STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Patrick Kubeny has been on a mission to educate Rhinelander High School (RHS) students about personal finance for years. A business education teacher in the district since 1993, he is partly responsible for the recently-added personal finance graduation requirement.

As a result of those efforts, RHS has been granted $10,000 from California non-profit Nex Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), which has a goal of ensuring that all students leave high school with financial skills. According to NGPF, Rhinelander joins some 800 school districts in the nation to require a one-semester personal finance course.

Kubeny said some of grant money will be used for students to compete in the annual Northwoods Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl.

“I used to solicit area businesses to help offset costs for our students to participate in the FICB,” he said. “Hopefully I won’t be needing to do that anytime soon.” Kubeny added that he appreciates the support for the event he has received from individuals and local businesses in the past.

“We will be meeting to determine some other ways to use the funds to enhance personal financial literacy in our school district,” he added.

Rhinelander is the 23^rd high school in the country to earn the grant. To see part of a nation-wide documentary in which Rhinelander is a part, visit ngpf.org/mostimportantclassfilm. The Rhinelander segment is at 12:36.