Throughout the week of March 31, NeASFAA and NSLP are teaming up to deliver financial education seminars to college students on campuses across the state as part of "Nebraska Financial Literacy Week."

The goal of "Nebraska Financial Literacy Week" is to enhance the money management skills of college students and to raise public awareness about the importance of a sound financial education for young adults. "It's important to provide Nebraska's college students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in life," says Mary Sommers, NeASFAA President. "But it's also important that students have the information and tools they need to be successful in their financial lives."

On March 13, NeASFAA and NSLP met with Governor Dave Heineman at the state capitol to participate in proclaiming the week of March 31 through April 4 as "Nebraska Financial Literacy Week."  Mary Sommers from University of Nebraska-Kearney, Tom Ochsner from Nebraska Wesleyan, Dale Brown from Grace University and Steve Carper from Omaha School of Massage Therapy attended the ceremony. Several people from NSLP also attended the ceremony, including Randy Heesacker, President; Janet Dodson, Vice President of Policy, Research and Education; Mark Krings, Vice President of Business Development and Dean Obenauer, Regional Director. The text of the Governor's proclamation is at the end of this article.

NeASFAA's institutional members were invited to participate in "Nebraska Financial Literacy Week" by hosting NSLP's financial literacy seminars on their campuses. During the week of March 31, NSLP's Accredited Financial Counselors will deliver seminars at eight campuses throughout Nebraska - 

- Grace University, April 1
- Hastings College, April 2
- Nebraska Wesleyan University, April 2
- Northeast Community College, April 3
- North Platte Community College, March 31
- McCook Community College, March 31
- University of Nebraska-Kearney, April 3
- University of Nebraska-Omaha, April 1

Students, as well as campus faculty, staff, and administrators, will be able to attend seminars on a variety of topics such as budgeting, wise use of credit cards, identity theft, money management, student loan repayment options, and financing education. They will also be able to use NSLP's Financial Literacy Online (www.nslpflonline.org), a free program which offers six, basic personal finance courses that students may complete at their convenience.

PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR DAVE HEINEMAN

NEBRASKA FINANCIAL LITERACY WEEK MARCH 31-APRIL 4, 2008

WHEREAS, Nebraska college students can benefit from being empowered to identify and manage realistic financial goals and to make sound financial decisions to help them achieve their dreams; and

WHEREAS, college students need access to financial education and to vital information and tools that will help them become adept money managers and enable them to budget properly, avoid getting overextended on debt, and repay their obligations, including their student loans; and

WHEREAS, the National Student Loan Program, headquartered in Lincoln, wishes to provide financial education seminars to college students throughout the state to help them improve their money management skills, and also wants to raise public awareness about the importance of accessible financial education for young adults; and

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, representing 36 postsecondary education institutions in Nebraska, wishes to encourage college students throughout the state to enhance their financial management skills and actively participate in campus financial education seminars; and

NOW THEREFORE, I, Dave Heineman, Governor of the State of Nebraska DO HEREBY PROCLAIM the week of March 31 through April 4, 2008, as Financial Literacy Week in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.