For Newman University senior Emma Taylor, financial literacy isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a crucial skill students need as they prepare to enter life beyond college.
That’s why Taylor, an Honors Program student and softball athlete, launched a four-part financial literacy series this spring in partnership with Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program Kelly McFall as part of her senior honors project.
The weekly series took place March 26-April 16 and equipped students with essential financial knowledge on topics such as wealth-building, investing, student debt recovery and homeownership. Various academic departments even offered extra credit to encourage attendance.
Taylor, who is no stranger to balancing multiple commitments, said the idea was born out of a clear need she observed among her peers.
“I’ve experienced firsthand a lack of financial literacy amongst my own classmates and teammates,” Taylor said. “It was my hope that through these lectures, students would be given the tools necessary for financial success.”
Her journey to this project has been anything but ordinary. In just two years, Taylor has managed to complete her degree while taking up to 24 credit hours per semester, working two jobs, competing as a collegiate softball player and volunteering more than 180 hours — all while participating in both the Honors Program and ASC Scholars Program.
Despite these challenges, she remained committed to serving her Newman community.
“This project reflected my desire to lead with compassion and help others navigate complex financial systems,” Taylor said. “I strive to be a beacon of light in a sometimes dark world.”
Student takeaways
The first session, titled “Money Management & Building Wealth,” drew an engaged crowd on March 26.
Austin Trujillo, a senior accounting major, attended to learn how to better prepare for his financial future.
“All the tips and tricks the speaker had for every little stage in my life were helpful to be able to plan for everything,” Trujillo said.
Angelica Rodriguez, a senior biology major, was drawn to the event because she knew she needed tips for managing her own finances.
“There are so many hidden costs in life,” Rodriguez said. “This helped me realize how important it is to be prepared for emergencies. As college students, I’m assuming most of us aren’t financially stable yet, so this is a great opportunity to help us get there.”
The series continued with financial advisor Chris Taylor of Strategic Financial Concepts and his talk, “Growing Your Savings with Investments,” on April 2. Newman Associate Professor of Accounting Patrick Nance presented “Recovering from Student Debt” on April 9, and Michael Gonzales of MTG Family Mortgage presented “The Path to Homeownership” on April 16.
As Taylor prepares to graduate, she hopes this series left a lasting impact on her peers.
“Overall, I think the series went phenomenal,” she said. “We had a good number of attendees each week. Every attendee I talked to said they learned something and were challenged to think about their finances in different ways.”
Taylor said she is grateful to help others through the project and pushes herself to practice more leadership.
“I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being in charge; it’s about empowering others,” she said. “If I can help even one student feel more confident about their finances, then it’s all been worth it.”
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