The Mississippi Council on Economic Education and State Farm Team Up to Get Kids and their Families to Talk about Money

Selena Swartzfager

A Collaboration to Provide Families with Family Financial Fun Nights

Tupelo, MS (July 2, 2024) – Seventy-two percent of parents experience at least some reluctance to talk to their kids about financial matters. To address this issue, the Mississippi Council for Economic Education (MCEE) and State Farm are proud to announce a collaboration to conduct Family Financial Fun Nights for families across Mississippi.

These engaging events are designed to bring students and their families together for an enjoyable evening focused on learning the importance of personal finance. The aim is to create an open dialogue about essential topics such as savings, spending, debt, and budgeting—subjects that are often not discussed at the dinner table.

Here in Tupelo, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, a Family Financial Fun Night will be held at the Tupelo Police Athletic League from 6 pm – 8 pm. This event will provide a unique opportunity for families to come together and discuss financial matters in a supportive and educational environment. Dinner will be served. There is no cost to attend, but families must register no later than Friday, July 12.

The registration link is: https://form.jotform.com/MSEconEd/FFFNinTupelo

“We are thrilled to be working with State Farm. This program aligns with our mission to ensure children and families statewide are equipped with the vocabulary and knowledge needed to make smart financial decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Selena Swartzfager, President of the Mississippi Council for Economic Education. “You are never too young to learn and talk about money, and the school setting is a perfect place to start the conversation.”

The Tupelo event is also supported by The CREATE Foundation. For more information about the Family Financial Fun Night in Tupelo, please contact the MS Council on Economic Education at 601-974-1325 or mscee@millsaps.edu.

About the Mississippi Council for Economic Education (MCEE)
The Mississippi Council for Economic Education is dedicated to improving economic and financial literacy in Mississippi. MCEE provides resources and training to educators and students to help them understand economic principles and develop essential life skills.

About State Farm
State Farm is a leading provider of insurance and financial services, committed to helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Through its community engagement initiatives, State Farm aims to support educational programs that empower individuals and families to achieve financial security.

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Mississippi Council on Economic Education President Selena Swartzfager Receives National Technology Award

By Selena Swartzfager • March 24, 2025

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Mississippi Council on Economic Education Announces Upcoming Economics Challenge and Personal Finance Challenge

By Selena Swartzfager • March 3, 2025

JACKSON, MS – March 3, 2025 - The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is excited to announce the upcoming Economics Challenge and Personal Finance Challenge, set to take place on April 8 and April 10 respectively at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. These competitions will bring together top-performing student teams from across the state to showcase their knowledge in economics and personal finance. Students from across Mississippi have the opportunity to demonstrate their financial literacy and economic understanding through these engaging and competitive challenges. The highest-performing teams from regional competitions will advance to the state challenges in April, where they will compete for the chance to represent Mississippi at the national level. Teachers and students interested in participating can find more information and register at www.mscee.org. MCEE is grateful to State Farm for their generous support as the lead sponsor for both the Economics Challenge and the Personal Finance Challenge. State Farm’s commitment to financial education extends beyond these competitions, as they are also sponsoring two Family Financial Fun Nights—one in Jackson and one in Biloxi this fall. Through a total contribution of $30,000, State Farm is helping to promote financial literacy and economic education for students and families throughout Mississippi. “We are incredibly thankful to State Farm for their continued investment in the financial education of Mississippi’s students and families,” said Selena Swartzfager, President of MCEE. “Their support allows us to provide valuable learning experiences that empower students with the skills they need to succeed in life. We get excited about competition in sports and we should have the same passion about competition in academics. “ First and second place teams at the State Challenges received college scholarships. These teams will also compete in a televised quiz bowl to be shown on Mississippi Public Broadcasting later this year. For more information about the Economics Challenge, the Personal Finance Challenge, and upcoming Family Financial Fun Nights, please visit www.mscee.org. About Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) MCEE is dedicated to increasing economic and financial literacy in Mississippi by providing resources and training to K-12 educators, empowering students to create a more prosperous future for themselves and Mississippi. Our purpose is to enhance the quality of instruction in economics, entrepreneurship, and personal finance to Mississippi’s K-12 students in ways that are academically sound and nonpartisan. We train educators to be proficient in teaching students a demonstrated understanding of economic and financial literacy in order to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives. ### Selena Swartzfager, President Mississippi Council on Economic Education 1701 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39210 601-937-1424 MSCEE@millsaps.edu www.mscee.org https://www.instagram.com/mseconeducation/ https://www.facebook.com/mseconeducation/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mseconeducation/

Christy Holyfield Elected FY25 Chair of the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education

By Selena Swartzfager • December 9, 2024

Jackson, MS — December 9, 2024 — The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is pleased to announce the election of Christy Holyfield as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2025. With a distinguished career in the banking industry and a commitment to community development, Christy brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the organization. With 17 years of experience in the banking industry, Christy Holyfield serves as Regional Support Officer for Citizens National Bank’s Central Mississippi Region. In this position, she assists with strategic planning and provides operational oversight regarding the Bank’s three locations in the Jackson Metro area which include Madison, Ridgeland and Flowood with plans to expand into Gluckstadt soon. Christy also serves on a select committee of the Bank which is designed to ensure that employee morale remains high, and the Bank’s corporate culture continues to be very positive throughout its 27 branch locations. In addition, she plays an integral role in eh planning of company-wide annual meetings and bank-hosted events, as well as monthly employee meetings, which provide ongoing sales training for the Bank’s retail employees. Throughout her career at the Bank, she has been recognized numerous times through the Bank’s High Performance Award program. Christy is a key contributor to the region’s community development initiatives and manages her region’s relationships with many local community partners, including various non-profit organizations where she often volunteers her time. A graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Christy and her husband, Lance, are proud parents of two sons, and the family attends Pinelake Church in Brandon. “I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education,” said Christy Holyfield. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to enhance economic education across our state and empower the next generation with the knowledge they need to succeed.” For more information on economic education resources and programs in Mississippi, please visit the Mississippi Council on Economic Education’s website at www.mscee.org . About the Mississippi Council on Economic Education The Mississippi Council on Economic Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving economic literacy among K-12 students through innovative educational programs and resources. MCEE partners with schools, educators, and communities to promote understanding of economic concepts and empower students to make informed financial decisions. Contact: Mississippi Council on Economic Education Phone: (601) 937-1424 Email: mscee@millsaps.edu Website: www.mscee.org