MADISON, Wis. – The deadline for the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award is quickly approaching. Entries should be sent to league award coordinators for state-level judging. National judging of state winners will occur later this year. "The Desjardins Award was designed to recognize the credit union movement's leadership in improving personal finance skills among youth," says CUNA President and CEO Dan Mica. "Last year, the competition was open only to leagues. This year, we've expanded it to recognize the great and innovative efforts that credit unions, working individually or through their chapters, have undertaken to improve society through economic education." Named in honor of Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement, who established the first "caisse populaire" in Quebec in 1900, and helped establish the first American credit union in New Hampshire in 1908, the award pays tribute to his belief in the value of teaching children to save and providing in-school savings programs. The Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of young members and nonmembers, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching, publicity, lobbying for curriculum requirements, teacher and volunteer training, and promotion and use of the NEFE High School Financial Planning Programr. Credit unions and chapters should check with their leagues first, to determine the procedures and deadlines for the initial round of state-level judging. Presentation of the national award will take place at CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference in conjunction with the Maxwell, Herring, and Bridge Awards. Specific questions about the Desjardins Award or the HSFPP should be directed to Philip Heckman at [email protected] or (800) 356-9655, ext. 4088.