Financial empowerment contest names two Troy winners

TROY — Students from Athens High School and the International Academy East Campus were among the 22 students to receive wins and honorable mentions in the 2024 Financial Empowerment Arts contest.

Students from various Oakland County high schools were invited to submit their artwork in a contest, which was a partnership with Oakland Schools, Flagstar Bank and the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency. The contest winners will receive cash prizes from a $10,000 sponsorship by Flagstar Bank.

Around 144 student art pieces related to the importance of financial empowerment were submitted. The submitted pieces included a wide array of mediums, including drawings, paintings, photography, mixed media works and illustrations, as well as video submissions. The entries were judged on creativity, artistic execution and how the theme was incorporated.

From Athens High School, senior Jessica Wong was honored as a first-place winner for “The Fine Line of Finance” in the 12th grade category. The artwork depicts the importance of decision-making and financially sound choices.

“With financial literacy, I’ve learned to weigh a multitude of factors before making financially just decisions,” Wong said in a press release.

Wong received a $1,000 cash prize.

“Jessica is an outstanding art student,” Athens High School Principal Vernon Burden said in an email. “We are so proud of her accomplishment and wish her so much success. She has participated in many facets of our art program here at Athens.”

From the International Academy East Campus, sophomore Annie Zhao was honored as a first-place winner for “Money Is a Terrible Master” in the 10th grade category. The artwork depicts the hazards of misplaced priorities.

Zhao learned that “habits influence actions, self-perception, and motivations,” according to a press release. “Successful and harmful money habits determine the trade-offs people make.”

Zhao also received a $1,000 cash prize.

The contest winners were honored by Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, with the winning art to be displayed in the Oakland County Treasurer’s Office for a year, as well as on the website, along with all student entries.

To view the artwork, visit oakgov.com/treasurer.

For more information, visit athens.troy.k12.mi.us.