Carter County’s bright future was on display during an economic competition at the Ardmore Convention Center Monday.

More than 300 elementary students took part in the Meaningful Economics & Entrepreneurship Competition hosted by the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education. It is one of three competitions in the state with the other two taking place in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. By the end of the day, Ardmore had set the new standard.

“It is our largest ever, statewide, by several hundred,” Council Executive Director Amy Lee said. “I would say we typically have 150 to 200 students, and this was 304.”

In the competition, students work with a mentor to develop a product and market it. Their creativity is let loose as they have fun in an educational setting. There was an effort to find additional sponsors this year to meet demand in the area. Last year, there were 170 students and there were 200 kids on the waitlist.

“It was several board members, Tom Dunlap was one of them, that said, ‘We need to make this bigger, we don’t want a waitlist again,’” she said. “That is what has brought us to 304 students, and we are so thrilled. It is so exciting to see the community come together and the amount of volunteers that we have had. It has been overwhelming.”

One of the council’s selling points lies in the results produced in the competition. Results from the pre-test and post-test indicate there is a 17% knowledge gain in basic finance and economic skills.

“In a one-day competition, we are really proud of that and very excited that takes place,” Lee said. “It is very meaningful and very impactful.”

Overall winners in the competition were based on points awarded for production, assessment and problem-solving. Elementary schools from throughout the county were represented with Healdton and Zaneis being among the new schools in the competition.

“We have seen such an increase in participation,” Council Board Member Stacy Howeth said. “When you basically double a contest, that is really a high aspiration, and this community got that done in one year. And it has been so fun to watch.”

The council’s main focus is teachers Lee said. It provides resources and tools to teach personal finance and economics. During the competition, there was teacher training during which teachers received resources and books.

“When you talk about personal finance or even economic education, those are things that are very personal to people,” Howeth said. “We don’t talk about it enough. Everybody comes from different backgrounds, different types of upbringings. But everyone has to deal with personal finance. No one is exempt.”

Howeth said it looks different for everybody, and the council provides an opportunity to level the playing field for students of all backgrounds. It also provides tools for teachers across the state that can be implemented in the classroom to build a foundation for healthier and more confident citizens.

“Knowing that you are making a difference in that way, it is an easy answer for me,” Howeth said. “Sign me up, I am there all day. Just show me where to be and what time.

“I think that is the perspective of most of the board of directors. Seeing the programs in action, hearing from the teachers how helpful the resources are in the classroom and beyond. It makes it easy to jump in and get involved. That is really the heart and soul, the passion and the mission of the organization.”

Investing in the community

The Kohaw Foundation was among those sponsoring the event. Executive Director Tim Hill said David Briscoe, who began the foundation, would have loved the event.

“When I was introduced to this and saw the opportunities to sponsor, I wanted to talk to them,” he said.

The Kohaw Foundation’s directive is to promote morals, manners and good citizenship in the youth of Southern Oklahoma. It supports Ardmore and a five-county area. Hill lives in Edmond and visits Ardmore once a month to stay in touch with grantees and looks for more opportunities to give money. Everything that comes from Kohaw Foundation goes back into the community.

Hill said the foundation also helps with the elderly and supports and wide range of organizations. They include the Methodist youth program and preschool. Briscoe was a member of the Methodist Church in Ardmore. Kohaw Foundation also supports Friendly Neighbors, Big Five, Naomi House. Hill said funds help offset expenses for children that stay there.

Financial support was also given to the OU Flight Academy at Southern Oklahoma Technology Center and the Ardmore Summer Band Camp. Hill said they also bought drums for the Ardmore High School Band several years ago.

One beneficiary that is near and dear to Hill’s heart is the Texoma Autism and Behavioral Intervention.

“We work with them in helping them as we can with curriculum with computer programs to teach the kids and staff training,” he said.