WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –- Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) and William Henry Harrison High School will open Greater Lafayette’s second in-school financial institution on September 23. PEFCU opened the area’s first in-school financial institution in January 2005 at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

“We are pleased to have this partnership with PEFCU,” said Doug Lesley, Harrison High School principal. “We believe it creates numerous educational opportunities for students and also provides beneficial financial services to Tippecanoe School Corporation employees.”

The 208-square-foot branch named Harrison’s PEFCU @ School will be operated by two high-school-student tellers and a PEFCU supervisor. Supervisor Sara Gretencord will oversee and evaluate the work of Melissa Blosser and Shane Hamilton, who were trained and worked at the PEFCU Financial Mall during the summer. Student tellers are expected to meet the same qualifications as other PEFCU employees. They must also be enrolled in the twelfth-grade Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) course at Harrison High School. Students are selected as tellers after submitting an application and being interviewed. They receive compensation as well as ICE course credits for their work.

In addition to the hands-on learning experience for student tellers, other students will gain money management skills by opening checking and savings accounts, making transactions at the branch, and learning from the financial literacy curriculum provided by PEFCU and Harrison staff through ICE and other career- and business-related courses. The branch will be open Monday through Friday during lunch periods from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to serve students, faculty and staff.

“PEFCU has provided Harrison High School with financial education for two years and this in-school branch solidifies our commitment to the financial health of Greater Lafayette’s youth,” said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator. “By teaching and helping teenagers develop healthy financial habits now, we are preparing them for a bright future.”

About Harrison High School

William Henry Harrison High School is part of Tippecanoe School Corporation and has been in existence since 1971. It has approximately 1,685 students in grades 9 through 12. Harrison’s Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training related to students’ career objectives.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –– Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) invites the Greater Lafayette community to attend a no-cost seminar called “Identity Theft. Who’s got your number?” at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, September 9, at the PEFCU Financial Mall located at 1551 Win Hentschel Blvd. in West Lafayette.

One in five consumers fall victim to some kind of identity theft each year. The results can be devastating: damage to one’s credit report, average monetary losses of $1,200 or more, and nearly 30 hours of personal time spent to resolve the issue. Attend this seminar and learn ways to fight fraud from local experts who work in PEFCU’s Risk Department.

Tips will be provided on the following:

• How to protect yourself from identity theft
• How to identify fraud scams
• What to do if you are a fraud victim

This is a no-cost seminar and is open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Seats are limited. Reserve your spot by Friday, September 5, by calling 765.497.7455, emailing rsvp@purdueefcu.com, or registering at www.purdueefcu.com under “Events Calendar”.

Founded on the Purdue University campus in 1969, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) boasts assets exceeding $500 million and serves more than 56,000 members nationwide.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Good money management is an essential life skill. That’s why Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) partnered with Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS) to provide financial literacy content and activities during this year’s camp.

Campers Use Computers to Practice Life SkillsPEFCU Collections Manager Dana Smith helps a camper create her computer persona and practice the money management skills learned earlier in the week.(Photo by Nicole Thompson)

“Whether we like it or not, economics has become the foundation of our entire culture,” said Bill Harper, PALS director. “Kids typically are not exposed to the complications of handling money or differentiating between wants and needs. This is an opportunity to introduce kids to the reality of life in an informal setting.”

On the final day of the four-week camp, the children applied the money management knowledge they had gained over the previous two days to age-based life-skills activities. The younger campers each received a $100 “paycheck,” which they had to deposit into the “credit union”. Then they used a checkbook register to balance their “checking accounts” according to choices they made individually between low-priced, mid-priced and high-priced vehicles, food and pets as well as unexpected emergencies.

The older campers took this activity to the next level using a computer-based program. Based on their individual interests and chosen level of education, the computer generated a career and salary for each camper. Then they chose to purchase insurance, homes, vehicles, meals and so on at different price levels. They also had to “visit” their financial institution in order to pay off debts like mortgages, credit cards and student loans. During the game, each camper could see his/her monthly income as well as balances on savings and debts.

“This [computer] game is fun and I’d like to play it,” said Jill Freeland, PALS counselor. “The kids have already learned so much about savings and they’ve told me how they’re going to save at home. They’re very excited about all they can do with money.”

In addition to its partnership with PALS, PEFCU works with local schools and organizations to teach money management skills to area youth throughout the year. “By teaching and helping children develop healthy financial habits now, they will be better prepared for the future,” said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator.

For more information about ways PEFCU helps organizations or schools meet financial literacy goals, please contact Carolyn Barrett at 765.497.7409.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– Hard work and dedication paid off for Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) Human Resources Manager Shaun Sengsanith as she earned her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification on June 26.

Shaun Sengsanith

“Shaun’s commitment to personal and professional excellence is evident through her thoughtful leadership and effort in making PEFCU an employer of choice in Greater Lafayette,” said Jackie Hofman, PEFCU vice president of human resources and marketing. “We congratulate Shaun on this prestigious accomplishment and look forward to her continued success.”

SPHR certification is granted through the Human Resource Certification Institute, which is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Sengsanith prepared for six months prior to taking the comprehensive examination and had to demonstrate her strong background of professional human resource experience.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Father’s Day weekend was extra special this year for several fathers and sons who participated in the 2nd Annual Brees Dream Foundation Golf Outing presented by Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU). On Saturday, June 14, they were part of the more than 200 golfers, celebrities and spectators who descended on the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex for the all-day fundraiser benefiting the Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS).

PALS Receives $50,000
[Left to Right] PEFCU CEO Bill Connors, his spouse Lisa Connors, and Brees Dream Foundation Co-Founders Brittany and Drew Brees present a $50,000 donation to PALS Director Bill Harper. The donation was made possible by overwhelming public participation in the 2nd Annual Brees Dream Foundation Golf Outing presented by PEFCU.

Golfers from nine different states joined football celebrities Drew Brees, Bob DeMoss, Travis Dorsch, Bernie Flowers, Nick Hardwick, Mark Herrmann, Leroy Keyes, Kyle Orton and others on the course. Following golf was a cocktail reception where unique sports memorabilia were auctioned off with Brees serving as auctioneer. The event concluded with the presentation of a $50,000 check to PALS.

The foundation and PEFCU offer special thanks to this year’s golf outing partners Purdue Alumni Association and WLFI-TV 18, and sponsors including Fidelity National Information Systems—E Services; MEMBERS Financial Services/CUNA Mutual Group; Card Services for Credit Unions; TransUnion; NIKE, Inc.; Advantage Title, Inc.; Appraisals by John Nicholson; Arni’s Inc.; Automated Payroll Services; Burkhart Advertising, Inc.; Bruno’s Pizza; Follett’s Purdue Bookstores; Indiana Credit Union League; Kettelhut Construction, Inc.; Kirby Risk Electrical Supply; Lausch Photography; Mike Aulby’s Arrowhead Bowl; Mulhaupt’s Inc.; Schug Awards; Sign Experts; Subway; Tecton Construction Management; The Champion’s Centre; The Henriott Group; The National Group; VISA® and Wendy’s Restaurants.

Founded on the Purdue University campus in 1969, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) boasts assets exceeding $475 million and serves more than 56,000 members nationwide. The credit union is driven by superior member service and is dedicated to serving the Greater Lafayette community.

The Brees Dream Foundation was established in 2003 by Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany. The foundation helps in the fight to cure cancer, improve the quality of life for cancer patients, and promote the progress, success and education of youth through scholarship programs.