Arizona State Treasurer Announces Partnership with the University of Arizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom to Create the Arizona Award for Excellence in Teaching Financial Literacy

Nominations are now being accepted for the Award, which will provide three Arizona K-12 teachers with full scholarships to pursue an online Master of Legal Studies, Law & Economics concentration, funded by the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom.
PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee and the Arizona Financial Literacy Task Force, in collaboration with the University of Arizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, announced the inaugural Arizona Award for Excellence in Teaching Financial Literacy. The Office of the Arizona State Treasurer is now accepting nominations for outstanding Arizona K-12 educators who are teaching financial literacy. (Nominations closed on September 1)
Treasurer Yee and the Financial Literacy Task Force have led many initiatives to broaden financial education across the state, including passing a law requiring Arizona high schools to teach financial education before graduation. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge teachers who have embraced the teaching of financial literacy in their classrooms and inspire more educators to incorporate financial education in their academic curricula. Nominations may come from school administrators, colleagues, parents, students and the teachers themselves.
“As a longtime advocate of financial education and the daughter of a retired public school teacher, I want to recognize and celebrate Arizona teachers who have exemplified the gift of teaching financial literacy in their classrooms,” said Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee. “Promoting financial literacy across Arizona has been a core component of my administration, and I look forward to recognizing excellent teachers who bring these important financial literacy lessons to Arizona students.”
Winning teachers will be awarded a full scholarship to pursue an online Master of Legal Studies, Law & Economics concentration, a joint program between the University of Arizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom and the James E. Rogers College of Law. The program aims to empower educators to make a greater positive impact on their students and enhance their teaching effectiveness. Graduates from the program will be better equipped to engage students in critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving, ultimately preparing them to be better citizens.
“We share Treasurer Kimberly Yee’s longstanding commitment to teachers who aim to teach students to understand and effectively use various financial skills and to help them appreciate how financial literacy can improve their lives,” said Mary L. Rigdon, Center for the Philosophy of Freedom Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Political Economy and Moral Science at the University of Arizona. “We want all of Arizona to be aware of this program so they can nominate a teacher who could benefit from this unique opportunity.”
Treasurer Yee, Center Director Mary L. Rigdon, and Saura Masconale, Center Associate Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Economy and Moral Science at the University of Arizona, will recognize the winning teachers during an awards ceremony in September at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. For full details on the award and to nominate a teacher, visit aztreasury.gov/teacher-s-scholarship.