Harrisburg University is a sponsor of the Student Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition (file photo).
An annual competition to promote financial literacy has kicked off for the year.
On Wednesday, Harrisburg University, Members 1st Federal Credit Union and PA Auditor General Timothy DeFoor announced the start of the 13th annual Student Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition.
“For the past 13 years, Pennsylvania students have brought us inspiring and heartfelt stories,” said David Schankweiler, interim president of HU. “Money management can be a hard-won lesson, and it is genuinely moving to see how these students turn curiosity, or even adversity, into new skills.”
For 2026, the competition’s theme is “What Does Financial Literacy Mean to Me?”
Pennsylvania students in grades 9 to 12 are encouraged to submit a short essay, poem or video about financial literacy. The competition coincides with Financial Literacy Month, which occurs every year in April. The student winners will be announced and publicly honored during the closing ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on April 22.
At the closing ceremony, the following winners will be announced:
- One First Place ($1,500) award for each grade level (9–12)
- One Honorable Mention ($500) award for each grade level (9–12)
- One Grand Prize ($2,500) for the best overall entry
Additionally, Harrisburg University will award a one-time, $1,000 scholarship to each student who submits a competition entry and then applies to and is accepted as a full-time student at HU.
The deadline for competition submissions is March 20.
In 2025, more than 100 Pennsylvania students participated in the competition, submitting essays, poems and videos describing what financial literacy meant to them.
“At Members 1st, we believe financial literacy is foundational,” said Ryan Riley, vice president of marketing and communications at Members 1st. “It’s built on confidence, it creates opportunities, and it helps individuals make informed decisions and shape their future.”
For more information and to submit entries online, visit HarrisburgU.edu/HUFinancialLiteracy.
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