands of american students works. There are awards ceremonies that positions based on their performance. a bank officer
have played the stock market game, a program recognize teams that have increased the value of saw one senior student’s presentation and told me,
sponsored by the foundation for Investor education. their portfolios. ‘give her my business card. I want to hire her.’
It’s an online simulation of a stock investment “It provides teachers with the perfect “I’ve had other students who were offered
account, like those offered by major brokerage opportunity to introduce their students to careers internships and positions with investment firms,”
firms. The program is open to grades 4 through 12, that are often overlooked in the world of finance,” santos continues. “They tell students, ‘we’ll work
and about 29,000 Texas students play each school adds mackey. “The program encourages teachers around your college schedule and help you with
year, according to debbie mackey, game liaison for to invite area professionals into the classroom to tuition and books.’ They’re very interested in helping
the Texas council on economic education. discuss investing and careers in the field.” students get their foot in the door.”
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