TopLine Helps Students "GEAR UP" for the Future This Summer

Local Credit Union Leads Finance Workshop as Part of Hennepin Technical College's GEAR UP Summer Camp


MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwired - July 16, 2015) - Local member-owned cooperative TopLine Federal Credit Union recently took part in Hennepin Technical College's GEAR UP Summer Camp the week of June 15. Twenty-eight students from Fridley High School and Cooper High School explored future careers to help them build awareness and readiness for college and beyond. As part of the program, TopLine representatives offered financial education for students to show the value of integrating smart financial decision-making into their future planning.

Students spent the week learning about different career options, exploring programs available at Hennepin Technical College and engaging in hands-on activities such as building resumes, conducting mock interviews with local employers, and participating in job-specific workshops -- including TopLine's session on personal finance, which delved into money management, from budgeting to preventing identity theft, and the importance of a post-secondary education for future jobs and better salaries.

The camp was made possible by a Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant -- the U.S. Department of Education's discretionary program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. Awarded to Hennepin Technical College in 2012, the GEAR UP program -- with the help of community partners, such as TopLine -- serves the entire ninth-grade student cohort at Fridley and Cooper High Schools. Currently in its third year, the program will follow the student body through its first year of college.

"The GEAR UP Summer Camp is intended to get students thinking critically about the future by offering them real-world experience through college tours and meetings with professionals," said Mary Vang, Director of GEAR UP, Hennepin Technical College. "Thanks to the individuals, institutions, and community partners who were able to share their time and expertise with us, we all had a wonderful time learning about, and even trying on, a variety of jobs in a number of fields."

"Our session was inspirational -- the students were highly engaged, and they asked lots of great questions about saving and spending," said Vicki Erickson, Vice President of Marketing at TopLine Federal Credit Union. "Promoting financial literacy, particularly among youth, is a key part of TopLine Federal Credit Union's mission -- so this partnership with Hennepin Technical College's GEAR UP program couldn't be a better fit. We're looking forward to watching these kids grow into their lives and truly succeed."

For more on the GEAR UP grant, visit www.hennepintech.edu. For more information on TopLine's financial education programs, visit www.toplinecu.com/financial-education.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13th largest, with assets of more than $370 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations -- in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul's Como Park -- as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/7/16/11G047831/Images/Henn_Tech_GEAR_UP_Summer_Camp_1-558843168805.jpg

Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Vicki Roscoe Erickson
Vice President, Marketing
verickson@toplinecu.com
763.391.0872

TopLine Federal Credit Union, GEAR UP, Summer Camp, TopLine, Credit Union, Financial Literacy