Latest news with #MiltonAcademy
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A better future': Local high school students compete in Personal Finance Challenge
Stocks, bonds, high yield savings accounts. It's not a requirement to teach personal finance in Massachusetts public schools, but some local high school students put their knowledge to the test---to earn a spot in a national competition. This isn't your typical school day for a bunch of high schoolers from the greater Boston area. Eight teams of four competed in the National Personal Finance Challenge at the MFS Investment Management Campus in Boston by creating case scenarios—-using their personal finance knowledge. 'When you're talking about personal finance, you're really talking about earning income, then what do you do with that income, right? Saving, investing, spending, credit,' said the Chief Program Officer for the Council of Economic Education Chris Caltabiano. The CEE Chief Program Officer Chris Caltabiano says the non-profit's mission is to bring economic education to students so that they can manage their own financial lives. 'They're going to be doing this every single day of their lives thinking about their personal financial lives and so having this knowledge now is going to set them up for success down the road,' said Caltabiano. To test their skills, every year the CEE hosts the National Personal Finance Challenge where thousands of students participate in a written test—then move on to a case study round. The students present how they think a young professional should spend, save and invest their money. This is Oliver Sin's second year competing. He says he's lucky to have several economics classes available at Milton Academy—-fueling his drive to learn more about personal finance. 'I try and talk to everyone I can about it just because I think it's so it's such an easy step to take but it's so important for your future as like the old saying goes a penny saved is a penny earned,' said Milton Academy Senior Oliver Sin. 'So the quicker you start the easier it is.' And he's been applying what he learns in the classroom—to his own life. 'Through trial and error, I can apply stuff that I see from my own eyes is working and I think that's really the perspective that people should be going into personal finance with,' said Sin. 'So much of this is setting you up for a better future and I feel like I can confidently go into living alone and being a young adult with these skills,' said Rebecca Zhang, a senior at Lexington High School. Zhang is on the all-female team representing Lexington High School. She says because of her finance knowledge, she already offers advice. 'I do have friends asking me where should I put my money? Would it be better to put it into a savings account, a checking account, or stocks? And it's nice being able to help my friends with stuff like that,' said Zhang. Right now, Massachusetts schools have no personal finance requirements, but there are currently a few bills in the State House that could change that. Caltabiano says research shows that taking a finance course in high school has an impact on your financial future. 'They have higher credit scores,' said Caltabiano. 'They tend to take on a lower amount of debt. If they choose to go to college, they tend to take loans that have a better interest rate.' MFS President Carol Geremia says the more knowledge, the better relationship with money. 'The minute they graduate, they're going to be thinking about how to get a job and their income, but how important it is for them to understand the basics of what to do with their money,' said MFS President Carol Geremia. 'So, so critical.' The all-girls team from Lexington High School won the state competition. That means they will be moving on to the final round in Atlanta, Georgia in June. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Boston Globe
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Purdue's C.J. Cox, a guard from Lexington, will play in front of family and friends at the NCAA Tournament in Providence
He learned that the rising senior had offers from predominantly Ivy League schools, yet none from high majors. Painter's mind started to race, as he wondered if he had found a hidden gem on the last day of competition. 'All the things that you value as a coach, in terms of what leads to winning, he epitomized,' Painter said. Advertisement Painter offered Cox in October, and he committed that day. Cox emerged as a starter in early January and is averaging 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game as a reliable freshman for the fourth-seeded Boilermakers (22-11). Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Purdue is set to face No. 13 High Point (29-5) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at 12:40 p.m. (truTV), at Amica Mutual Pavilion. It's a homecoming for Cox, who took a moment Wednesday morning to reflect on how far he's come. 'It's amazing,' Cox said. 'I always dreamed about playing in March Madness. Thankfully, I'm able to play near home, so family and friends are able to come watch me. I'm very grateful for that.' Cox got his start at the Lexington Recreation Department, then latched onto the Magic in fourth grade. He trained with his father, Cecil Cox, a Harvard football Hall of Famer, who preached the importance of a well-rounded game from a young age. Cox began his high school career at Lexington and considered transferring to Belmont Hill after his sophomore year. Instead, after weighing his options with his father and his mother, Lisa George-Cox, he elected to remain at Lexington for a final run. Cox is always one to see something through, and he knew he had unfinished business with the Minutemen. Advertisement George-Cox, a beloved track star, educator, and coach, died in March 2021 after a 1½-year battle with sarcoma. Cox is forever grateful for her wisdom, love, and unwavering support. 'Without her, I wouldn't be in this situation,' Cox said. 'She was a big influence in my life. I'm just making sure to make her proud.' With George-Cox in mind, Cox helped steer Lexington to a league title as a junior before transferring to Milton Academy and reclassifying. Magic coach Michael Crotty credited Cox for avoiding the stumble many kids understandably have when they endure something of such magnitude. Cox led the Mustangs to Independent School League and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championships, then the Magic to a second consecutive AAU Under Armour championship in the summer of 2023. Cox had established himself as one of the state's premier players, and received offers from smaller schools, yet was still a relative unknown nationally. 'You're just wondering at that point, the why,' Painter said. 'Trust your eyes, trust everything, but why aren't other people recruiting him? He's been out there.' Milton Academy coach Lamar Reddicks gave Painter his passwords to watch film and told him to pick any game. He wouldn't be disappointed, Reddicks insisted. Painter loved Cox's competitive spirit, defensive prowess, and academic excellence, and he offered him a scholarship after his official visit. Cox called Painter that same day when he returned home and committed. While some believed Cox was in over his head by choosing Purdue, Reddicks never thought so. Reddicks saw Cox rise to the occasion over and over again at Milton Academy. The bigger the game, the more he would leave his imprint. Advertisement 'I would never bet against C.J. Cox,' Reddicks said. 'I'll put it that way. He's one of those guys that if I have to go to battle, I want that guy on my team. It doesn't matter what we're doing. We could be playing chess, checkers, basketball. I want him on my team.' Reddicks said he's seen opposing point guards give up mid-game when Cox ruins their life with his ball pressure and physicality. Crotty called Cox the 'model of consistency' and said his relentless and level-headed mind-set has a ripple effect on any team. 'He's really genuinely one of the most humble people I've been around,' Crotty said. 'He has an internal confidence, but he is the antithesis of cocky. He's just, 'Hey, let's go work. Let's go do it. Doesn't matter who's in front of me.' ' After interning with HYM Investment Group in Boston last summer, Cox made a splash early at Purdue. Painter quickly realized he couldn't keep him off the floor. His ability to guard the other team's point guard and proclivity for hitting timely shots meshed perfectly with Purdue's veteran stars. 'He sets the tone defensively every game,' fellow Purdue freshman Gicarri Harris said. 'He always plays hard.' Cox erupted for 16 points against Auburn and 23 points against Nebraska, quickly gaining confidence with each start. After watching Purdue make the national championship game a season ago, Cox is overjoyed to take part in what he hopes will be another deep run this March. His phone blew up when the Boilermakers learned they would be playing in Providence, just an hour from his hometown. Cox, mild mannered and humble, took the floor for practice with a noticeable giddiness Wednesday morning. Light on his feet, and burying a steady stream of jumpers, he couldn't help but grin and savor the moment. Advertisement With the band playing in the background, the March Madness logo on the floor, and the ball in his hands, it felt like everything had come full circle. The underdog from Lexington was going dancing. 'If you follow your dreams and you work hard to do what you want to do, you'll end up in good situations,' Cox said. 'I always believed I could end up in this situation and playing at this high level. I want to be a role model for younger kids in the community.' Trevor Hass can be reached at
