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As a graduate of West Virginia University, my undergraduate years were significant for my academic inclination, cultural exchange, and personal development. Pursuing good grades is not the only thing for me to aspire to: I also enjoy the cultural atmosphere that WVU has offered.

The environment at WVU, rich in resources and opportunities, enabled me to delve into various subjects with an open mind and a curious heart. The rigorous coursework and the high expectations of my professors pushed me to harness my potential and continuously challenge myself.

At just ten years old, Matt Sanchez began his career as a marksman. Now, as a senior rifle athlete at West Virginia University, the Florida native is a leading marksman for the No. 1 rifle program in the country.

Throughout the first three matches in 2023, Sanchez averages 1,185.333 aggregate points per match, the sixth highest in the nation.

In a world where financial decisions shape the course of our lives, fostering financial literacy from an early age is extremely important.  

For the past two decades, Finance University has been at the forefront of equipping K-12 educators across West Virginia with essential financial literacy knowledge to impart to their students. Hosted annually by WVU’s Center for Financial Literacy and Education (CFLE), the generous sponsorship of PRA Group helps fund this valuable educational initiative. 

There are a lot of majors in the Chambers College, but Finance is arguably the coolest. (Though maybe I’m just biased because I’m majoring in it.) Let me explain why!

You might think that a career in finance means working as an investment banker on Wall Street, but there are many different paths you can take. 

Embarking on a new chapter of life in an unfamiliar place can be both daunting and exhilarating. For Dylan Istre, a military student hailing from Maryland, the decision to pursue higher education at West Virginia University offered a chance to build a promising future. 

Through his determination, academic pursuits, and strategic networking, Istre has transformed his passion for finance into a fulfilling career with CAE in Tampa, Florida.

Lillian Bischof, a remarkable student from West Virginia University, recently received the prestigious Order of Augusta, recognizing her outstanding achievements and contributions to the university community. 

Throughout her college career, Bischof has pursued dual disciplines, excelling in both finance and chemical engineering within the WVU Statler College. Hailing from the northern panhandle of the state, Bischof chose WVU for its exceptional faculty and staff, who have nurtured her growth, provided countless opportunities, and fostered a sense of belonging. As she reflects on her journey, Bischof's passion for innovation and commitment to success shines through every aspect of her college experience.

Figuring out what you want to do in life and then actually going for it takes courage. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and believing in yourself. Nathan Baker, a graduate from Fairmont, West Virginia, embodies this spirit of determination and fearlessness as he graduated with a dual-degree in accounting and finance.

From an early age, Baker knew he wanted to work in the business field. He felt a strong connection to West Virginia, his home, but also had a desire to explore the world around him. Through his travels, he realized the impact of being a WVU alumnus and the opportunities it could bring. This realization sparked his ambition to re-enroll at West Virginia University and pursue his dream.

MORGANTOWN, W.VA—Young people entering college or the workforce are navigating an increasingly complex economic landscape. Beyond the basics of money management, they must understand fintech, alternative investments and entrepreneurship. To address this need, West Virginia University will host its 19th annual Finance University for primary and secondary teachers so they can bring advanced financial literacy skills back to their classrooms.

From July 18 to 22, educators in West Virginia and neighboring counties who teach math, business and civics will visit Morgantown for this immersive professional development conference organized by the John Chambers College of Business and Economics’ Center for Financial Literacy and Education, directed by Amy Pridemore.

I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Chambers College in my new role of Associate Dean for Outreach, Innovation and Engagement. This opportunity allows me to leverage my passions into one role that will create synergistic relationships across the Chambers College enterprise, while also enabling opportunities for growth among our programmatic and outreach efforts through strategic resource development. I am a mission-driven and student-centered academic who believes wholeheartedly in the value of enabling our faculty, staff and students to study, live, and innovate through activities that serve our state and community.

Six years ago, I began the process of building an outreach center, the Center for Financial Literacy and Education, which promotes financial literacy and education in the state of West Virginia through experiential learning opportunities, faculty engagement in research initiatives and collaborations, and the promotion of better financial decision making. From a basic concept of delivering skills to those that need them the most, I was able to build the framework for a large program that is now working with national and international industrial partners to improve the lives of the less fortunate and train our finance students to succeed in the competitive, global marketplace, all while tying the Finance Department at the Chambers College to our land-grant mission. Through the process of building an outreach center, I was able to see first-hand the incredible impact that our centers have on our state and internal and external constituents.

West Virginia University’s Center for Financial Literacy and Education, housed in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, has partnered with PRA Group, Inc., a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, to advance financial literacy efforts as part of WVU’s land-grant mission.

PRA Group’s generous $210,000 contribution will fund two seminars on financial literacy in civics, business, and math led by the Chambers College and WVU Extension Service to maximize impact across the state. The first seminars in October 2020 include community leaders representing all 55 West Virginia counties. The second seminar will begin in February 2021 and will focus on primary and secondary educators. Both seminars are expected to positively impact more than 3,500 West Virginia students. PRA Group, Inc. will also support financial lunch and learns across the state for high school seniors preparing to go to college, college students, and adult learners.