CTE students introduced to world of investing
More than 65 high school students in four comprehensive high schools are receiving some life-changing investment tips through the First Generation Investors program.
The program, founded in Philadelphia and now offered in 19 states, aims to teach high school students essential investing topics, including compound interest, diversification, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), as well as personal finance topics like budgeting and credit.
The lessons in the eight-week course are delivered by volunteer mentors — students from Trinity University, St. Mary’s University, and the University of Texas San Antonio majoring in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Marketing, Finance & Risk Management, and Accounting.
All of the high school students who successfully complete the program are awarded a $100 grant to invest in a select set of mutual funds.
It’s the third year for students in San Antonio ISD to experience the program, which has so far educated 150 high school students across the district. Edison senior Jacqueline Rojas was part of the pilot group in Spring 2023.
“I was glad I chose this program because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about my personal financial literacy and how to invest safely,” Rojas said. “We learned the risks and rewards of each thing.”
As part of the program, Rojas, who is in the Edison High School P-TECH School of Business, was able to research the companies and funds that interested her for investment. Rojas chose to invest $20 in the Fidelity International Real Estate Stock (FIREX), $50 in the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX), $20 into Chevron, and $5 each into the Fidelity Total Bond Fund and the Fidelity US Bond Index Fund.
Now that she is turning 18, her account is being transferred to her and she’s able to monitor and maintain her investments.
“I already memorized Chevron so I would go check it,” Rojas said. “I also have investments through Cash App and I look at their volatility.”
In this year’s cohort, classes — mostly senior level — at Lanier, Brackenridge, Highlands and Edison high schools are learning the ropes of investing. Coordinated through the district’s Career and Technical Education Department, the program brings the perfect combination of real-world learning, hands-on experience, and networking opportunities that help students with college and career readiness and financial independence.
“The First Generation Investors Program is important to SAISD high school seniors in Business programs because it provides hands-on experience in financial literacy, investing, and wealth-building — key skills for future entrepreneurs and business professionals,” Fred Losoya, CTE’s Special Pops Program Coordinator, said.
It’s the second year that Brenda Ramirez’s practicum course at the Edison PTECH School of Business has participated in the program. Volunteer mentors from Trinity University visit the campuses once a week to talk financial investments.
“For a lot of these students, they truly will be first generation investors,” Ramirez said. “They don’t have that background in investing coming from home. It’s life changing because it’s going to benefit them beyond high school wherever they go — even into retirement. “
Founded in 2018 by University of Pennsylvania students Alex Ingerman, Dylan Ingerman and Cole Mattox, First Generation Investors (FGI) is a non-profit organization that provides young adults with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the investment economy. FGI is a volunteer-based program that teaches high school students in underserved communities the power of investing and brings classroom lessons to life by providing students with real money to invest. In the spring of 2019, FGI piloted the program with three local Philadelphia high school students. FGI has since expanded its program from three students to over 3,000, supported by nearly 300 volunteers across 37 universities.