Lynwood – About 30 Firebaugh High School students gathered together Sept. 21 to share knowledge on financial education they have gleaned as part of a new Master Your Card online course, a community empowerment program sponsored by Mastercard.

Students engaged in roundtable discussions with each other and Master Your Card team members during the event, asking and answering financial questions that may impact them in years to come.

“This program opened my mind to the possibility of opening a savings account and saving up for college. It’s something I never really thought about before,” Firebaugh High senior Veronica Cruz said. “Now, I’m going to start saving up for things like books and meals.”

Firebaugh High is one of two schools in East Los Angeles to implement the Master Your Card program, which offers more than six hours of free instruction on financial topics like credit scores, insurance, payment cards, student loans, mortgages, taxes and more.

“Knowing how to manage finances helps our students in many aspects of life, especially when it comes to applying for and affording college,” Lynwood Unified Superintendent Paul Gothold said. “Courses like these that expose students to the reality of financial stability will set them up for success in college and life.”

Master Your Card partnered with EverFi, Inc., to bring the financial education program to students at no cost to schools or taxpayers. The program uses simulation and gaming technologies to bring financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation.

“It is really important for our students to have an idea of how to keep their finances in check, especially before they venture into college and careers,” Board President Alma-Delia Renteria said. “Firebaugh High is so fortunate to have a program like this that will give students the tools to correctly file their taxes, manage student loans and afford a house.”

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092816_LUSD_FINANCE: Firebaugh High students Arnold Vasquez (left) and Kevin Sarabia (right) engage in a roundtable discussion regarding financial education with Master Your Card representative Jorge Garrido on Sept. 21 as part of a kickoff event for the Master Your Card online program. Firebaugh High is one of two schools in East Los Angeles to implement the Master Your Card online course, which offers more than six hours of free instruction on financial topics like credit scores, insurance, payment cards, student loans, mortgages, taxes and more.