LOWELL, Mass.–Eighth-grader Kunsopheary Kang was the winner of the 27th Annual Student Essay Contest, held and sponsored by the Cooperative Credit Union Association. Kunsopheary, a member of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, along with 800 other entrants, was asked, “What could you teach an adult to form better savings and spending habits?” Kunsopheary’s response ultimately won her a spot amongst seven finalists in the Massachusetts state-wide essay contest.
In her essay, Kunsopheary, a student at B.F. Butler Middle School in Lowell, touched upon three key concepts: buy only what you need and make sure all your bills are paid before spending money on what you want; save a portion of money from each paycheck, and look for deals and use coupons when making purchases.
“We are very proud of Kunsopheary for demonstrating her knowledge and confidence in saving and spending wisely,” said Mark S. Cochran, president and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. “We make a great commitment each and every day to ensure the younger generations within our communities are properly educated on financial matters. It’s amazing to see how this not only helps students become better equipped in the world of finances, but how it can help them help others,” he added.
Kunsopheary received a $250 prize.
Kunsopheary Kang (middle) stands with her dad, Kunsoky Kang (left) and teacher Devan Surette (right) as one of the seven finalists in the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s 2017 Student Essay Contest.