Foot Soldiers Park starts new financial education program, honors three for winning stock market contest

Foot Soldiers Park has completed a pilot of its new financial education program at Selma High School that expands access to money management skills for students in a city long challenged by limited investment and economic opportunity.

The three-week course concluded Jan. 21 with a ceremony in the school’s media center honoring ninth through 12th grade students who completed the program and recognizing winners of its stock market simulation. The program, called Build Up, covered topics including banking, budgeting, credit and loans, the racial wealth gap and the basics of investing.

Developed by Foot Soldiers Park, the program is part of the organization’s broader effort to strengthen long-term financial stability and help lay a foundation for generational wealth in Selma, where approximately 41% of residents live in poverty and the homeownership rate stands at about 46%.

“Selma has spent decades working to regain its economic footing. But we know that the path forward begins with investing in our people,” said Carey Fountain, director of programs at Foot Soldiers Park. “Our goal with this program is to build financial knowledge, healthy habits and access to support so students can grow into adults who make informed decisions about earning, saving and investment. Ultimately, we’re preparing the next generation to build generational wealth, achieve economic stability, and fuel Selma’s long-term prosperity.”

In a statement, Foot Soldiers Park said research shows that financial literacy is linked to higher levels of saving and investing, greater wealth accumulation and more effective long-term financial planning. Studies also suggest that students who gain financial knowledge can influence their families, helping to interrupt cycles of financial instability.

The pilot comes as Alabama implements a new statewide requirement for financial education. In 2024, the Alabama Legislature passed HB164, which mandates that high school seniors complete a one-semester course in financial literacy and money management. Foot Soldiers Park’s Build Up program expands on the state curriculum by incorporating simulations, discussions and hands-on activities focused on real-world financial decisions such as mortgages, credit use, stock investing and savings strategies.

The program also includes guest financial literacy professionals and teacher training, an approach designed to reduce the burden on educators who may not have specialized financial backgrounds while creating a sustainable model that ensures consistent, high-quality instruction across schools.

A total of 111 Selma High School students completed the pilot program, which was co-developed by Fountain and Joshua Pierce, professor of finance and associate head of the Department of Economics, Finance and Legal Studies at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business.

Selma High School Principal Stoney Pritchett said the program addresses financial challenges students often face after graduation.

“The program is definitely important right now,” Pritchett said. “A lot of these college students will walk into college, and the first thing they do is get a major credit card, and they’re in debt, and some go to college in debt because they’re taking out loans. This program is preparing the students and making them aware of what they need to do or how they need to invest or pay attention to their spending.”

As part of the stock simulation component, student teams were given the opportunity to manage a simulated $50 investment using real market principles. Ninth grader Chandler Wesley earned first place for investment reasoning and performance, receiving a $250 cash prize. Ninth grader Zariah Williams placed second and received $175, while 11th grader Gavin Perry earned third place and a $75 prize.

Foot Soldiers Park plans to refine Build Up based on feedback from the pilot and expand it to all high school grade levels. The organization also hopes to introduce the program in additional high schools, as well as at the elementary level, and later this year plans to launch a financial education initiative for adults