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Grand Valley State University launches student designed financial literacy tool

Rep 4 GVSU
gvsu.edu
Rep 4 GVSU

A 2025 International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews survey indicates 79% of college students desire financial literacy courses.

“Almost every bank has financial literacy content. It goes deep. But there are a couple of problems with it. One, it’s not relatable and it’s not available when I need it.”

Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella supports students like senior Hailey Bos developing a solution.

“I was actually a part of the original cohort that pitched the idea that evolved into REP4 FinLit back four years ago when I was in high school.”

A student-designed Gen Z financial literacy tool communicating fiscal concepts in terms young learners can understand.

“What we’re doing here, what these students are doing, is groundbreaking. It is incredible.”

That’s Fifth Third Bank’s Kala Gibson.

“It is going to change how we actually look at learning when it comes to financial literacy.”

The Fifth Third Foundation is funding the prototype. It’s been launched across all Grand Valley campuses and available to anyone in Michigan with a dot-edu.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.