Smart Start Salutes Its Attendees for Receiving Full College Scholarships

June 16, 2007 - PRLog -- Fall 2007 college bound students Christian Browne-Frazier and Ethan Smith are truly outstanding young men in their own right. Both are at the top in their classes, admirable volunteers in the Los Angeles community and are Tom and Ethel Bradley Youth Scholars. Christian, a scholar-athlete student at Verbum Dei High School has received a full football scholarship to Texas Southern University and Verbum Dei High School student body President Ethan has received a full academic scholarship to Loyola Marymount University in the fall 2007.

What they also admit makes these achievements even more fulfilling and successful is that both feel they have learned and benefited from TPC Foundation Inc.’s annual Smart Start Youth Financial Literacy Program.

TPC Foundation, Inc. developed the Smart Start Program to change the way high school students view personal finance, understand banking, and manage and maximize their income.  Smart Start provides training in financial and tech literacy to economically disadvantaged African American teenagers in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. Students learn how to make responsible financial decisions and the importance of investing in their community. They also learn how to use technology and the Internet responsibly.

Christian has participated in the program in 2005 and 2006, Ethan in 2005, and both will be at the June 23rd, 2007 program at Loyola Marymount University. According to Howard Ransom, UTLA Award Winner, TPC Foundation Inc’s Living History Maker Award recipient in Education and LAUSD instructor, these young men have not just attended the Smart Start Program but have applied techniques and instructions in the program of personal finance, banking, and getting a better focus on how to manage and maximize their incomes.

“Christian and Ethan are just two of many outstanding young people to understand the importance of the role a financial program such as Smart Start plays in their college education and life," explains Howard Ransom.  “Any time high school advisors or college admissions officers see a young African American male or female who gave up their Saturday morning to actively participate in a financial literacy program like Smart Start on their applications, etc., then they know they are engaging with a young person who has a solid financial plan for their future. Smart Start is becoming a solid recognizable first step to reaching those goals for these achievers.”

Christian Browne-Frazier remarks, “Smart Start helps prepare me for college life by informing me of the possible pitfalls of not saving money, college loans, and credit card abuses. And why it is important to have your own bank account and be a responsible consumer in college. I also think the "Cash Flow" game is a good learning tool to help prepare us for the future.”

“One day I will have my own business and Smart Start has planted the seeds of financial literacy to guide me in the right direction for success,” adds Ethan Smith. “I believe success means understanding how money works and the better you understand it - the better chance you will have to be successful life.”

LMU Alumna and 2007 co-chair of the Smart Start Youth Financial Literacy Program Tamika Lang says, “TPC Foundation is extremely proud of both Ethan and Christian's accomplishments. We are also proud that Smart Start has played a role in their long-term financial literacy development."

And Ramona Wright '00, Alumni Relations Assistant Director and Liaison to the African American Alumni Association at LMU declares, "LMU's African American Alumni Association looks forward to cultivating a synergetic relationship with Smart Start that will benefit more high school students like Christian and Ethan. We look forward to welcoming Ethan to LMU in the fall."

A maximum of 50 students will be recruited including those from Young Black Scholars (YBS) and Verbum Dei High School for this year's program.
Any high school junior or senior who meets the requirements is eligible to attend Smart Start, but enrollment is on a first come- first serve basis until the maximum is reached.  Students must be juniors or seniors in high school and meet specified application requirements.  

For more information regarding the Smart Start Youth Financial Literacy Program, please visit: www.aabs2007.com or contact: 310-299-6000.


2007 Smart Start Sponsors:

TPC Foundation Inc., Loyola Marymount University’s African American Alumni Association, Young Black Scholars, Crenshaw High School, Microsoft Foundation, Wells Fargo Hands on Banking, New Wave Educational Center, Tom and Ethel Bradley Foundation.

Website: www.aabs2007.com